STAFF PICKS

LATEST ALBUMS

Big Special

National Average

    The journey Big Special have been on is one of the key stories told by their second album, National Average. And trust Big Special to invest those stories with wisdom, insight and the most absolute humanity. And these might be their stories, but the lessons speak to us all.

    And so National Average reflects the world as it is, as Big Special have seen it while grinding around the nation and screaming their poetry at the people. The album also registers how their own lives, their own world has changed, and what that means.

    With characteristic Big Special flair, the darkness is leavened by more than a ladle-full of the blackest humour.

    But the upbeats are easily matched by the album’s downbeats, the album’s emotional shifts more crafted than on the debut. “The first half of the album is about ambition – you can hear the confidence of it, even a little bit of sleaze,” says Hicklin. “The second half is about reflecting on what’s happened, how everything’s changed. You’ve got to be honest with the darkness.”

    TRACK LISTING

    SIDE A
    1. THE MESS.
    2. GOD SAVE THE PONY.
    3. HUG A BASTARD.
    4. SHOP MUSIC.
    5. PIGS PUDDIN.
    6. PROFESSIONALS.
    7. GET BACK SAFE.
    8. YESBOSS.

    SIDE B
    9. DOMESTIC BLISS.
    10. JUDAS SONG.
    11. THE BEAST.
    12. I ONCE HAD A KESTREL.
    13. THIN HORSES.

    Kae Tempest

    Self Titled

      Mercury and BRIT nominated Kae Tempest’s fifth studio album ‘Self Titled’ featuring Neil Tennant, Tawiah, Connie Constance and Young Fathers and co-produced by Fraser T Smith and Tempest. Tempest has an impressive list of prizes under his belt. His book Brand New Ancients made him the first person under 40 to receive the Ted Hughes Award in 2013. Kae also won the Ivor Novello Award for ‘Best Contemporary Song’ in 2024, following two previous Ivor Novello nominations in 2020 and a BRIT Award nomination in 2018. Kae has been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize twice.

      The album’s first single, ‘Statue In The Square,’ was released in March. Tempest’s fast flow delivers a raw, rhythmic track. The accompanying video was filmed in Deptford, London, and features key community voices, including Princess Julia, Joelle Taylor, Sweatmother, Debbie Smith, and Dr Ronx. The collaborations on Self Titled don’t stop there. For his fifth offering, Tempest has ensured a stellar line-up of features. Guest appearances include Neil Tennant, Young Fathers, Connie Constance, and Tawiah.



      STAFF COMMENTS

      Barry says: Tempest's brand new LP swims in the sort of gritty, downbeat hip-hop poetry we all loved on 2016's brilliant 'Let Them Eat Chaos', but this time around there's a grittier, industrial aesthetic underpinning proceedings. There are moments of sublime melodicism, much like there are segments of chaotic noise, but it's the perfect balance that sets Kae apart from the rest and keeps us coming back for more. A superb new outing from one of the UK's hottest poets.

      TRACK LISTING

      1. I Stand On The Line
      2. Statue In The Square
      3. Know Yourself
      4. Sunshine On Catford
      5. Bless The Bold Future
      6. Everything All Together
      7. Prayers To Whisper
      8. Diagnoses
      9. Hyperdistillation
      10. Forever
      11. Breathe
      12. Till Morning

      The Reds Pinks And Purples

      The Past Is A Garden I Never Fed

        Having penned over 200 songs in the last six years, The Reds, Pinks and Purples release a collection of tracks previously unreleased on physical format that continues to romanticise the wonders and woes of the world.

        With song titles that read like chapter sub-heads for a post-Douglas Coupland novella, ‘The Past Is A Garden I Never Fed’ takes The Reds, Pinks and Purples central orator Glenn Donaldson through the turmoil of small talk and everyday water cooler moments with a fine sense of pathos and irony.

        Set to a soundtrack that swerves between the dark days of Television Personalities and Byrdsian twang to the Jarvis Cocker-styled rhetoric and vocal tenderness of ‘Richard In the Age Of The Corporation’ with hints of everything from Husker Du’s fuzzed splendour to the chiming majesty of The Chameleons it’s an empowering listen.

        The pathos and irony of the glorious track ‘The World Doesn’t Need Another Band’ sets out the band’s store, it’s a measured and quietly outspoken rant at lacklustre opposition peppered with a gorgeous guitar break. Meanwhile, ‘I Only Ever Wanted To See You Fail’ rumbles with an Eddie And The Hot Rods pre-punk riff before dissolving into a tale of self-doubt and remorse, bemoaning others’ good luck. ‘Toxic Friend’ is from the book of the TVP’s Daniel Treacey with an upbeat chorus that smacks of all that was good in old school indie in a hail of fuzzy logic and guitars.

        From humble beginnings as a home recording project, The Reds, Pinks and Purples has blossomed into a sporadic live unit with tours on both sides of the Atlantic and appearances at Pitchfork Fest London and Woodsist Fest as well as support slots for indie legends such as Destroyer, Guided By Voices, and The Feelies.

        STAFF COMMENTS

        Barry says: A lovely selection of pieces that haven't ever been available on a physical format from one of our favourite psychedelic jangle-pop outfits, and most prolific songwriters. It's always a hit and miss affair, the ol' B-sides compilation, but if anyone can sidestep that, it's the RP&P. A great, stylistically fluid collection.

        TRACK LISTING

        1. The World Doesn’t Need Another Band
        2. I Only Ever Wanted To See You Fail
        3. A Figure On The Stairs
        4. Slow Torture Of An Hourly Wage
        5. Trouble Don’t Last
        6. You’re Never Safe From Yourself
        7. Your Cult Is On Fire
        8. My Toxic Friend
        9. Your Taste Makes You Strange
        10. Marty As A Youth
        11. What’s The Worst Thing You Heard?
        12. No One Absolves Us In The End
        13. Richard In The Age Of The Corporation
        14. There Must Be A Pill For This

        Rival Consoles

        Landscape From Memory

          Rival Consoles has been concurrently in the foreground and background of electronic music since the late-‘00s; conjuring tense melancholia for Black Mirror soundtracks, playing in front of 10,000 dance fans at Drumsheds, selling out London’s Barbican Hall, and logging an expansive, wandering collection of synth-sculpted albums that explore a myriad of different styles and aesthetics—but always with human emotion as their lodestar. Landscape from Memory, the ninth studio LP from the UK producer and musician born Ryan Lee West, finally blossomed following a frustrating fallow year away from the production desk. For West, having spent the past decade producing and writing in a habitual way, falling out of love with creativity meant a slowing of the clock that makes him tick, a sense of being swallowed whole by some elementary force.

          Partly stitched together from a scrapbook of discarded audio snippets, Landscape from Memory demanded a degree of openness and vulnerability in its assembly. “There is a kind of strange beauty to it because it involves the past, present and future in a very strong way.” He set to work massaging melodic kernels into full tracks, like the skippy, haunted club shuffle of memory-jogging lead single ‘Catherine’, which is dedicated to his partner. “It’s extremely open, just like a naked melody on drums, so exposed as an idea… I think because she was so excited by it, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, I'm excited too, actually, I just didn't realise,” he reflects.

          Appropriately, the title track became the first piece of music that made West “feel an emotional reaction after a long time of having zero reaction”—closing the record transcendently in a fever dream of euphoric synthwave—although ‘Catherine’ can be understood as the spark that lit the fuse, bristling with energetic joy.

          “I like music that has a sense of momentum, really pushing forward,” he adds of the ‘Landscape from Memory’ icebreaker. “And it just instantly has that from the first breath. So I kind of like moments like that when they appear.”

          These climatic productions are characterised by their propulsive quality, and driven by West’s own push to step outside his comfort zone, having found inspiration flowing from new and unfamiliar sources. After his self-built Hackney studio suddenly felt too controlled of an environment, West altered course, mapping out tracks away from his desk. To that end, Landscape from Memory is a travelogue of creativity on the move, a collection of postcards from everywhere, and an album defined by its restlessness.

          As Rival Consoles, West’s calling card is his ability to channel hope, pain, sadness, and euphoria all at once, twisting the key in the lock of his internal world and telling stories without words. Crucially, Landscape from Memory is as much about zooming in on the details as it is about seeing past the horizon. Like a saturated photograph or an abstract painting daubed with bright splotches, Landscape from Memory is a riot of colour, an album blazing with a sound-shaper’s renewed love for his craft.

          STAFF COMMENTS

          Barry says: I've been a massive Rival Consoles fan for as long as I can remember ('Howl' still gets played weekly in the gaff), and this latest LP toes the perfect line between rhythmic glitch and floor-filling electronica. There are moments of divine melody and soaring majesty, noisy grit and crackling saturation, and all perfectly pulled together. It's sublime.

          TRACK LISTING

          1. In Reverse
          2. Catherine
          3. Drum Song
          4. Soft Gradient Beckons
          5. Gaivotas
          6. Coda
          7. Known Shape
          8. Nocturne
          9. Jupiter
          10. In A Trance
          11. If Not Now
          12. 2 Forms
          13. Tape Loop
          14. Landscape From Memory

          Jah Wobble

          Dub Volume 1

            Dimple Discs is pleased to announce its first release from the legend that is Jah Wobble - an exclusive dub LP with full colour outer and inner sleeves based on paintings by Wobble himself. It is a completely solo work with Wobble writing playing and arranging. Lee Perry and King Tubby are deep influences with astounding top layer sonics.

            Expertly mastered by Anthony Chapman of Collapsed Lung and cut to get maximum clarity and volume.

            Jah Wobble, is an English bass guitarist and singer. He became known to a wider audience as the original bass player in Public Image Ltd (PiL) in the late 1970s and early 1980s; he left the band after two albums.

            Following his departure from PiL, he developed a solo career. In 2012, he reunited with fellow PiL guitarist Keith Levene for 'Metal Box in Dub' and the album 'Yin & Yang'. Since 2013, he has been one of the featured pundits on Sunday morning's The Virtual Jukebox segment of BBC Radio 5 Live's Up All Night with Dotun Adebayo. His autobiography, Memoirs of a Geezer, was published in 2009.

            STAFF COMMENTS

            Barry says: A full LP of dub musings by the great Jah Wobble, with rich basses and horn stabs the order of the day, and beautifully produced and mastered to give that classic dub shake in the belly. A brilliant set of dubs from one of the great modern bassists.

            TRACK LISTING

            1. Dub In The East
            2. Tyson Dub Remix
            3. Existential Dub
            4. Losing All Sense Of Balance Dub
            5. Lovers Rock Dub
            6. Tragic Slavic Dub
            7. Sweet Dub
            8. Old Jewish East End Of London Dub

            A dark Italo compilation not for the faint of heart with the mystery, murder and madness of all that is Giallo. Serving as a soundtrack to a fictitious film Luna Rossa, Johnny Jewel of Italians Do It Better fame laces the opening with the breathy arsenic laced "Flesh" as Simple Symmetry's "Il Gatto Nero delivers a disco banger that even samples a cat's heartbeat. Legowelt creeps into lens with "Oberalp Catarsi under his Occult Orientated Crime moniker. Other suspects include Prefuse 73, Antoni Maovvi, Makeup And Vanity Set and Om & Grails member Emil Amos. Lucky dip vinyl with base transparent blood base edition with a red moon marbled rare version. QR code on label for a secret non album track! Limited and will be gone by nightfall!!

            STAFF COMMENTS

            Mine says: Secrets Of Sound are back with their third comp, this time introducing us to considerably darker sounds (which - shock, horror - I am totally on board with). Look at that sleeve too, what a beaut!!

            TRACK LISTING

            Side 1
            1. Johnny Jewel - "Flesh"
            2. Makeup & Vanity Set - "Notte Della Norte"
            3. Simple Symmetry & Gilbert Broid - "Il Gatto Nero"
            4. Occult Orientated Crime AKA Legowelt - "Oberalp Catarsi"

            Side 2
            1. Umberto - "Nightwish"
            2. Prefuse 73 - "Snare Attack Illusion"
            3. Antoni Maiovvi - "The Emperor Drowns Three Times"
            4. Emil Amos - "Realistica II"

            Jon Murphy marks the 4th release on the Barcelona-based label Adepta Editions with ''Modular Overture'', a 12" vinyl EP that explores the depths and textures of modular sound. "Modular Overture" is a meticulously crafted work built with a Eurorack system, where Murphy creates immersive atmospheres, delving into the experimental realm of raw, analogue synthesis, unafraid to explore abrasive sonic territories. In addition, the EP features three remixes by prominent artists in the electronic scene: Serge Geyzel, Cignol, and PERA STA ORI, who bring their own perspectives and styles to Murphy's work, further enriching the sonic experience. Comes with printed sleeve and is a strictly limited pressing of 200 copies!

            STAFF COMMENTS

            Matt says: Remarkable modular braindance excursions that'll make yer head pop! Real deal Cornish acid RIYL: RX-101, Ceefax, AFX, Vibert etc.

            TRACK LISTING

            01 Get Real Soon
            02 Embrace Failure
            03 Buzzstop
            04 Trapchat
            05 Get Real Soon - Serge Geyzel Remix
            06 Embrace Failure - Cignol Remix
            •07 Buzzstop - PERA STA ORI - Tornado Remix

            Tune Recreation Committee

            The Future Is Now

            Voom Voom Records and Fred Spider presents, "The Future Is Now", along with The Tune Recreation Committee. Mandla Mlangeni's project, co-produced and including some compositions from the virtuoso Afrika Mkhize, this masterwork transcends boundaries, weaving South African jazz heritage with global influences into a tapestry of sound that feels both timeless and revolutionary.

            The formidable core ensemble expands its sonic palette with extraordinary guest collaborators including classical flautist Khanyi Mthethwa and 2020 Standard Bank Young Artist Sisonke Xonti, and Mark Fransman, Reza Khota, Yonela Mnana, Nick Williams, Haile Supreme...The album pays heartfelt tribute to giants who shaped their journey - Bra Hugh Masekela in the stirring “Wena Fela” and trumpet innovator Roy Hargrove in the soulful “RH”- while confidently establishing TRC’s distinctive musical identity.

            These ten compositions represent the pinnacle of creative exploration and ensemble interplay. The Tune Recreation Committee continues to push boundaries and reimagine the possibilities of South African jazz with uncompromising vision and breathtaking artistry.



            STAFF COMMENTS

            Matt says: Voom Voom turn their attention to some new material here, with The Tune Recreation Committee adding to the rich cannon of SA jazz. As per every other release on the label - the quality is high, and every attention given to the pressing and presentation. A real beauty for jazz lovers.

            TRACK LISTING

            A1.The Future Is Now
            A2.RH
            A3.Kwaai Pappegai
            A4.Kwame's Jive
            A5.Interlude

            B1.Wana Fela
            B2.Didimala
            B3.Impimpi
            B4.Mothership Interlude

            Tucker Zimmerman

            Music By River Words By Ear

              To celebrate Tucker’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes, Big Potato are issuing a new unheard collection of his material titled 'Music By River Words By Ear',
              consisting of songs recorded with fellow forgotten legend Dave Evans and Tucker’s son Quanah on guitar and Geert Waegman on fiddle and Jef van Cool on bass.


              STAFF COMMENTS

              Barry says: A bucolic suite of flickering campfire balladry and athletic guitar fingerpicking, highlighting Tucker Zimmerman's expansive but understated career. A fascinating, beautifully written collection of simple folk and country swooners.

              TRACK LISTING

              1.River Boat
              2.Old Hippies Lament
              3.Back Off Blues
              4.We Are Always Watching
              5.Never Know (Never Know)
              6.Pretty Neat Guy
              7.Room 47
              8.Beyond Belief
              9.Walls Of Amsterdam

              Betino’s Records is taking pride in releasing Lucas Moinet Trio debut album. "Time Travel". It takes us on a deep journey into jazz fusion, funk, boogie and 70's inspired vocoder love songs. Lucas Moinet invited his music friends to be a part of the project: Camille Frillex, on bass and Lulu Jems on drums plus a few guests like Illa on vocals, Donald Devienne on trumpet, Lucas Piette on saxophone and Stupid Flash for some additional production. Being a multitalented musician, he composed, arranged the music and recorded the Fender Rhodes piano, guitars, Korg MS20, string machine & vocoder parts in the studio. Through the vocoder, he turned jazz fusion into love songs, from the funky "Close To You" to the organic "Crescendolls Are Missing", paying tribute to the Rhodes and vocoder masters from the 70's. Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen and Alain Mion to name a few…

              The album explores a lot of different styles with the downtempo bossa nova track "Soupir de Caracole" or the deep and atmospheric "New Morning".
              Everything was composed, recorded, arranged and mixed at Lucas Moinet's Studio 937 in Paris. The production and recording process took a long time and after many years, the band is really proud to introduce "Time Travel".

              STAFF COMMENTS

              Matt says: Fabulously diverse, contemporary jazz album that embraces electronic intervention, whilst maintaining a tight and disciplined approach to the genre. Real head turning stuff from these new French wonderkids.

              TRACK LISTING

              A1.Just The Way You Dance
              A2.Take Your Time

              B1.Time Travel
              B2.Givin' Up

              C1.New Morning
              C2.How Sweet Could Be Your Love
              C3.Crescendolls Are Missing

              D1.Close To You
              D2.Soupir De Caracol
              D3.Waste My Time

              Introspekt’s hotly anticipated debut album “Moving The Center” comes nearly a year after the release of her latest EP “Tectónica”. “Moving the Center” sees Introspekt play homage to dubstep’s point of genesis in South London in order to then shift the center of focus from a singular point of origin, to a more global narrative of bass and vibration. The album blends UK bass with contrasting genres like garage and ballroom, creating the perfect feminine blend of these historically masculine genres. The album merges the Black diaspora from across the Atlantic, crafting a sonic world where past, present and future are parallel and immersed in an early millennium type dubstep soundscape.

              Speaking about the album, Introspekt says, ‘”Moving The Center” embodies an alternate perspective to that which has been dominant in dance music, particularly so-called bass music. The narrative it presents is one which throws a wrench in the seemingly common perception of dubstep as a masculinist sensibility. “Moving The Center” pushes a feminine physicality to the front of the bassbins. Femmes to the front!’ 


              STAFF COMMENTS

              Matt says: Precision bass techniques from the other side of the pond as the US's Introspekt takes cues from London's garage and dubstep scenes to create her own view of feminine bass music.

              TRACK LISTING

              A1. The Transmission
              A2. Dilation
              B1. Afro Bass
              B2. Fractal
              C1. Physicality
              C2. Respect
              D1. The Front
              D2. Perhaps... 

              The Heads

              Reverberations Volume 3

                At long last we bring to you the next 5 LPs in The Heads - Reverberations Series.

                The Reverberations series continues with The Heads in their natural home (the Kings Square (appropriately next to the Centre for the Deaf)) playing at speaker blowing, Synapse-destroying volume.

                We could name-check some inspirations and kindred spirits: The Stooges, Spacemen 3, High Rise PSF, 13th Floor Elevators, Hawkwind, Floyd, Loop, Sabbath, NEU, Walking Seeds, Mudhoney, McBain era Magnet among them... But in all honesty, The Heads have always existed in a world of their own, surfacing as and when the mood takes them, before returning to their subterranean rehearsal room where The Heads would transcend themselves (and now you the listener) into a mantra-like, multi-layered, cross-dimensional, wah wah powered nirvana to inhabit that place where the pyramid meets the eye of the storm. The Reverberations series represents the full force of The Heads’ psychedelic pummel at their trippiest and most psyche, a shining example of the band’s ecstatic intensity - brutal yet beautiful. Strap in. Let go.

                TRACK LISTING

                A1 - KRT (24/10/04)
                A2 - KRT (28/01/05)
                B1 - KRT (14/02/05)

                The Heads

                Reverberations Volume 4

                  At long last we bring to you the next 5 LPs in The Heads - Reverberations Series.

                  The Reverberations series continues with The Heads in their natural home (the Kings Square (appropriately next to the Centre for the Deaf)) playing at speaker blowing, Synapse-destroying volume.

                  We could name-check some inspirations and kindred spirits: The Stooges, Spacemen 3, High Rise PSF, 13th Floor Elevators, Hawkwind, Floyd, Loop, Sabbath, NEU, Walking Seeds, Mudhoney, McBain era Magnet among them... But in all honesty, The Heads have always existed in a world of their own, surfacing as and when the mood takes them, before returning to their subterranean rehearsal room where The Heads would transcend themselves (and now you the listener) into a mantra-like, multi-layered, cross-dimensional, wah wah powered nirvana to inhabit that place where the pyramid meets the eye of the storm. The Reverberations series represents the full force of The Heads’ psychedelic pummel at their trippiest and most psyche, a shining example of the band’s ecstatic intensity - brutal yet beautiful. Strap in. Let go.

                  TRACK LISTING

                  A1 - Shankared
                  A2 - Velcro Gusset
                  B1 - Frog Prog Pt 1 (no Gap Into Off My Boats)
                  B2 - Off My Boats

                  The Heads

                  Reverberations Volume 5

                    At long last we bring to you the next 5 LPs in The Heads - Reverberations Series.

                    The Reverberations series continues with The Heads in their natural home (the Kings Square (appropriately next to the Centre for the Deaf)) playing at speaker blowing, Synapse-destroying volume.

                    We could name-check some inspirations and kindred spirits: The Stooges, Spacemen 3, High Rise PSF, 13th Floor Elevators, Hawkwind, Floyd, Loop, Sabbath, NEU, Walking Seeds, Mudhoney, McBain era Magnet among them... But in all honesty, The Heads have always existed in a world of their own, surfacing as and when the mood takes them, before returning to their subterranean rehearsal room where The Heads would transcend themselves (and now you the listener) into a mantra-like, multi-layered, cross-dimensional, wah wah powered nirvana to inhabit that place where the pyramid meets the eye of the storm. The Reverberations series represents the full force of The Heads’ psychedelic pummel at their trippiest and most psyche, a shining example of the band’s ecstatic intensity - brutal yet beautiful. Strap in. Let go.

                    TRACK LISTING

                    A1 - Space Rock Toast
                    A2 - Dragster
                    B1 - Frog Prog Pt.3
                    B2 - Neu Wah Jam

                    The Heads

                    Reverberations Volume 6

                      At long last we bring to you the next 5 LPs in The Heads - Reverberations Series.

                      The Reverberations series continues with The Heads in their natural home (the Kings Square (appropriately next to the Centre for the Deaf)) playing at speaker blowing, Synapse-destroying volume.

                      We could name-check some inspirations and kindred spirits: The Stooges, Spacemen 3, High Rise PSF, 13th Floor Elevators, Hawkwind, Floyd, Loop, Sabbath, NEU, Walking Seeds, Mudhoney, McBain era Magnet among them... But in all honesty, The Heads have always existed in a world of their own, surfacing as and when the mood takes them, before returning to their subterranean rehearsal room where The Heads would transcend themselves (and now you the listener) into a mantra-like, multi-layered, cross-dimensional, wah wah powered nirvana to inhabit that place where the pyramid meets the eye of the storm. The Reverberations series represents the full force of The Heads’ psychedelic pummel at their trippiest and most psyche, a shining example of the band’s ecstatic intensity - brutal yet beautiful. Strap in. Let go.

                      TRACK LISTING

                      A1 - Bedminster Hayride
                      A2 - (parts 1+2) An Overpsych
                      B1 - Frog Prog Pt 4
                      B2 - Bareback (outro)

                      The Heads

                      Reverberations Volume 7

                        At long last we bring to you the next 5 LPs in The Heads - Reverberations Series.

                        The Reverberations series continues with The Heads in their natural home (the Kings Square (appropriately next to the Centre for the Deaf)) playing at speaker blowing, Synapse-destroying volume.

                        We could name-check some inspirations and kindred spirits: The Stooges, Spacemen 3, High Rise PSF, 13th Floor Elevators, Hawkwind, Floyd, Loop, Sabbath, NEU, Walking Seeds, Mudhoney, McBain era Magnet among them... But in all honesty, The Heads have always existed in a world of their own, surfacing as and when the mood takes them, before returning to their subterranean rehearsal room where The Heads would transcend themselves (and now you the listener) into a mantra-like, multi-layered, cross-dimensional, wah wah powered nirvana to inhabit that place where the pyramid meets the eye of the storm. The Reverberations series represents the full force of The Heads’ psychedelic pummel at their trippiest and most psyche, a shining example of the band’s ecstatic intensity - brutal yet beautiful. Strap in. Let go.

                        TRACK LISTING

                        A1 - 12 Miles High
                        B1 - Gnu
                        B2 - Chipped
                        B3 - Television
                        B4 - Spliff Riff (garage Version 92)

                        The Sound of Love International 007, curated by Moxie.

                        A love letter to the open-hearted spirit of the Adriatic coast and the sounds that have defined her career. Curated with the theme 'U Skladu' (Croatian for 'In Harmony') in mind, the 13-track collection embodies the soulful, euphoric energy of Love International.

                        TRACK LISTING

                        A1. East Coast Love Affair - Xylocopa Violate
                        A2. Helen Sharpe - Got 2 Have Your Love (Jazz Rave Mix)
                        A3. Len Lewis - Joy
                        B1. Percy X & Mark Broom - Lady Killer
                        B2. Sound Of The Suburbs - All You Need
                        B3. Amtraxx - Funky
                        C1. Eden Burns - Big Bark Manifesto
                        C2. Karizma - Kellah
                        C3. Ivan-I & Starchild - All Things Dub
                        C4. Lightning Head - Me & Me Princess (Version 2)
                        D1. Selective Perception - Dij-Ya-Do-One
                        D2. 82J6 - Exercise Life
                        D3. Quest - Smooth Skin

                        Sally Shapiro

                        Ready To Live A Lie

                          Swedish italo disco / synthpop duo Sally Shapiro announce their fifth studio album, 'Ready To Live A Lie'. Taking inspiration from synthwave, italo disco, nudisco, indie pop and bossanova, the album becomes their second for Italians Do It Better - again mixed together with label founder Johnny Jewel (Chromatics, Glass Candy, Desire).

                          'Ready To Live A Lie' may, however, be the duo's darkest album yet. The lyrics have shifted from the euphoria of first love to exploring "Sally's" struggles in long-term relationships—love triangles, boredom, resentment, and the lingering sense of loneliness.


                          TRACK LISTING

                          1. The Other Dyas
                          2. Hard To Love
                          3. Rent
                          4. Purple Coloured Sky
                          5. Happier Somewhere Else
                          6. Guarding Shell
                          7. Hospital
                          8. Did You Call Tonight
                          9. Oh Carrie
                          10. He’s Not You
                          11. Rain

                          Daniel Johnston

                          Love Lives Forever (BBC Sessions 2003-2011)

                            Daniel Johnston’s legacy is legendary. The quintessential DIY artist started his career in Austin, TX whilst hawking cassettes from his day job at McDonald’s. The rest, as they say, is history and fans of US alternative music from the 1980s onwards know about his work and the people he went on to inspire.

                            This is a project inspired by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Marc Riley and the tracks have been licensed from the BBC and approved by Daniel’s family, management and charity. The sessions were spread across an eight-year period with two sessions for Rob Da Bank and three with Marc Riley (both of whom are executive producers of this album).

                            A few bootleg recordings of these sessions have been available across the years but now they have been lovingly mastered and cut by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios in London. Daniel was a lifelong fan of The Beatles and the overwhelming consensus from those who knew him was that he would be so proud and excited to have his music mastered above the legendary Studio 2 at Abbey Road. This project’s objective is to celebrate Daniel’s musical legacy, rather than explore further his well-documented mental health problems. However, profits from the album will go to Daniel’s Hi, How Are You Project based in Austin. 


                            TRACK LISTING

                            1. Mountain Top (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            2. Fish (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            3. Walking The Cow (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            4. Casper The Friendly Ghost (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            5. Go (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            6. Love Enchanted (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            7. Hey Joe (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            8. Rock ‘N’ Roll / EGA (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            9. Speeding Motorcycle (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            10. True Love Will Find You In The End (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            11. Devil Town (Rob Da Bank Session 2008)
                            12. True Love Will Find You In The End (Marc Riley Session 2008)
                            13. Go (Marc Riley Session 2008)
                            14. Life In Vain (Marc Riley Session 2009)
                            15. Living Life (Marc Riley Session 2009)
                            16. Speeding Motorcycle (Marc Riley Session 2011)
                            17. Rock This Town (Marc Riley Session 2011)
                            18. Love Enchanted (The Blue Room 2003)
                            19. Forever Your Love (The Blue Room 2003)
                            20. Mountain Top (The Blue Room 2003)
                            21. True Love Will Find You In The End (The Blue Room 2003)

                            Various Artists

                            Too Slow To Disco NEO: The Sunset Manifesto Volume 2

                              Too Slow To Disco are back with another chapter in their ongoing series of unearthing smooth vibes from all over the world, this time they go back to the FUTURE for you with: 'THE SUNSET MANIFESTO Volume 2'.

                              After a five year break mainly concentrating on the late 70s/early 80s Westcoast Soul/Yacht/AOR sound, they finally dive deep into the modern world of their beloved sister-label Too Slow To Disco NEO (for the third time after 2018s TSTD NEO - 'En France' and 2020s 'The Sunset Manifesto' excursions).

                              But of course it wasn't a real 5 year break since the first Sunset Manifesto compilation, as in the meantime they also released a few digital TSTD Neo singles, and - more importantly - their "Too Slow To Disco NEO - FM" playlist on spotify (handcurated by Dj Supermarkt every week and now hosting more than 1500 tracks of mellow, modern sunshine vibes) was growing steadily and becoming a new, important fixpoint in the TSTD musical universe.

                              TSTD NEO is the outlet Dj Supermarkt is using to unearth modern laidback, smooth, sunny slow disco vibes with a soulful Westcoast/Balearic touch. For him TSTD always has been about a laidback vibe/feeling, not a certain time period in musical history. And that sunny Westcoast vibe that they dug out on those traditional TSTD compilations has become a huge influence to so many modern artists. So it makes sense that they present the cream of new slo/mo Nu- Disco/Sunset Disco/Daytime Disco acts in the TSTD format, a luxurious compilation, with artists from all across the globe: Not only from the two homelands of that modern slow disco sound, Los Angeles/California and France, but also from Beijing, Montreal, Mexico, London, New York, Stockholm, Rotterdam… the moon, you name it! This music is more a state of mind, a feeling, then a geographical thing. 


                              TRACK LISTING

                              1. Lovetempo - Same Ole Love (365 Days A Year) (Extended Summer Breeze Mix)
                              2. Nicholas Cangiano - Falling Behind
                              3. Poolside - Ventura Highway Blues (Monsieur Van Pratt Dub)
                              4. Prep & Eddie Chacon - Call It (Turbotito Remix)
                              5. Moi Je - Découvre
                              6. Turbotito - Time Starts Moving Slow
                              7. Young Gun Silver Fox - Curious
                              8. B.U.M.P. - Give A Little Love A Lot
                              9. Woolfy Vs Projections - Seeds
                              10. 1-900 - Breakin' 84
                              11. Goodvibes Sound - Stay For One More Night (Matt Hughes Remix)
                              12. Moods & Nic Hanson - Music Never Looked So Good Good
                              13. BowAsWell - Over When The Night Is Gone
                              14. Joel Sarakula - Hands Of Love (Phil Martin Remix)
                              15. Kimchii - Do You Ever

                              Back in stock Cover of Pacha House Classics by Various Artists.

                              Various Artists

                              Pacha House Classics

                                Pacha Ibiza is steeped in dance music history. Originally a playground for the rich and famous during the 70’s and 80’s, the club has transformed into a mecca for music lovers the world over. Pacha is to Ibiza what Studio 54 was to New York, encapsulating glamour and hedonism while regarded as an institution that turns underground hits into global house anthems.

                                Pacha House Classics compiles twelve undisputed anthems from the vaults of Defected Records’ vast catalogue, all of which have been championed year after year at the legendary nightclub. Spread across three individual records are classics from The Shapeshifters, Kings of Tomorrow, CamelPhat, Shakedown, Spiller and more; Pacha House Classics is the ultimate house soundtrack for Pacha Ibiza’s rich history.

                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                Matt says: A catch-all snapshot of one of the most glorious era's of Ibizan club culture. Before the island went super instagram and VIP centric (yes, believe it or not, there was a time!) Pacha was one of the biggest nights (it wasn't called a 'brand' back then) on the island. So much so, all of these tracks spilled over into UK club culture. They're all absolutely massive!

                                TRACK LISTING

                                A1. Soulsearcher - Can't Get Enough! (Vocal Club Mix) 
                                A2. Fish Go Deep & Tracey K - The Cure & The Cause (Dennis Ferrer Remix) 
                                B1. Shakedown - At Night (Original) 
                                B2. Soul Central - Strings Of Life (Danny Krivit Re-Edit) 
                                C1. Spiller Ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) (Extended Vocal Mix) 
                                C2. The Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme 
                                D1. Kings Of Tomorrow Ft. Julie McKnight - Finally (Original Extended Mix) 
                                D2. Pete Heller's Big Love - Big Love 
                                E1. Noir & Haze - Around (Solomun Vox) 
                                E2. Dennis Ferrer - Hey Hey (DF's Attention Vocal Mix) 
                                F1. CamelPhat & Elderbrook - Cola (Club Mix) 
                                F2. Louie Vega & Jay 'Sinister' Sealee Starring Julie McKnight - Diamond Life (Dance Ritual Mix) 

                                Lorde

                                Virgin

                                  Co-produced by Lorde and Jim-E Stack, with contributions from Devonte Hynes (Blood Orange), Dan Nigro, Fabiana Palladino, Buddy Ross, and Andrew Aged, 'Virgin' is the sound of Lorde returning to the beat-driven and raw lyricism that propelled 'Pure Heroine' and 'Melodrama' to commercial and critical success. Preceded by lead single ‘What Was That’ (which peaked at #1 on the US Spotify Chart), Virgin marks the return of a truly generational artist.

                                  TRACK LISTING

                                  1. Hammer
                                  2. What Was That
                                  3. Shapeshifter
                                  4. Man Of The Year
                                  5. Favourite Daughter
                                  6. Current Affairs
                                  7. Clearblue
                                  8. GRWM
                                  9. Broken Glass
                                  10. If She Could See Me Now
                                  11. David

                                  BC Camplight

                                  A Sober Conversation

                                    Every BC Camplight album has a backstory every bit as compelling as its music.

                                    A Sober Conversation is no different, as virtuoso songwriter and pianist Brian Christinzio documents the last two years of his life, finally confronting a shocking childhood trauma while embracing sobriety, to create his bravest and most revealing record. It's an enthralling, sometimes haunting quasi- concept record marked by ruthless tragic- comedic purging and sublime, intricate melody, knitting lyrical screenplays to dazzling arrangements.

                                    It is BC Camplight at the height of his remarkable powers.

                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                    Barry says: A superb, cinematic journey that's as instantly alluring as any album in his brilliant back-catalogue, but who's myriad sonic non-sequiturs make more sense every time you hear them. A beautifully warm, endlessly enchanting journey from one of the most capable and talented figures in the game. Brilliant.

                                    TRACK LISTING

                                    The Tent
                                    Two Legged Dog
                                    A Sober Conversation
                                    When I Make My First Million
                                    Where You Taking My Baby?
                                    Bubbles In The Gasoline
                                    Rock Gently In Disorder
                                    Drunk Talk
                                    Leaving Camp Four Oaks

                                    Red Laser Records switches on the smoke machine and strobe light, dishes out the high grade poppers and continues with the most unprofessional approach in the biz as they celebrate their FIFTIETH fuckin' release - a double disc photon torpedo diving into the label's roster and featuring all new tracks from RL stalwarts across the ages.

                                    Marking this half century milestone, their in-house graphics team have been on a strict diet of kryptonite and engine oil, conjuring up one of the most lavish (and budget destroying) gatefold sleeves to date; alongside personal insights (and an in-depth cigar review) on their 13 year journey from label heads Il Bosco and Pharaoh Brunson.

                                    Eight, sizzling, white hot MANCTALO jams that'll have knickers dropped, shirts lifted, fists pumping and your room stinking of fried circuit boards quicker than you can say #inabiteveryoneelse.

                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                    Matt says: A huge milestone for local firm and manctalo originators Red Laser is celebrated in suitably fine form with eight brand new tracks from the roster's crack squad of machine molestors. Coupled with one of the most eye-catchingly glorious sleeves to date (don't forget the cigar review!); this is a proper collectors item from the celebrated Manchester label.

                                    TRACK LISTING

                                    A1 - Kid Machine - Neutron Star
                                    A2 - Tommy Walker 3 - Fell Running
                                    B1 - Starion - Nebula
                                    B2 - Il Bosco - Nottio Botherdini
                                    C1 - LeonxLeon - The Laser Gazer
                                    C2 - Flemming Dallum - Solar Eclipse
                                    D1 - Starion - Red Laser Worshippers
                                    D2 - Tom Sharkett - Mind In Motion (Il Bosco Remix)

                                    Billy Woods

                                    Golliwog

                                      GOLLIWOG is billy woods’ first album in two years, preceded by 2023’s Maps, his second collaboration with producer Kenny Segal. That nimble travelogue has little in common with woods’ newest work, despite the fact that Segal shows up a couple times in the credits. GOLLIWOG is a haunting collection that weaves horror, humor, surrealism and Afropessimism into a cinematic tapestry, aided and abetted by a murderer’s row of producers. African zombies, time traveling trap cars, malevolent ragdolls and a dying Frantz Fanon are just a few of the revelers in woods’ danse macabre.

                                      GOLLIWOG features production from The Alchemist, Kenny Segal, EL-P, Conductor Williams, Preservation, Messiah Musik, Sadhugold, Ant (Atmosphere), Shabaka Hutchings, Steel Tipped Dove, DJ Haram, Willie Green, Jeff Markey, Saint Abdullah, and LA-based experimental jazz trio Human Error Club. Meanwhile, woods is joined on the mic by Backwoodz labelmates ELUCID and Cavalier, along with rappers Bruiser Wolf, Despot, Al.Divino, and singer-songwriter Yolanda Watson.

                                      GOLLIWOG is another triumph in the woods oeuvre, as layered and compelling as anything he has ever done. A black carnival pitched in a muddy field overnight, empty rides whirring and clattering in the dark

                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                      Barry says: If it wasn't for Woods' *impeccable* rapping, this could easily be an outsider noise / plunderphonics odyssey, with lo-fi samples bringing to mind Lilacs & Champagne or DJ Shadow, while Woods' obviously political lyrics and Sci-Fi fantasism adds a rich, odd lore. Brilliant, and completely startling experimental hip-hop. Anticon eat your heart out.

                                      TRACK LISTING

                                      1. Jumpscare Produced By Steel Tipped Dove
                                      2. STAR87 Produced By Conductor Williams
                                      3. Misery Produced By Kenny Segal
                                      4. BLK XMAS Feat. Bruiser Wolf Produced By Sadhugold
                                      5. Waterproof Mascara Produced By Preservation
                                      6. Counterclockwise Produced By The Alchemist
                                      7. Corinthians Feat. Despot Produced By EL-P
                                      8. Pitchforks & Halos Produced By Kenny Segal
                                      9. All These Worlds Are Yours Feat. ELUCID Produced By Shabaka Hutchings & DJ Haram
                                      10. Maquiladoras Feat. Al.divino Produced By Saint Abdullah
                                      11. A Doll Fulla Pins Feat. Yolanda Watson Produced By Jeff Markey
                                      12. Golgotha Produced By Messiah Musik
                                      13. Cold Sweat Produced By Ant
                                      14. BLK ZMBY Produced By Steel Tipped Dove
                                      15. Make No Mistake Produced By Messiah Musik
                                      16. Born Alone Produced By Kenny Segal
                                      17. Lead Paint Test Feat. ELUCID & Cavalier Produced By Willie Green
                                      18. Dislocated Feat. ELUCID Produced By Human Error Club

                                      Herbert & Momoko (Matthew Herbert & Momoko Gill)

                                      Clay

                                        A soulful, elastic collaboration, 'Clay' treads nimbly between the dancefloor and the more introspective moods of the early hours, both reminiscent of Herbert’s iconic album 'Around The House' while taking off in a compelling new direction. Agile and open-hearted, 'Clay' is a thrilling, sonically adventurous record from two of the UK’s most forward-thinking artists.

                                        Orbiting around Herbert’s fleet-footed productions and the ingenuity of Momoko Gill’s dexterous, melodic writing, 'Clay' is at once stripped-back and rhythmically complex, drawing on a variety of found sources - from japanese kotos to basketballs - to give the sound an unmistakably organic feel.

                                        Bringing together original sampling techniques, live improvisation and lush, expansive arrangements, 'Clay' is lifted into higher realms by Momoko Gill’s intimate vocal performance, soaring wide-winged across the album’s eleven tracks, whether on the euphoric melancholia of ‘Mowing’ or the emotive duet ‘Heart’.

                                        Prefaced by lead singles ‘Babystar’, ‘Need to Run’ and ‘Someone Like You’, Clay follows the 2024 release of debut collaboration ‘Fallen’ and Momoko Gill’s remix of Matthew Herbert’s ‘The Horse Is Here’. And yet, although 'Clay' marks the first full-length release between Herbert and Gill, the duo’s shared passion for pushing sonic boundaries has played a crucial role in their respective careers to date.

                                        For Herbert that means treating the world as an instrument, making music using everything from the sounds of a bomb exploding in Libya, a horse skeleton, a tank driving over a meal made for Tony Blair, 20,000 dogs, 245 shops and countless other noises. His album 'ONE PIG' – which follows the lifecycle of a pig from birth to plate – remains one of the most ambitious and provocative pieces of electronic music this century, cementing his reputation as an utterly singular composer, artist and producer.

                                        Self-taught in drums and composition, Momoko Gill’s journey to 'Clay' has been similarly experimental – cutting her teeth in South London’s multi-disciplinary music scene, embracing new challenges andcollaborating with the likes of Coby Sey, Tirzah and Alabaster DePlume. Although drums and vocals are her mediums of choice, Gill’s multi-instrumental talents were on full show on 2024’s EP as 'An Alien Called Harmony' with poet/rapper Nadeem Din-Gabisi, and she continues to hone her style in the frictions between genres.

                                        With an intuitive feel for one another’s sound, 'Clay' is a meeting of musical minds that resonates far beyond the sum of its parts - a startlingly fresh, beautifully conceived record from two artists who sound like they’ve been playing together all their lives.

                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                        Barry says: Funky, organic dance music that would be just as comfortable soundtracking the post-club meetup or bouncing heads in the mid-afternoon sunshine terrace. Falling somewhere between mellow house, Balearic and downbeat, the dream collaborative efforts of Herbert & Momoko will hopefully continue beyond this stunning electro-acoustic statement.

                                        TRACK LISTING

                                        1. Calm Water
                                        2. Need To Run
                                        3. Mowing
                                        4. More And More
                                        5. Heart
                                        6. Animals
                                        7. Fallen Again
                                        8. Babystar
                                        9. Show Me
                                        10. Someone Like You
                                        11. Circle Shore

                                        Durand Jones & The Indications

                                        Flowers

                                          After more than a decade of music-making, Durand Jones & The Indications have blossomed as a unit and are basking in their successes. On their aptly titled new album, 'Flowers', The Indications unfurl their true colors — embracing all their roots and influences, maturation and confidence, and share them with the world.

                                          Since forming in 2012, the road has taken The Indications from those origins at Indiana University, Bloomington to the global stage, selling out shows across Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand to the West Coast— where DJI has a strong following among the lowrider and vintage soul enthusiasts.

                                          For as far as Durand Jones & The Indications have come, 'Flowers' grew from the desire to return to their roots in a Bloomington basement, a space where they first found camaraderie in gritty funk and Southern soul that would inspire their self-titled debut. Pulling sonically and spiritually from each of the group's previous releases and solo work, Flowers is the next stage of DJI's inspired soulful discography. DJI are not only accepting their flowers, but indulging in their sweet and sexy fragrance.

                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                          Barry says: Jones returns for another of his super-smooth soul time capsules that ooze modernity while paying obvious tribute to the roots of the sound (There's more than a little Gaye here). 'Flowers' is full of beautifully sanguine melodies and perfectly produced instrumentals, all topped by Jones saying 'Love' and 'Baby' loads. What more could you want.

                                          TRACK LISTING

                                          1. Flowers
                                          2. Paradise
                                          3. Lovers' Holiday
                                          4. I Need The Answer
                                          5. Flower Moon
                                          6. Really Wanna Be With You
                                          7. Been So Long
                                          8. Everythin
                                          9. Rust And Steel
                                          10. If Not For Love
                                          11. Without You

                                          Frankie Cosmos

                                          Different Talking

                                            'Different Talking', the sixth and, so far, best album by NYC indie-rock four-piece Frankie Cosmos, seems to exist across time and space, as we all kind of do. It’s a collection of fragments and memories, remembered places, and reinterpreted feelings that adds up to a lucent, humming whole: a sturdy, worldly indie-rock record about aging and the passage of time that nonetheless manages to feel sharply current. Frankie Cosmos’ lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Greta Kline has long been heralded as one of contemporary indie music’s most deft and most necessary writers, but on 'Different Talking', her lyrics soften out slightly, the wry cynicism that defined recent records now giving way to an acknowledgment of the awesome, and necessary, fallibility of the human brain and heart.

                                            To classify 'Different Talking' as a return to form, or at least a return to the lush directness of earlier Frankie Cosmos records, would be rude but also wholly incorrect: as 'Different Talking' makes clear, you can never return to the comfort and bravery of your early twenties, but that person always kind of lives inside you, no matter how much you change. 'Different Talking' is about finding that person, honoring them, and learning from them. “A lot of the album is about being grown up and figuring out how to know yourself – like, ‘What is moving on?’” says Kline. “How do we move on when we’re addicted to a cycle of haunting our own past? Writing songs is just the way through that.”

                                            Kline has been a fixture of the American indie underground since her late teens when her prolific Bandcamp releases and 2014 indie-label debut Zentropy led her to be dubbed “the poet laureate of New York City DIY.” A tag like that is a lot for young shoulders to take on, but it’s hard to deny the singular influence she has had on contemporary pop music. If the idea of a young woman picking up a synth in her bedroom, putting a couple of songs on the internet, and quickly becoming a superstar is now de rigeur, it’s because Kline and her peers normalized and exalted (female) DIY genius long before they were pinned to moodboards in major-label marketing offices.

                                            A lot has changed since then: after going through a handful of different permutations over the past decade, Frankie Cosmos is now a four-piece featuring Kline, Alex Bailey, Katie Von Schleicher, and Hugo Stanley. Kline is the only constant, but Stanley, Bailey, and Von Schleicher are crucial collaborators, and to use the names “Greta Kline” and “Frankie Cosmos” interchangeably would be incorrect. Kline remains the primary songwriter, and the music on Different Talking is arranged by the band as a whole, but this is the first album to be self-tracked and self-produced by the band. Not coincidentally, it feels like a purer, more distilled take. “It does feel like the best version of what I’ve wanted to make since I was a teenager,” says Kline. “Although this was recorded in a living room, it’s as high fidelity as anything we’ve made in the studio.”

                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                            Barry says: Retaining the pace and structure of their early work, but bolstered by the musical and production skills of Katie Von Schleicher and their earned experience (since the 2012 debut), Frankie Cosmos' 'Different Talking' shows a band at ease with their shifting sound. Warm synths, floating melodies and harmonies, perfectly crisp percussion and impeccable melodic sensibilities. Fantastically paced and perfectly formed.

                                            TRACK LISTING

                                            1. Pressed Flower
                                            2. One Of Each
                                            3. Against The Grain
                                            4. Bitch Heart
                                            5. Porcelain
                                            6. One! Grey! Hair!
                                            7. Vanity
                                            8. Not Long
                                            9. Margareta
                                            10. Your Take On
                                            11. High Five Handshake
                                            12. You Become
                                            13. Joyride
                                            14. Tomorrow
                                            15. Wonderland
                                            16. Life Back
                                            17. Pothole

                                            Bruce Springsteen

                                            Lost And Found: Selections From The Lost Albums

                                              'Lost And Found: Selections From The Lost Albums' is a curated collection of 20 previously unreleased songs from Springsteen's 'Tracks II: The Lost Albums' box set.

                                              These recordings illuminate key chapters in Springsteen's storied career, offering fans unprecedented insight into his creative process. "The Lost Albums were full records, some of them even to the point of being mixed and not released," Springsteen reveals. "I've played this music to myself and often close friends for years now. I'm glad you'll get a chance to finally hear them. I hope you enjoy them."

                                              Journey through Springsteen's sonic evolution, from the raw, lo-fi 'LA Garage Sessions '83' that bridges 'Nebraska' and 'Born in the U.S.A'., to the innovative drum loops and synthesizers of 'Streets of Philadelphia Sessions'. This collection spans 35 prolific years of Springsteen's songwriting and home recording experiments. "The ability to record at home whenever I wanted allowed me to go into a wide variety of different musical directions," Springsteen explains.

                                              The compilation showcases his versatility across genres: unreleased film soundtrack work from 'Faithless', soulful country arrangements with pedal steel from 'Somewhere North of Nashville', richly textured border tales from 'Inyo', orchestral mid-century noir from 'Twilight Hours', and signature E Street rock from 'Perfect World'.

                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                              Barry says: Now then, 'The Lost Albums' was (is) a lovely but financially prohibitive box set of unheard gems from Springsteen's past, and here we have a 'Best Of' from that banger-encrusted box. It's classic Bruce, massive ballady rock business with country leanings and legendary songwriting credentials, and its not three hundred quid.

                                              TRACK LISTING

                                              1. Follow That Dream
                                              2. Seven Tears
                                              3. Unsatisfied Heart
                                              4. Blind Spot
                                              5. Something In The Well
                                              6. Waiting On The End Of The World
                                              7. Faithless
                                              8. God Sent You
                                              9. Repo Man
                                              10. Detail Man
                                              11. You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone
                                              12. The Lost Charro
                                              13. Inyo
                                              14. Adelita
                                              15. Sunday Love
                                              16. High Sierra
                                              17. Sunliner
                                              18. I’m Not Sleeping
                                              19. Rain In The River
                                              20. You Lifted Me Up

                                              Stephen O'Malley

                                              But Remember What You Have Had

                                                With 'But Remember What You Have Had', Stephen O’Malley continues and expands his musical approach by transposing it to multiphonic electroacoustic writing and acousmatic listening. Drawing not only on his extensive experience as a composer and live instrumentalist, but also on the countless studio production and mixing sessions he has taken part in the course of his many projects (in solo, with SUNN O))) or KTL, to name but a few), Stephen O’Malley’s work on this new piece is ambitious, engaging in an inspired research that delves into the deep intricacies between polyphony, intonation and timbrality, enhanced by melodic motifs. To do this, O’Malley summons up his own very personal sound universe, constellated with amplified textures, instrumental sustained tones and raw energy, in order to diffract them into wavefronts, waves and blows that weave a complex, rich and fascinating matter. But remember what you have had stands out as an important work in Stephen O’Malley’s repertoire: it brings together the multiplicity of his musical approach in an exemplary way, while laying the foundations and promises for the future of an already extraordinary journey.

                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                Barry says: As one half of Sunn0))), you'd expect that O'Malley is well versed in drone, be it catatonic earth-shattering distortion and belly-wobbling bass or brittle, textured modern-classical wrought from woodwind and strings. This (much like the brilliant 'Gruides', 2015) is of the latter ilk, and is absolutely stunning. Slow-mo classical drone.

                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                1. But Remember What You Have Had

                                                M83

                                                A Necessary Escape - Dakar Chronicles - Original Soundtrack

                                                  'A Necessary Escape' is the new M83 Soundtrack to the forthcoming film 'Dakar: Race Against The Desert'.

                                                  This will be the 4th album soundtrack released by M83 and was recorded in both France and the US by M83's leading man, Anthony Gonzalez, along with regular M83 contributors, Joe Berry & Clement Libes.

                                                  The film 'Dakar: Race Against The Desert' will be released digitally by Universal Pictures on the 12th May and the film will get its World-wide cinematic premiere on the 26th June at the MK2 Bibliotheque in in Paris. The film, which is directed by the French actor/director Jalil Lespert, follows the World famous Dakar Car Rally - an event that for 45 years has been the ultimate test of resilience, skill and endurance in the world of Motorsports. Spanning 9,000 kilometres, the race lasts for 14 gruelling days over harsh desert terrain. With unprecedented access, this film dives into the world's toughest race, following legends like Sebastien Loeb, reigning champion Nasser Al-Attiyah, and pioneers Carlos Sainz and Stephane Peterhansel. It also spotlights rising stars like Mason Klein.

                                                  * 'Dakar Chronicles' is the film's title in French version.

                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                  Barry says: There are few artists better suited to soundtrack work than M83, and 'A Necessary Escape - Dakar Chronicles' sees Anthony Gonzalez forge his crescentic electronic swells around some beautiful albeit intense footage of endurance car racing. Not sure I would have called this one, but it works *perfectly*.

                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                  A Necessary Escape (Part 1)
                                                  Strike Machine
                                                  First Steps Upward
                                                  Members Of The Universe
                                                  Human Deceleration
                                                  Solid State Ricochet
                                                  Echoes
                                                  Atlas Imperial
                                                  Artificial Infinity
                                                  To Our Guided Voices
                                                  A Necessary Escape (Part 2)
                                                  A Necessary Escape (Part 3)

                                                  Gabriel Brady

                                                  Day-blind

                                                    Through the interaction of dulcet textures and harmonious melodies, infused with Greek bouzouki string plucks, sporadic piano and violin, enigmatic Alexandria, Virginia born musician Gabriel Brady laments the everyday with daring simplicity on his lustrous ambient / alt-folk debut 'Day-blind' for the Tonal Union imprint.

                                                    Attracted by the sensibilities of old French film scores, especially those by Michel Legrand and Jean Constantin and the sheer simplistic beauty of forbearing composers Debussy, Satie and Ravel, Brady cites inspiration in a warm earnestness to the melodies; and the complete, unmediated feeling that such scores and orchestrations create. Written and produced in his bedroom dorm at Harvard, in Cambridge Massachusetts, Brady recorded organic instruments (violin, bouzouki) before routing them through a compact modular synth setup acting as a sound chamber for further manipulation (loops, effects, textures). In striving to make sense of the ordinary, on 'Day-blind', Brady’s works are invariably imbued with a sense of serenity and tension as he explains:

                                                    “There’s a way in which everyday life can be a source of deep pain and melancholy, intensely disquieting and dull and leaden, and yet it can also be a place of deep peace and conscious attunement to the present moment, and it’s this tension that the album is built around.”

                                                    The woozy opener ‘Womb’ accesses deep and personal emotional spaces with its textural synth swells alternating between two simple chords, a gentle piano interlude and grainy textures that induce a day-dream state. The intentional unhurried-pace of the track ‘Ordinary’ drifts between two key centers of doleful Wurlitzer chords, hand in hand with the listener who might only register the tonal shifts on a subconscious level. Another distinct feature is the warm enveloping presence of an eight string Greek bouzouki (a longnecked, string instrument) as heard on ‘Land and Sea’, after Brady fell in love with its unique timbre that echoes a filmic quality to that of Jean Constantin’s 400 Blows score to depict a sense of yearning. ‘Attune’ enters with slowed-down synths and bouzouki, looped over itself, delayed, and then resynthesized to create a strange but seamless blend of acoustic and electronic as Brady moves the centre of gravity. This deliberate intervention takes the ordinary instruments and defamiliarizes them, making their source/origin not readily apparent therefore removing any blanket of association.

                                                    'Day-blind' too explores themes of memory, nostalgia, and melancholia which emanate from its lo-fi, intimate and sensitive nature. Through a hazy smokescreen of delays, tape loops and decays Brady contemplates a typical post modern-era dilemma of wistful longing and lonesome nostalgia, existing parallel/alongside contentment and staying in the present moment. The bare, reflective ‘Streetlight’ with its pitch-shifted and vari-speed piano, spliced with a weeping violin melody performed by Kalman Strauss, precedes the re-constructive ‘Untitled’ with a heavily filtered looping piano and rhythmic pulse. ‘Ambrosial’, dims the spotlight to a close being the most textural-laden track, combining loose sonic materials similar to Eno’s Ambient 4 collage techniques. By channelling his own acute musical sensibilities by means of evocative voicings, Brady momentarily deconstructs, warps and reshapes reality, posing questions about perception and our states of being as the album's curious title mysteriously suggests.

                                                    Across its seven vignettes, 'Day-blind' is life animated as Brady makes possible an everyday encounter with the transcendent.

                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                    Barry says: A frankly mindblowing, and perfectly conceived collection of bristling modern classical, ambient and folk timbres that grow and swell, weave and bloom into massive walls of sound then BOOM, you're back in piano droplet city with the little bugs and stuff. Ace.

                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                    1. Womb
                                                    2. Ordinary
                                                    3. Land And Sea
                                                    4. Attune
                                                    5. Streetlight
                                                    6. Untitled
                                                    7. Ambrosial

                                                    Hot Milk

                                                    Corporation P.O.P

                                                      'Corporation P.O.P', produced by Jim Shaw, Zach Jones and KJ Strock, was recorded between the band’s Salford flat and a live room in LA. Jim Shaw elaborates on the record’s themes: “Corporation P.O.P is a flurry of thoughts, feelings, ramblings from the afters n questions about where we’re at right now in England, the further western world and emotionally. It is an entry from the perspective of us lot who live a dichotomy of months in faraway lands and then experience the sudden grounding of returning home to Salford. It’s hard not to compare, contrast and try to understand. P.O.P = Payment of Pain. We all must live with the burden of modernity and this pain has been commodified; we all must pay.”

                                                      Lightheaded

                                                      Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming

                                                        Carrying on the long tradition of sentimental jangle pop songwriters, Lightheaded distil decades of lovelorn tunes into sounds for modern softies. They have the sunshine sparkle of The Left Banke and Margo Guryan, the C86 charm of Dolly Mixture and Would-Be-Goods, and the cinematic swell of Belle & Sebastian and Camera Obscura.

                                                        Formed on the shore of New Jersey in 2017 by Cynthia Rittenbach and Stephen Stec, Lightheaded took time to hone their sound with a rotating crew of drummers, guitarists and backup vocalists. They found a community of like-minded bands in a vast but tight-knit international indie pop scene, which eventually led them to the iconic California label Slumberland Records. Their debut cassette EP 'Good Good Great!', a collection of five perfect pop songs, landed in 2023, followed by the full-length 'Combustible Gems' in 2024. A European tour and gigs opening for bands like Heavenly, The Softies and The Ladybug Transistor rounded out their breakout year.

                                                        The band signed to Skep Wax Records for 'Thinking Dreaming Scheming', their most collaborative and earnest release to date. A slate of five brand new songs is combined with the five tracks from 'Good Good Great!', now available on vinyl for the first time. Recorded bi-coastally with Gary Olson (The Ladybug Transistor) and Alicia Vanden Heuvel (The Aislers Set, Poundsign) and drenched in lush reverb on tape by Fred Thomas (Saturday Looks Good to Me), the new songs are rendered in a dreamy soft focus that perfectly suits their starry-eyed themes. Adding to all the fun are the cameos and contributions from the new generation of New York indie pop goodness, featuring members of Starcleaner Reunion and Trinket, pushing the songs on this record to a high point in the young band's discography.

                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                        1. Same Drop
                                                        2. The Lindens, The Lindens, The Lindens
                                                        3. Me And Amelia Fletcher
                                                        4. The View From Your Room
                                                        5. Crash Landing Of The Clod
                                                        6. Mercury Girl
                                                        7. Orange Creamsicle Head
                                                        8. The Garden
                                                        9. Patti Girl
                                                        10. Love Is Overrated

                                                        Jeanines

                                                        How Long Can It Last

                                                          Over the course of nearly a decade making music, Alicia Jeanine and Jed Smith have charted a distinctive course through the history of pop, evoking influences as varied as the 60s folk of early Fairport Convention and Vashti Bunyan, the sunshine pop of Margo Guryan and Laura Nyro, and indiepop touchstones like Dear Nora, Marine Girls and Dolly Mixture.

                                                          Their new album, 'How Long Can It Last', finds Jeanines grappling with themes of personal upheaval and self-excavation, adding weight to their finest set of songs yet. With Alicia’s lyrics incisively interrogating connections, ruptures, and time and its reverberations, songs like 'Coaxed a Storm', 'What's Done Is Done', and 'On and On' combine rich melody with co-composer Jed’s crisp arrangements (along with contributions from longtime live show bassist Maggie Gaster) to stellar effect.

                                                          Where 'How Long Can It Last' really shines is, as always, in the songs. While the themes are sometimes heavy, the melodies and harmonies are simply heavenly, elevating these economical songs to give each the feeling of a lost classic. From the first notes of opener 'To Fail' to jaunty closer 'Wrong Direction', this album announces itself as the work of a band in full command of their art (and craft).

                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                          1. To Fail
                                                          2. You Can’t Get It Back
                                                          3. You’ll Figure It Out
                                                          4. Coaxed A Storm
                                                          5. That’s What You Say
                                                          6. What’s Done Is Done
                                                          7. On And On
                                                          8. What’s Lost
                                                          9. What You Do
                                                          10. One Art
                                                          11. Satisfied
                                                          12. How Long Can It Last
                                                          13. Wrong Direction

                                                          Paul Molloy

                                                          The Madmen Of Apocalypso

                                                            The Madmen of Apocalypso’ is the second solo album by Paul Molloy on Spring Heeled Records. Recorded between his work with The Coral ‘The Madmen of Apocalypso’ has found Molloy forging a genre hopping 11 songs of dystopian mayhem and apocalyptic satire. We find evil self replicating A.I robots taking over the world to jiving red hot Dixieland jazz; end of the world calypso dance crazes, alien invasion spy-fi soundtracks, Huxleyan style cloning, tycoons, typhoons and megalomaniac buffoons!

                                                            Think the Kinks, Harry Nilsson, The Beatles and the Bonzos meet Noel Coward and Monty Python in a 1920s jazz age saloon for a good old fashioned knees up. So blotto they did the Charleston into a black hole; transporting them through time a century later, only to find themselves in the midst of a new dystopian 20s..The age of The Madmen of Apocalypso…

                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                            Doomsday Bottle Of Wine
                                                            When The Fatman Sings
                                                            Hey Nancy
                                                            Apocalypso
                                                            Luxury Bunker
                                                            Apocalypse Rag
                                                            Little Green Men
                                                            Artificial Intelligence
                                                            Absent Friends
                                                            Dolly The Sheep
                                                            Silicon Valley

                                                            Juan Wauters

                                                            MVD LUV

                                                              Juan Wauters’ ‘MVD LUV’ is more than just an album—it’s a homecoming. For the first time in his career, Wauters has recorded a full-length project in his birthplace of Montevideo, Uruguay, embracing the city’s rich musical traditions while continuing to push the boundaries of his distinctive songwriting.A love letter to both his roots and his present, ‘MVD LUV’ brings Uruguayansounds to the global stage, incorporating candombe and murga rhythms into Wauters’ signature fusion of folk, pop, and experimentation. Having spent much of his career in the United States, Wauters has long carried the dual identity of immigrant and native son. With ‘MVD LUV’, he set out to bridge those worlds, capturing the essence of Montevideo’s streets, homes, and communal spirit. The album was recorded in various locations across the city, from his own studio to sidewalks, rooftops, and the homes of featured musicians. This approach lends the project a raw authenticity, making Montevideo itself feel like an active presence in the music. Thematically, MVD LUV explores identity, nostalgia, and human connection. Tracks like “Manejando por Pando” and “Siempre Vuelven” reflect on returning home and the passage of time, while “If It’s Not Luv” and “DimeAmiga” delve into love, companionship, and personal reflection. “Ando conMiedo” captures urban anxieties, juxtaposing introspection with the vibrant rhythms of the city. Throughout, Wauters crafts a deeply personal yet universal meditation on belonging. With ‘MVD LUV’, Juan Wauters presents a vibrant, heartfelt exploration of place and identity, creating an album that feels both deeply rooted and universally resonant. This is a record that doesn’t just introduce listeners to Montevideo—it invites them to feel at home within it.

                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                              1. Amor Montevideo
                                                              2. If It’s Not Luv
                                                              3. Manejando Por Pando
                                                              4. Acting Like I Don’t Know
                                                              5. Canción Mamá
                                                              6. Dime Amiga
                                                              7. La Lucía
                                                              8. Mutuación
                                                              9. Niño
                                                              10. Get A Habit
                                                              11. Aeropuerto
                                                              12. Lonely By Myself
                                                              13. Ando Con Miedo
                                                              14. Siempre Vuelven

                                                              Smut

                                                              Tomorrow Comes Crashing

                                                                Smut is the project of lyricist Tay Roebuck, guitarists Andie Min and Sam Ruschman, drummer Aidan O’Connor, and bassist John Steiner. Roebuck, Ruschman and Min started the band a decade ago in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, they’ve played alongside Bully, Wavves, and Nothing. After years in the Cincinnati DIY scene, they made their Bayonet Records full-length debut, 'How the Light Felt'. The record was a revelation. Pitchfork called it “a rigorous, decade-spanning study,” and a “well-oiled spin on late-’80s guitar pop.” Under the Radar called it “pop perfection,” that “blends subtle hooks with wistful lyrics.” It was a record that explored grief through the lens of melancholic dreampop, using drum machines and layered, intricate melodies.

                                                                'Tomorrow Comes Crashing', Smut's first record with O'Connor and Steiner, sees the band re-energized and trained on the limitless potential that comes with making music with people you love. Galvanized with a new lineup, Smut focused on creating a record that possessed the same towering intensity as the records that first got them into music: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, Relationship of Command. The outcome is ten of their most intense, bombastic, and focused songs to date.

                                                                Catharsis bursts through the seams throughout 'Tomorrow Comes Crashing'. 'Syd Sweeney', inspired by the actress, is the record's centerpiece. It's about how profoundly strange it can be to be a woman, to be misunderstood by people who don’t even know you. The song is driven by chugging guitars and big, rolling drums. In other words: stadium rock about perception. Paramore meets Dookie. “She connects to the youth and the girls in the water/All she amounts to is someone’s daughter,” sings Roebuck in one particularly poetic moment. The song comes to a thrashing metal-inspired breakdown. It’s ecstatic.

                                                                To make the record, Smut recorded “as live as they could,” alongside Aron Kobayashi-Ritch(Momma) in a studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn, over the course of ten days. “We have so much energy right now,” says Roebuck. Right before they went off to New York, Roebuck and Min got married, with the rest of the band by their side. The recording was a true labor of love — driving from Chicago with all their equipment, returning from 12 hour studio days to sleep on friends' couches and floors, Roebuck completely blowing her voice by the end. Smut has always been DIY. Because they love it. Because they have to do it–there’s no other option. 'Tomorrow Comes Crashing' is the culmination of that DIY spirit: making a record that completely encompasses the intensity, moodiness, and emotion of their journey so far.

                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                1. Godhead
                                                                2. Syd Sweeney
                                                                3. Dead Air
                                                                4. Waste Me
                                                                5. Ghosts (Cataclysm, Cover Me)
                                                                6. Burn Like Violet
                                                                7. Touch & Go
                                                                8. Crashing In The Coil
                                                                9. Spit
                                                                10. Sunset Hymnal

                                                                Jozef Van Wissem & Jim Jarmusch

                                                                The Day The Angels Cried

                                                                  Acclaimed director and musician Jim Jarmusch and experimental lute player and composer Jozef van Wissem met nearly 20 years ago, forming a close bond after they ran into each other on the streets of New York City. In 2011, they began performing and producing records together.

                                                                  The duo weaves an intricate Lute and guitar string tapestry of droning, minimal free-folk compositions destined to captivate listeners with their dark hypnosis. This time vocals and electronics are added as well.

                                                                  Van Wissem’s work comes from a tradition of avant-garde minimalism and lends itself well to the director’s stark cinematic works. Jarmusch has played guitar in bands on and off since the late ‘70s. Van Wissem’s compositional style involves hypnotic circular musical phrases that allow for a lot of contemplative space between the notes.


                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                  1. CONCERNING CELESTIAL HIERARCHY. 3:50
                                                                  2. THE DAY THE ANGELS CRIED 4:22
                                                                  3. THE FIRST LANGUAGE 4:22
                                                                  4. SHE BURNS IN DEVOTION, HER VIRTUE SWEET LIKE HONEY
                                                                  5. THERE IS NO ANSWER
                                                                  6. TO THOSE WHO MOURN
                                                                  7. CONCERNING THE LAW OF ANGELS 4.19

                                                                  Wevie Stonder

                                                                  Sure Beats Living

                                                                    In the weird world of Wevie Stonder, things are never straightforward. The four-piece collective headed up by Al Boorman have returned with their first album in 16 years – and one reason it took so long is that they couldn’t think of a title.

                                                                    The group are renowned for their outlandish electronics and humorous vocal performances, with a series of treasured releases on Manchester’s eminent Skam Records, and their latest album 'Sure Beats Living' ventures into unknown realms. Introducing a host of new characters, tall tales and bizarre scenarios to a musical backdrop as varied as it is striking, the record darts between ambient tranquility, strange soundtracks, bass-heavy beats and emotive R&B.


                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                    1.That’s Magic
                                                                    2. Carpet Squares
                                                                    3. Vanja & Slavcho
                                                                    4. Tiktaalik
                                                                    5. Piccolo’s Travels
                                                                    6. Album Titles
                                                                    7. The 38th Parallel
                                                                    8. Push It
                                                                    9. Customer Services
                                                                    10. Nothing To Write Home About
                                                                    11. Ready?
                                                                    12. The Void

                                                                    Georgie is a singer / songwriter currently based in Brighton, with a uniquely smooth, soulful vocal tone.

                                                                    Whilst working on her debut record ('Misunderstood'), Georgie began a songwriting partnership with multi-instrumentalist Marc Rapson, who is on the boards throughout this project. The duo discovered a natural musical connection instantly, and began working on an abundance of beautiful new material shortly after the release of the first album; writing and creating at Rapson's home in Hertfordshire at various sessions from 2021 onwards, culminating in this new 12-track album, 'I Swear To You'.

                                                                    Despite being one of the UK's best kept secrets, Georgie's already been pricking the ears of some highly-respected selectors. The first single from this record ('Smaller / All That We Were') received love from tastemakers such as BBC 6 Music's Gilles Peterson ("this one melts"), Jazz FM's Tony Minvielle ("supremely talented") and Clash Magazine ("exudes soulful grace"), whilst previous material found itself in the crates of legendary luminaries like DJ Jazzy Jeff & DJ Spinna amongst others.

                                                                    At the end of 2024, Georgie signed to Worldwide Award-winning independent London-based label, First Word Records; although she previously featured before on the label, via the title track of the highly-acclaimed 2021 sophomore album by Children of Zeus, 'Balance', along with Akemi Fox. Prior to this her debut album 'Misunderstood' dropped back in 2020 on Futuristica Music; an independent imprint run by Deborah Jordan & Simon S, on which Georgie also collaborated with acclaimed producers like K15 and Mecca:83.

                                                                    An all-round creative soul, away from creating music, Georgie also works as an illustrator and animator. However, her lifelong love of music is unquestionable. She's been a vocalist from a young age, initially working with her musical parents (a producer and professional singer respectively).

                                                                    With a hugely diverse set of inspirations ranging from Stevie Wonder to Michael McDonald, Hiatus Kaiyote to Chappell Roan, Mac Miller to Sampha, and George Duke to EW&F, Georgie's respect, love and admiration for a wide range of music is clear; from jazz to soul to pop to hip hop.

                                                                    Her own sound sits within the realm of glo-fi alternative r&b. From powerful piano-led ballads, to head-nod boom bap backdrops, this album exemplifies Georgie's eclectic influences and unique talents as a writer and a vocalist, which are growing exponentially. A tapestry of sound that developed whilst Sweet and Rapson moved from the beat-driven vibes of Georgie's earlier work, to finding themselves gravitating more and more to the simplicity of the piano and the voice.

                                                                    It's this shift in styles that encapsulates the sonic and spiritual feel of the entire project, born out of a warm, creative environment, and full to the brim with heart and soul. 'I Swear To You' is a deeply personal reflection on youth, grief and self-acceptance. An homage to childhood, and the transition into adulthood, exploring the range of experiences and emotions that come with that.

                                                                    The album cover mirrors the essence of the record; a photo of a hopeful, younger version of Georgie, filled with optimism and joy. Despite the emotional highs and lows expressed throughout the songs, the overarching message remains one of hope; encouraging listeners to keep looking toward the future, to never give up, and to hold onto that youthful sense of possibility.

                                                                    From the ethereal acapella opening of 'The Ones We Loved', through to the irresistible jazz-hop bounce of tracks like 'As I Am', 'Smaller' and 'In My Stride', to the midtempo soulful bop of 'Equal Measure' and previously-released 'Energy', to epic ballads like 'Bedsheets' and first single 'All That We Were', to the more melancholy tones of 'Patricia' and 'Maybe in a Different Life', to the almost-gospel flavoured closing title track, this is a truly accomplished and timeless piece of work from edge to edge.

                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                    1. The Ones We Loved
                                                                    2. Become New
                                                                    3. All That We Were
                                                                    4. Smaller
                                                                    5. Energy
                                                                    6. Maybe In A Different Life
                                                                    7. As I Am
                                                                    8. Equal Measure
                                                                    9. Patricia
                                                                    10. In My Stride
                                                                    11. Bedsheets
                                                                    12. I Swear To You

                                                                    Black Helium

                                                                    The Animals Are Coming

                                                                      With this, their fourth album Black Helium find themselves widening the parameters of their take on heavy psychedelic rock, with probably their most baked and hook-laden material to date.

                                                                      From the no-safety-net freak out of ‘Return the Curse’, to the sawtooth groove of ‘Up on a Hill’, ‘The Animals Are Coming’ LP is Black Helium at their most exploratory and focused.

                                                                      Recorded one sun-drenched week in late June 2024, this time at Axe and Trap Studios with Ben Turner (Hey Colossus, Part Chimp). ‘The Animals Are Coming’ is the band sweating it out in a room, fueled by “party foods “and vintage amps. Digging deeper towards the source, no matter how transcendent, no matter how dark.

                                                                      Black Helium are a psychedelic power trio, based in London. Never afraid to stray from the beaten path, they traverse aural hallucinatory soundscapes; from detuned Neanderthal rock to deep oceans of introspective blissed out psychedelia.

                                                                      The band consistently gig across the UK (including a two week tour with Japanese label mates Hibushibire late 2024), and have recently started ventures into mainland Europe. And plan to continue throughout 2025.


                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                      A1. Return The Curse (11:44)
                                                                      A2. Saviour Destroyer (6:23)
                                                                      A3. Worm Vision (4:00)
                                                                      B1. They Have Bodies (6:27)
                                                                      B2. On A Hill (4:37)
                                                                      B3. Inside The Horror Mask (10:11)

                                                                      Botch

                                                                      061524 (Live Album)

                                                                        Influential hardcore innovators Botch have delivered their electrifying new live album '061524', recorded at the iconic Showbox in Seattle on June 15, 2024—exactly 22 years to the day after their original farewell show at the same venue in 2002. '061524' captures a band still pushing sonic and emotional boundaries, now sharper, louder, and more dynamic than ever.

                                                                        Botch’s impact on aggressive music is undeniable. Their chaotic, math-laced brand of hardcore helped shape the genre’s landscape well after the band’s abrupt breakup in 2002. For years, a reunion seemed unlikely—until a chain of unexpected events brought the original lineup back together for the band’s first new recording in over 20 years: 2022’s 'One Twenty Two'. The song was released to critical acclaim, building into a frenzy of anticipation for Botch to reunite. What started as a nostalgic experiment quickly became a full-circle celebration, with the band reconnecting both personally and musically. That spark unleashed a wave of activity: secret warm-up shows, sold-out headlining gigs, and eventually a carefully curated international reunion tour, culminating in their hometown return at the Showbox—where '061524' was recorded in front of a packed, exhilarated crowd.

                                                                        '061524' is a blistering, unflinching document of a band reawakened—not as a legacy act, but as a vital force. The album captures the energy, grit, and heart of a group that’s not only older and wiser—but more rehearsed and way more ambitious. The performances are tight but still full of the raw unpredictability that defined their early years. Fan favorites like 'To Our Friends in the Great White North' and 'Transitions from Persona to Object' are more complex and invigorating than ever before. Other songs, like 'Afghamistam' and 'Oma', never considered feasible to pull off live previously, are delivered with the intricacy and intensity that has earned the band a lasting legacy and fresh legion of followers.

                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                        1. Intro
                                                                        2. To Our Friends In The Great White North
                                                                        3. Mondrian Was A Liar
                                                                        4. John Woo
                                                                        5. Spaim
                                                                        6. Japam
                                                                        7. Framce
                                                                        8. Oma
                                                                        9. Thank God For Worker Bees
                                                                        10. One Twenty Two
                                                                        11. Vietmam
                                                                        12. Transitions From Persona To Object
                                                                        13. Hutton’s Great Heat Engine
                                                                        14. Afghamistam
                                                                        15. C. Thomas Howell As The “Soul Man”
                                                                        16. St. Matthew Returns To The Womb

                                                                        Me Lost Me

                                                                        This Material Moment

                                                                          Me Lost Me - the project of Newcastle-based artist Jayne Dent - delights in experimenting with songwriting, creating a beguiling mix of soaring vocals and atmospheric electronics that playfully push the boundaries of genre.

                                                                          On Me Lost Me’s fourth full-length, 'This Material Moment' - arriving on Upset the Rhythm - she has created an “emotionally raw” album, her most honest and vulnerable yet.

                                                                          Concerned with physicality, interpretations, and, yes, materiality, 'This Material Moment' is an album akin to rummaging through a box of long-forgotten trinkets. With each song, Me Lost Me extracts something from the box and asks us to consider it from every angle. "This is an album which uses words as a material, a playful tool for experimentation, full of metaphor, abstraction and analogies.” Jayne says, “it has softness and anger, humour, hope and despair, intensity of feeling in all directions expressed as textures, objects, places."

                                                                          With the release of 'This Material Moment' Me Lost Me puts into practice the automatic writing techniques she developed during a workshop with Julia Holter, and in the process has spun her music in different directions that draws on poetry, psalms and using mesostic poems and phonetic translations to generate words. “Despite the chance-based writing strategies throughout, it feels like the most emotionally raw album I've ever made,” she says, likening the process to a Rorschah test which revealed things to her she wasn’t expecting to express. “I wanted to hide in stories, but I saw things plainly when I tried to write.” Having finished the writing process, Jayne realised that she had an unexpectedly personal album on her hands, into which her feelings of burnout and overwhelm had crept unconsciously. “Several of the songs for me express a kind of inner conflict, where you’re trying to keep hope and desire and beauty and art near to your heart, to live a meaningful life, but finding that increasingly hard to hold onto in a world that’s so fucked up.”

                                                                          Whilst Jayne Dent’s music as Me Lost Me has previously presented time stretching back and forwards in opposition (noticeably on 2023’s album 'RPG'), on This Material Moment she does away with linearity altogether, evoking rather than narrating, and presenting feelings, happenings and moods with no clear beginning or end point - “like experiencing a vista, trying to capture a moment that is unfolding all at once”. Instead, each track on 'This Material Moment' exists entirely in media res, adjacent to past and future, and instead sprawling across the endless now.

                                                                          'This Material Moment' was written and arranged solo, but played with a core band of John Pope on electric/double bass, Faye MacCalman on clarinet, and now with the addition of Ewan Mackenzie (Dextro/Pigs x7) on drums - bringing in live drums and electric bass for the first time. The album was recorded by Sam Grant at Blank Studios in Newcastle, who also worked on 'RPG'.


                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                          1. Useful Analogies
                                                                          2. Compromise!
                                                                          3. Lasting, Not To Last
                                                                          4. A Painting Of The Wind
                                                                          5. Still Life
                                                                          6. A Souvenir
                                                                          7. Ancient Summer
                                                                          8. Take It On Board
                                                                          9. A Small Hand, Clamped
                                                                          10. An Affirmation
                                                                          11. Vanishing Point
                                                                          12. Have You Been Changing?

                                                                          Flopsy's Dream

                                                                          Pleasant Pudding

                                                                            "Melodic, dreamy bedroom pop with a nostalgic sheen" is how Tom Davies, creator of brand new dream-pop artist Flopsy's dream, describes this charming little album. Some of you may know him as GeoWizard; the mad British adventurer/YouTuber who travels in straight lines, but here you get to see or indeed hear a completely different side to him - one that sings in soft, tuneful tones reminiscent of Damon Albarn or Ray Davies, builds ethereal, layered harmonies that wouldn't sound out of place on a Fleet Foxes track, and crafts gorgeous guitar and synth parts that could easily have come straight out of John Frusciante or Kevin Parker's handbook.

                                                                            Written in a young Davies's bedroom between the years of 2008 and 2014, the songs themselves are far from brand new, but with the help of his good friend and writing partner Liam Rhodes (with whom he played in Birmingham Psychedelic outfit "Kinds of light"), Davies has brought these sentimental tracks to life whilst keeping them bang in line with their original vision. The result is an album that doesn't really fit into any specific genre, in fact you could argue it's just regular old generic pop, but there's an innocence and a playfulness in there that disarms the listener and transports them to a simpler time when melody ruled supreme.

                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                            1. Loyal Girl
                                                                            2. Outnumbered
                                                                            3. Going To Waste
                                                                            4. Never Be Annoyed Again
                                                                            5. Michael
                                                                            6. Great School Trip
                                                                            7. Garden Trouble

                                                                            Saphileaum

                                                                            Tamalungma

                                                                              Saphileaum (the pseudonym of Georgian multi-media artist Andro Gogibedashvili) is inspired by Georgian myths and legends, esotericism, earth, unity, truth and the secrets of the universe.

                                                                              Over the past few years, Saphileaum has released a diverse array of albums and EPs on labels such as Good Morning Tapes, Oslated, Silent Season, Mule Musiq and Slow Life, each one reflecting his unique blend of cosmic expansiveness, tribalism and meditative storytelling.

                                                                              On his first collaboration with P&F Recordings, he draws inspiration from mysticism, self study, ancient civilizations and their various cultures and mysteries.

                                                                              These musings unite to create an immersive sonic experience that traverses cosmic and tribal landscapes, bringing us 'TAMALUNGMA'.

                                                                              Here, the listener enters a mystical realm-space, where nature's precious spirits guide you through a journey of transition. As you walk this path, their wisdom and presence illuminate the way, helping you move closer to your true purpose.

                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                              A1. Exotic Joy
                                                                              A2. Kolkhuri
                                                                              A3. Moqua Well
                                                                              A4. Yuzu Maracuya
                                                                              A5. Galapagos
                                                                              B1. Golden Age Tandem
                                                                              B2. Oolong Fashion
                                                                              B3. Water World
                                                                              B4. Tahitian Pearls
                                                                              B5. Oriental Art Of Symmetry
                                                                              B6. Cuicas

                                                                              Hotline TNT

                                                                              Raspberry Moon

                                                                                Following the release of their triumphant breakthrough album ‘Cartwheel’, which gained widespread critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork (8.4/10 Best New Music) and Stereogum (Top 10 Albums of 2023 - “riveting, restless shoegaze packed with massive hooks”), NYC’s Hotline TNT are back with their best album yet, ‘Raspberry Moon’. The record marks what many are calling 'the next phase in New American Shoegaze'.

                                                                                Hotline TNT have toured relentlessly, including US-wide tours with Wednesday and Snail Mail, enduring seemingly endless lineup shifts to become a linchpin of several interconnecting DIY scenes. Whilst ‘Cartwheel’ was largely conceived by frontman Will Anderson (previously of cult indie group Weed), ‘Raspberry Moon’ is very much a full-band effort, which is evident in the album’s all-consuming, rip-roaring sound. For fans of Teenage Fanclub, Dinosaur Jr. and My Bloody Valentine.


                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                Barry says: Throbbing, chorused guitars and soaring vocals coalesce into a beautiful mix of the languid, woozy shoegaze aesthetics of the late 80's and the heft and moody saturation of mid-90's grunge. A wonderfully chameleonic burst of melody and drive. Perfect for any fans of Momma / Smashing Pumpkins / Rival Schools etc. Lovely stuff.

                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                1. Was I Wrong?
                                                                                2. Transition Lens
                                                                                3. The Scene
                                                                                4. Julia’s War
                                                                                5. Letter To Heaven
                                                                                6. Break Right
                                                                                7. If Time Flies
                                                                                8. Candle
                                                                                9. Dance The Night Away
                                                                                10. Lawnmower
                                                                                11. Where U Been?

                                                                                HAIM

                                                                                I Quit

                                                                                  Rock trio HAIM have announced a June 20 official release date for ‘I quit’, their highly anticipated fourth studio album on Polydor Records. The 15-track album was produced by Rostam Batamanglij and Danielle Haim. The album radiates the raw energy of seasoned performers whose deep reverence for classic rock shapes songs that are built for live performances.

                                                                                  I quit is the first new album since the band’s 2020 album Women In Music, Pt. III, which earned them a Brit Award for International Group. The album received two GRAMMY Award nominations, including the prestigious “Album of the Year” recognition. With this nomination, HAIM became the first all-female rock group to be included in the GRAMMY’s top category.

                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                  Barry says: Haim return for their latest LP, rich in their classic rock roots, but setting itself apart with hints of more electronic leanings (including ripped-up samples on a couple tracks) or more slow, loungy numbers. Brilliantly textured, and comfortably familiar while still pushing boundaries.

                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                  1. Gone Lyrics
                                                                                  2. All Over Me
                                                                                  3. Relationships
                                                                                  4. Down To Be Wrong
                                                                                  5. Take Me Back 
                                                                                  6. Love You Right 
                                                                                  7. The Farm
                                                                                  8. Lucky Stars
                                                                                  9. Million Years
                                                                                  10. Everybody's Trying To Figure Me Out
                                                                                  11. Try To Feel My Pain
                                                                                  12. Spinning
                                                                                  13. Cry
                                                                                  14. Blood On The Street
                                                                                  15. Now It's Time

                                                                                  Tropical Fuck Storm

                                                                                  Fairyland Codex

                                                                                    Genre-bending Tropical Fuck Storm present their highly anticipated fourth album, ‘Fairyland Codex,’ on their new label home Fire Records. Recorded with co-producer Michael Beach at the band’s Dodgy Brothers studio in Nagambie, Australia, the songs on ‘Fairyland Codex’ immerse us in the chaos of a fateful landslide, picking out the characters that litter the impending collapse of society.

                                                                                    Acidic, acerbic, anarchic; Tropical Fuck Storm's command of wordplay, undercut by snarling guitars, pulsing rhythms, and explosive salvos, populates a hinterland between light and dark. The vocal interplay between Liddiard and the soaring harmonies of Kitschin and Dunn creates a teetering balancing act that’s intensified by the frantic narratives that evolve from their collective psyche.

                                                                                    Tropical Fuck Storm formed when guitarist and vocalist Gareth Liddiard and bassist and vocalist Fiona Kitschin’s previous band, The Drones, went on hiatus in 2016. Joined by guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist Erica Dunn and drummer Lauren Hammel, the group has released a string of critically acclaimed albums and gained a reputation for their incendiary live shows.

                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                    Barry says: Tropical Fuck Storm return, bringing with them a storm of off-kilter guitars and near-atonal jangles, resulting in an album that is as comfortingly weird as it's predecessors but that branches out nicely into avant pop, jazz and (dare I say it) near radio-friendly melodicism.

                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                    1. Irukandji Syndrome
                                                                                    2. Goon Show
                                                                                    3. Stepping On A Rake
                                                                                    4. Teeth Marché
                                                                                    5. Fairyland Codex
                                                                                    6. Dunning Kruger's Loser Cruiser
                                                                                    7. Bloodsport
                                                                                    8. Joe Meek Will Inherit The Earth
                                                                                    9. Bye Bye Snake Eyes
                                                                                    10. Moscovium

                                                                                    Loyle Carner

                                                                                    Hopefully!

                                                                                      Loyle Carner's fourth album is a life-affirming exploration of fatherhood, childhood and alternative music. Whereas his previous albums drew on his past experiences, on 'Hopefully!' he takes a confident stride forward both musically and personally as he embraces change and looks to the future. 

                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                      Barry says: An absolutely stunning, heartfelt new album from Loyle Carner, perfectly mixing his established disaffected lyrical flow with understated full-on singing! It's a perfect melodic counter to the more intense sections and lends a lovely sense of balance, showing that Carner (Larner) really is one of the UK's premier musical talents. Brilliant.

                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                      1. feel At Home 
                                                                                      2. In My Mind
                                                                                      3. All I Need
                                                                                      4. Lyin
                                                                                      5. Time To Go
                                                                                      6. Horcrux
                                                                                      7. Strangers
                                                                                      8. Hopefully (Ft. Benjamin Zephaniah)
                                                                                      9. purpose (Ft. Navy Blue)
                                                                                      10. don't Fix It
                                                                                      11. about Time

                                                                                      GoGo Penguin

                                                                                      Necessary Fictions

                                                                                        GoGo Penguin, the Manchester trio that has inspirationally blended jazz, classical, and electronic influences since forming in 2012, has reached a thrilling moment with their new album, 'Necessary Fictions'.

                                                                                        This release finds pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Jon Scott digging deep internally to reach their integral and authentic qualities at this moment in time. This entails some of their boldest moves to date, such as incorporating modular synthesizers into their sound more than ever before. For the first time, GoGo Penguin expanded their familiar three-man formation to invite guest players, including the Manchester Collective led by creative director and violinist Rakhi Singh. Additionally, 'Forgive The Damages' features the debut appearance of a human voice on a GoGo Penguin recording, belonging to singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko.

                                                                                        All told, 'Necessary Fictions' is an album of ambitious fresh developments from a band fully at ease with who they are: confident enough to open the door to collaboration, excited about where they can explore next, and keen to have fun doing so.

                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                        Barry says: Formerly one of the only bands even slightly jazz-adjacent i'd consider myself a fan of, Gogo Penguin ooze non-frantic, languid and easy. All of this while retaining the sort of impeccable frenetic musicianship and effortlessly beautiful developmental songwriting we've become used to from them. It's impeccable, and it's pretty and it looks *stunning* too. We've got a lovely signed edition as well! Essential.

                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                        1. Umbra
                                                                                        2. Fallowfield Loops
                                                                                        3. Forgive The Damages (feat. Daudi Matsiko)
                                                                                        4. What We Are And What We Are Meant To Be
                                                                                        5. Background Hiss Reminds Me Of Rain
                                                                                        6. The Turn Within
                                                                                        7. Living Bricks In Dead Mortar
                                                                                        8. Naga Ghost
                                                                                        9. Luminous Giants (feat. Rakhi Singh And Manchester Collective)
                                                                                        10. Float (Loi Krathong, 2003)
                                                                                        11. State Of Flux (feat. Manchester Collective)
                                                                                        12. Silence Speaks

                                                                                        Just a year after her critically-acclaimed album 'Still', Erika de Casier returns to surprise release her fourth album 'Lifetime'.

                                                                                        A sonic moodboard fully written and produced by Erika herself, 'Lifetime' is a testament to de Casier’s singular taste - her ability to pull from the past, to curate sonic and visual references with intention, and to transform them into something uniquely hers. Thoughtfully composed yet effortlessly cool, 'Lifetime' is an album that resonates, proving that Erika’s vision isn’t just about what she creates, but how she makes us feel when we listen.

                                                                                        She began dropping breadcrumbs about the record last month, Erika mysteriously putting a limited set of nameless cassettes up for sale on Bandcamp. Even with no context of what was on it, the tapes quickly sold-out in under thirty minutes and fans began to speculate new music coming. As cassette deliveries began to pour in last week, their theories proved correct. Derrick Gee streamed the cassette live on his channel and fans online began freaking out as they put the pieces together (see here and here!). That so many rushed to embrace the music before even knowing what it was speaks volumes - Erika isn’t just admired, she’s trusted, and with 'Lifetime', she rewards that devotion in the most Erika way: subtly, stylishly, and on her own terms.

                                                                                        'Lifetime' follows last year’s aforementioned album 'Still', which was named one of the Best Albums of the Year by Pitchfork, Stereogum, NPR, Vogue, Vulture and more, and features Blood Orange, They Hate Change, and Shygirl. The album took her on a world tour including a US run that included both weekends of Coachella. She also released one of the best songs of the summer shortly after in the form of 'Bikini', a track with her frequent collaborator Nick León that was named the #1 song of the year by The FADER and Resident Advisor.

                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                        Matt says: Eagerly anticipated new LP from recent star of alt-RnB. Hypnotic and hazy, tipping its hat to downbeat and street soul flavours; this is the mellowed out sound of the summer.

                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                        Miss
                                                                                        You Can't Always Get What You Want
                                                                                        Season
                                                                                        You Got It
                                                                                        December
                                                                                        Delusional
                                                                                        The Chase
                                                                                        Moan
                                                                                        The Garden
                                                                                        Two Thieves
                                                                                        Lifetime

                                                                                        U.S. Girls

                                                                                        Scratch It

                                                                                          Co-written with Edwin de Goeji, ‘Bookends’ is the heart of 'Scratch It'. The sprawling ballad pays tribute to Remy’s late friend and former Power Trip frontman Riley Gale, through the lens of Remy’s own reading of John Carey’s Eyewitness To History, a historical collection of 300+ eyewitness accounts spanning twenty-four centuries. In consuming these first-hand accounts of human history, she began to ponder the thought, “there is not a hierarchy to suffering, and death is the great equaliser.”

                                                                                          Remy was asked to play a festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas — over one thousand miles away from her Toronto home — it was instinct that led her to enlist guitarist friend Dillon Watson (D. Watusi, Savoy Motel, Jack Name) to assemble a one-time Nashville-based band for the occasion. The performance went so well that she decided to ride that energy right back to where the impromptu band had initially rehearsed, in Music City itself, kickstarting the journey toward 'Scratch It'.

                                                                                          In just ten days, Remy and the band — Watson on guitar, Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, Loretta Lynn) on bass, Domo Donoho on drums, and both Jo Schornikow and Tina Norwood on keys, as well as harmonica legend Charlie McCoy (Elvis, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison) — recorded Scratch It live off the floor with minimal overdubs, mixed to tape. Closeness and ease emanate from this core band with Remy’s singular voice sparkling on top of every tune, the most relaxed it has ever been.

                                                                                          'Scratch It' weaves together country, gospel, garage rock, soul, disco, folk balladry, and more, with Remy’s masterful songwriting threaded throughout. Her choice to discard the computer-based production of previous albums in favour of two-inch tape serves the songs well, introducing an element of sonic shapeshifting expected from an artist nearly twenty years into making records. If instinct was an instrument, Remy would be a virtuoso. 'Scratch It' and see.


                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                          Barry says: Deeply funky, country flavoured soul music that rides happily into off-kilter janky pop and garage rock. Rippling with surprising turns and beautifully sequenced, 'Scratch It' is a knowingly bizarre triumph.

                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                          1. Like James Said
                                                                                          2. Dear Patti
                                                                                          3. Firefly On The 4th Of July
                                                                                          4. The Clearing
                                                                                          5. Walking Song
                                                                                          6. Bookends
                                                                                          7. Emptying The Jimador
                                                                                          8. Pay Streak
                                                                                          9. No Fruit

                                                                                          YUNGBLUD

                                                                                          Idols

                                                                                            With number-one albums in seven countries, Yungblud describes 'Idols' as “a project with no limitations,” marking his boldest and most ambitious work yet.

                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                            Barry says: We get a huge swathe of stadium rock progressions and Dom Harrison's massive vocal belting out on the first part of YUNGBLUD's Idols, showing that his days of hiding in the musical shadows have come to an end. Massive, anthemic pop music.

                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                            1. Hello Heaven, Hello
                                                                                            2. Idols Pt. I
                                                                                            3. Lovesick Lullaby
                                                                                            4. Zombie
                                                                                            5. The Greatest Parade
                                                                                            6. Change
                                                                                            7. Monday Murder
                                                                                            8. Ghosts
                                                                                            9. Fire
                                                                                            10. War
                                                                                            11. Idols Pt. II
                                                                                            12. Supermoon

                                                                                            UNIVERSITY

                                                                                            McCartney, It'll Be OK

                                                                                              UNIVERSITY, the Crewe-based four-piece formed of Zak Bowker (vocals/guitar), Ewan Barton (bass), drummer Joel Smith and Eddie (mascot), announce their debut album, ‘McCartney, It’ll Be OK’, following last year's incredible debut EP and a slew of shows that have them firmly established as one of the best live bands in the UK right now.

                                                                                              With influences from the 80's DIY noise underground, emo-core, Burroughs and obscure arthouse cinema and the likes of 'Windmill' scenesters Black Midi they're the most exciting group to emerge from Crewe since, well, ever. The tightest of friendships thrust them together in a void of culture, where in-jokes, a fourth member who plays computer games on stage whiles they thrash out (and maybe writes all the songs!?!?!), these charismatic young upstarts invite you into their gang, where the riffs are melodic, the lyrics emotional yet humorous and the drums are set to eleven.

                                                                                              Recorded with producer Kwes Darko (Sampa The Great, Denzel Curry) at Damon Albarn’s Studio 13 in London, ‘McCartney, It’ll Be OK’ furthers the extremely exciting beginnings of UNIVERSITY’s 2023 debut EP, ‘Title Track’, with the hooks now brighter and more melodic, the breakdowns heavier and the lyrics more refined. The band recorded ‘McCartney, It’ll Be Alright’ totally live, and it retains the delightfully unhinged energy that’s defined their work so far, with everything thrillingly close to falling apart at any minute.

                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                              Barry says: Frenetic, clattering noisy indie rock that's nestled nicely into blasts of punky drums and snappy distortion, athletic guitar shapes and screaming vocals. Fantastically weird, angular mayhem.

                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                              1. Massive Twenty One Pilots Tattoo
                                                                                              2. Curwen
                                                                                              3. Gorilla Panic
                                                                                              4. Hustler’s Metamorphosis
                                                                                              5. GTA Online
                                                                                              6. Diamond Song
                                                                                              7. History Of Iron Maiden Pt. 1
                                                                                              8. History Of Iron Maiden Pt. 0.5

                                                                                              James McMurtry

                                                                                              The Black Dog And The Wandering Boy

                                                                                                When his father died in 2021, James McMurtry went through his effects and discovered a rough pencil sketch of himself as a child. “I knew it was of me, but I didn’t realize who drew it. I had to ask my stepmom, and she said it looked like Ken Kesey’s work back in the ‘60s.” The Merry Pranksters—Kesey’s roving band of hippie activists and creators—stopped by often to visit Larry McMurtry, his wife Faye, and his very young son James.

                                                                                                He held on to that drawing as he worked on a new album, The Black Dog & the Wandering Boy, his eleventh. It’s a collection of rough-hewn story-songs and richly drawn characters sketches that have elements of Americana—rolling guitars, barroom harmonies, traces of banjo and harmonica—but sound too sly and smart for such a generalized category. Funny and sad often in the same breath, it adds a new chapter to a long career that has enjoyed a recent resurgence as younger songwriters like Sarah Jarosz (who plays on the new album) and Jason Isbell (who took McMurtry on tour) cite him as a formative influence.

                                                                                                McMurtry’s characters face similar realizations, although theirs are harder, sadder, and arrive at the end of life rather than the beginning. Sometimes they find life savers, like a calling or a fond memory; sometimes they drown, like that South Texas lawman. Even the songwriter himself doesn’t always know what will happen or what will inspire him. “You follow the words where they lead. If you can get a character, maybe you can get a story. If you can set it to a verse-chorus structure, maybe you can get a song."

                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                Barry says: It’s a collection of rough-hewn story-songs and richly drawn characters sketches that have elements of Americana—rolling guitars, barroom harmonies, traces of banjo and harmonica—but sound too sly and smart for such a generalized category.

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                Laredo (Small Dark Something)
                                                                                                South Texas Lawman
                                                                                                The Color Of Night
                                                                                                Pinocchio In Vegas
                                                                                                Annie
                                                                                                The Black Dog And The Wandering Boy
                                                                                                Back To Coeur D’Alene
                                                                                                Sons Of The Second Sons
                                                                                                Sailing Away
                                                                                                Broken Freedom Song

                                                                                                La Rat steps up to the center circle with a collection of funk and soul-soaked loops and bars, soundtracks for a late night drive through a rainy city. The La Rat aesthetic weaves wider than a drunken cyclist on a busy gracht, delivering ripostes to the status quo across eight tracks, with nods to psych and blues, jazz and latin. The resulting beat collages then laid the foundations for a flurry of outer-limits raps, beamed in from the mind of a cut ‘n’ paste lyricist. The collaborative duo take inspiration from such varying sources as Georgia O’Keeffe, MC Hellshit and DJ Carhouse, Pauline Oliveros, and Rammellzee, and end up reclaiming a slice of hip-hop’s supercharged universe for themselves.

                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                Matt says: A heady brew of benzo-rap, old school head nodders and really experimental sound design stirred in a pot of red lined analogue production and tape saturation. Fronted by an MC who sounds like the female version of Wiki (Ratking), only even more opiated and scuzzed up. An incredible and singular slice of leftfield hip-hop. If Shit & Shine made a hip-hop LP it'd probably sound like this!

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                La Rat
                                                                                                Crab Dish
                                                                                                Rodent Scavenger
                                                                                                Problems
                                                                                                Dribble
                                                                                                Metal
                                                                                                Puppet Show
                                                                                                New Suns

                                                                                                Oslo's own Leoparden returns with the new album "Disko Inferno", which draws inspiration from everything from 80's disco and pop to Nigerian boogie and laid-back 90's West Coast beats...

                                                                                                Leoparden's lyrics - witty and relaxed - capture everyday moments from life in Oslo, while the music pulses with infectious energy and a playful spirit, crafted for a proper boogie on the dance floor.



                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                Matt says: Both strikingly stylish and quirky at the same time, a release that could have only really have come from Norwegian label Lyskestrekk! Jump into Leoparden's sleek and sexy world, putting a whole new meaning to the phrase 'bedroom boogie' ;)

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                A. Intro
                                                                                                A. Disko Inferno
                                                                                                A. 113
                                                                                                A. Fashion Designa
                                                                                                A. Fineste Jenta I Oslo
                                                                                                B. Toppen
                                                                                                B. Hemmelighet
                                                                                                B. Rytmen Er En Danser
                                                                                                B. Hode Skulder

                                                                                                Greg Foat and Forest Law (Brownwood, Bongo Joe) collaborate on an epic concept album about Life, Death, painting and Surfing. Inspired by the art and life of a local Isle of Wight artist and surfing legend Dave Gray.

                                                                                                The album philosophically chronicles the many aspects of surfing and surf communities.

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                1. Imaginary Magnitude
                                                                                                2. I Vibrate
                                                                                                3. The Undertow
                                                                                                4. The Dark Descends
                                                                                                5. Waves Of Bliss, Pt.1
                                                                                                6. Waves Of Bliss, Pt.2
                                                                                                7. Midnight Wave, Pt.1
                                                                                                8. Midnight Wave, Pt.2
                                                                                                9. Fields Of Ever Blue

                                                                                                RWR's latest release comes straight from Berlin's underground electronic jazz scene. Simon Herody, originally from the South of France but living in the German capital since 2020, delivers an eight-track suite of ambient-informed jazz.

                                                                                                The album grew out of solo gigs in hotel lobbies, low-key half improvised sets where Simon blended sequenced electronics with live sax, clarinet and flute. These in-between spaces, half-public and half-private, set the tone for Hard Lounge: an eight-track trip that's ambient enough to fade into the background, but rich enough to keep you engaged.

                                                                                                There's a clear love for 80s new age and electronic jazz, but it's not just nostalgia - the album also channels leftfield Japanese pop and ambient. A big turning point was hearing "Heisei No Oto" (that killer compilation on Music From Memory) & "Music For Dance & Theatre, Vol. 2", also released on MFM, which blew the doors wide open in terms of texture and mood.

                                                                                                While working shifts at Motif, a bar and record shop in Neukölln, Simon started deep-listening to these kinds of records, thinking about how sound can shape space and attention. Design and architecture trickled into the album's artwork, hinting at a broader idea: that music, like furniture or lighting, can be part of how a space feels - part of the design. That blend of curiosity and immersion became the blueprint for "Hard Lounge", a record that plays with presence, atmosphere and memory.

                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                Matt says: Fantastic slice of lounge jazz bolstered by sophisticated electronics and a real deft of hand. Actually quite arresting when you get deep into it.

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                A1: Sunny Terasse
                                                                                                A2: Table For Two
                                                                                                A3: May I Join?
                                                                                                A4: Dimmed Lights
                                                                                                B1: City Lights
                                                                                                B2: Kupka's Design
                                                                                                B3: Sleep Tuff
                                                                                                B4: Running Behind

                                                                                                Japanese musician Mermaid offers up his own unique view of digi-dub: stripped back, with echoes of chamber music, Japenese folk songs and utilizing his own voice, it wears its sense of humour and playfulness on its sleeve whilst being an accomplished and forward thinking slice of dub music.

                                                                                                Mermaid is one of the members of DDM (Dangerous Dance Music), which is the movement spread from Los Apson? record store in Tokyo.

                                                                                                After participating in dub & electronic compilations and continuing his own research into reggae, he has finally unleashed 10 songs on "Dubmaid".

                                                                                                RIYL: Froid Dub, Adrian Sherwood, Sheriff Lindo, Andy Rantzen.

                                                                                                Limited to 300 copies worldwide. 

                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                Matt says: Unusual Japanese-dubwise LP draped in a quirky playfulness and primitive fun with more than enough low end pressure to keep a bass head happy and content.

                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                Chopin Dub
                                                                                                Water
                                                                                                Lonely
                                                                                                Free Dub
                                                                                                Buddy
                                                                                                Love
                                                                                                Herb Dub
                                                                                                Bodies
                                                                                                Let It Dub
                                                                                                Blood

                                                                                                Biosphere

                                                                                                The Way Of Time

                                                                                                  Biosphere’s album 'The Way Of Time' takes loose inspiration from Elizabeth Madox Roberts’ novel The Time Of Man, sampling Joan Lorring’s voice from the 1951 radio play adaptation of the novel. Biosphere’s signature ambient loops, soothing arctic synths and melodies combine with Lorring’s sweet, wistful and deep-south wonderings to create a record that is both deeply human and searching.

                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                  1. TIME OF MAN
                                                                                                  2. THE WAY OF TIME
                                                                                                  /3. LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD
                                                                                                  4. ALL STARS HAVE NAMES
                                                                                                  5. THE OLD WAY WAS GONE
                                                                                                  6. THE WAY OF TIME (ON AND ON)

                                                                                                  ODESZA

                                                                                                  Music To Refine To: A Remix Companion To Severance

                                                                                                    The three-time Grammy-nominated duo ODESZA have teamed up with the hit Apple TV+ show Severance across a new 7-track EP, adding their unique signature to the unmistakable sounds of Theodore Shapiro’s Emmy Award-winning compositions.

                                                                                                    The music, which first appeared on the 8-hour visual/audio experience 'Music To Refine To' – serving as a playful nod to the idea of a soundtrack for your ‘innie’ at work. The seamless 23-minute mix loops continuously over the full duration, immersing listeners in the various motifs, tones, and atmospheres of the show. Since its launch two weeks ago, the video has been viewed more than 2 million times, while ODESZA’s social posts about the collaboration have reached more than 3.5 million views in the same period.

                                                                                                    The multi-award-winning show, which concluded its second season on Friday 21st March, sees Mark Scout (Adam Scott) lead a team at Lumon Industries, whose employees have undergone a severance procedure that surgically divides their memories between their work and personal lives. With a prestigious cast that also includes Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, Tramell Tillman, Michael Chernus and John Turturro, the show has been called “an engrossing thriller" by the New York Times and “an impressively idiosyncratic thing, wholly itself and confident in its mission to make your mind implode" by The Guardian.

                                                                                                    The vinyl release will find the 7-track continuous mix appear on both the A and B sides of the record, playing into the looping nature of the original upload.


                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                    1. Entering Lumon (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    2. Mammalians Nurturable (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    3. Music Of Wellness (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    4. Elevator Down (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    5. Morning Routine (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    6. Irving Watermelon (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    7. Muzak Kier Hymn (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    8. Entering Lumon (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    9. Mammalians Nurturable (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    10. Music Of Wellness (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    11. Elevator Down (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    12. Morning Routine (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    13. Irving Watermelon (ODESZA Severance Remix)
                                                                                                    14. Muzak Kier Hymn (ODESZA Severance Remix)

                                                                                                    The 7:45s are an original soul collective from Manchester, UK – the brainchild of songwriter and bassist Sam Flynn. Inspired by the house bands of soul labels from Motown to Big Crown, the young collective spotlights guest vocalists such as Martin Connor and Nicole Battick. Named after 7-inch vinyl, The 7:45s write snappy singles that blend the vintage feel of rare groove with the songcraft of perfect pop.The 7:45s have been played on BBC Radio 6 Music by Craig Charles, Stuart Maconie and Chris Hawkins and on Jazz FM by Simon Phillips.

                                                                                                    A concept album for the soul, Spinning is a retro-soul love story. Side A is sunshine soul about the dizziness of an on-off relationship, as heard in the Charles Bradley-inspired opener 'The Way That I Love You'. Side B is nocturnal. Head-spinning heartbreak is the subject of rare groove-influenced 'The Writing's on the Wall' while dancing to a new dawn is the theme of Prince-inspired disco number 'We Will Be Friends'. The album also features a reimagination of The Beatles' 'Don't Let Me Down'.

                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                    1. The Way That I Love You (feat. Martin Connor)
                                                                                                    2. Too Little Too Late (feat. Martin Connor)
                                                                                                    3. You're Too Good For Me
                                                                                                    4. I'll Be Fine
                                                                                                    5. Tell Me No Lies
                                                                                                    6. Don't Let Me Down (feat. Martin Connor)
                                                                                                    7. How Could You
                                                                                                    8. The Writing's On The Wall (feat. Nicole Battick)
                                                                                                    9. We Will Be Friends
                                                                                                    10. The Music's Always There For You

                                                                                                    Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer

                                                                                                    Different Rooms

                                                                                                      'Different Rooms' is the sophomore album by Jeremiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer. The follow up to their critically acclaimed 'Recordings from the Aland Islands', this collection extends the path of pastiche forged by their debut: quietly multi-rhythmic, modular-trance-meets-processed-and-unprocessed-chamber strings, bewitching and bewildering field recordings all knitted tightly, an LA patchwork.

                                                                                                      "Our studios are side-by-side. When we were writing this album, you might have found us tracking viola stacks in one studio while, in the other, we were writing through-composed themes and rearranging the material. Granular synthesis and tape manipulation are key tools we use to create variation and movement in a composition. This process often yields surprising results, capturing the emotion but expressing it in unexpected ways. It feels essential that we embrace a bit of chance.

                                                                                                      In contrast to our first album, 'Recordings from the Aland Islands', we wanted this music to feel very present. Where 'Recordings...' was intended to transport you to another place, 'Different Rooms' is meant to meet you where you are. It's a decidedly urban album. The field recordings were captured on rain platforms, in city streets, in rooms at home, and intentionally paint a quotidian sonic image, blurring the line between what you hear in your own environment and what is on the record."


                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                      1. Mean Solar Time
                                                                                                      2. Long And Short Delays
                                                                                                      3. Side By Side
                                                                                                      4. One Of Eight
                                                                                                      5. Before And After Signs
                                                                                                      6. Different Rooms
                                                                                                      7. Speaking In Parallel
                                                                                                      8. Side By Side (Reflected)
                                                                                                      9. Mind By A Way
                                                                                                      10. Mean Solar Time (Reflected)

                                                                                                      The Sick Man Of Europe

                                                                                                      The Sick Man Of Europe

                                                                                                        Emerging from London’s underground music scene, The Sick Man Of Europe is distinctly monochrome in its outlook. Each note counts in this climate – economical but played with absolute precision and conviction.

                                                                                                        Propelled forward by machines and seeking solace in repetition. There are echoes of the post-punk and European art rock pioneers at the cusp of the 80s, but re-tooled for the present. The same fears. Looking for answers or something to believe in, but finding more questions in an age of absolutes.

                                                                                                        The Sick Man Of Europe name connects the current post-Brexit landscape to the austerity of Thatcherite Britain and the social conditions that shaped the likes of Bauhaus and Joy Division. These are touchstones for TSMOE, but the influence and discipline of Neu!, Suicide and Swans are just as intrinsic to the sound.

                                                                                                        The debut album follows the release of the Moderate Air Quality EP on limited edition cassette and digital in February. (EP tracks are included as a bonus on the CD version of the album.)

                                                                                                        Minimal, but with a strong eye for the right detail - on the eponymous debut album, that eye is focussed firmly on the battle between the internal and the external. TSMOE draws on the tensions between human identity, technological advancement and the pursuit of meaning in the modern world.

                                                                                                        Produced as a reaction to previous musical projects, TSMOE was looking for clarity and complete control in its creative endeavours. It’s consciously anti-rock in its recorded approach - no low-end bass guitar, minimal effects and no live drums. Dedication to the craft of focussed song writing rather than attempting to follow current production trends.

                                                                                                        ‘BLENDS PULSATING MOTORIK BEATS , NAGGING BASSLINES AND DRONING ELECTRONICS INTO ALL-CONSUMING ATMOSPHERES….FRONTED BY FOREBODING VOCALS THAT SIT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN IAN CURTIS’ MELANCHOLIC BARITONE AND SOMETHING MORE EXPERIMENTAL, PHRASES ARE REPEATED OVER AND OVER LIKE MANTRAS’ - ELECTRONIC SOUND.

                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                        LP: CD:
                                                                                                        A1. 1. Obsolete (6:04)
                                                                                                        A2. 2. Transactional (4:12)
                                                                                                        A3. 3. Sanguine (9:44)
                                                                                                        B1. 4. Profane Not Profound (4:48)
                                                                                                        B2. 5. Slow Down, Friend (4:08)
                                                                                                        B3. 6. Movement (3.52)
                                                                                                        B4. 7. Acidity Regulator (2:51)
                                                                                                        B5. 8. I’m Alive (2:52)
                                                                                                            - 9. Moderate Air Quality (6:08) (CD Bonus Track)
                                                                                                           - 10. The Son Of A Diplomat (7:42) (CD Bonus Track)
                                                                                                           - 11. Consumption (5:14) (CD Bonus Track)

                                                                                                        Water Machine

                                                                                                        God Park

                                                                                                          Flooding out of Glasgow in 2022, Water Machine quickly gained a reputation for their weird and wonky art-punk, winning hearts with sing-along songs about dogs, struggling artists and the housing crisis. Their ascendency has seen releases with GoldMold Records and Upset the Rhythm, shows across the UK (with Shannon and the Clams and The Orielles), and a BBC Radio 6 Music live session. They are now set to release their debut LP ‘God Park’ via FatCat Records.

                                                                                                          The world of Water Machine is a swirling eddy of melodic bass lines and volatile guitar sliding between jazz chords and punk riffs, all the while narrated by sardonic social commentary and silly stories. Driving rhythms thumped out on a sparse kit with cowbell flourishes are reminiscent of Beat Happening and The Jesus and Mary Chain, while cherubic vocal and violin harmonies hint at country and folk influences. A band with pop sensibilities and indignant punk urgency, these oddballs dart from sweet C86 to spiky post-punk, often within a single song.

                                                                                                          'God Park' takes disparate influences and distils the disjointed into something new. Taking influence from everywhere - from LiLiPUT to The Pastels - the tunes are always on the verge of falling apart or breaking down. Whether it’s the bubblegum pop of lead single Tiffany or the country-punk bait and switch that is 'Hando', their frantic genre-hopping is always underpinned with anarchic joy.

                                                                                                          In places, Water Machine’s songs do indeed echo hometown touchstones such as The Vaselines and the arty, pre-Ecstasy, Soup Dragons, plus the bands on Postcard Records. Similar to their predecessors there
                                                                                                          are affectionate nods to pop’s past. Handclaps and harmonies hark back to the ’60s. Organs grind like garage nuggets. Motown gets mutated through Rickenbacker jangle. There are Tropicalia-like touches, and bass-lines pay homage to Peter Hook. Everything on the album packs positive, punk energy. Think Buzzcocks, not The Pistols. 

                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                          1. Clouds

                                                                                                          2. Thunder

                                                                                                          3. Hot Real Estate
                                                                                                          4. River
                                                                                                          5. Dog Park
                                                                                                          6. Jimmy’s Waltz
                                                                                                          7. Water Machine

                                                                                                          8. Tiffany
                                                                                                          9. Junction

                                                                                                          10. I Quit
                                                                                                          11. Park Highs
                                                                                                          12. Hando

                                                                                                          OSMIUM

                                                                                                          OSMIUM

                                                                                                            The self-styled ritualistic electro-mechanical ensemble OSMIUM is a veritable supergroup. Made up of Oscar-winning composer and instrumentalist Hildur Guðnadóttir, veteran engineer and producer James Ginzburg, Senyawa’s idiosyncratic vocalist Rully Shabara and Grammy-winning sound designer / producer Sam Slater, while each member brings along a laundry list of accolades, the project is far greater than the sum of its parts.

                                                                                                            Alloying burnished electroacoustic soundscapes with dense, metallic drones, barbed rhythms and buckled, bio-mechanical vocalizations, OSMIUM’s eagerly awaited debut album doesn’t try to cast a rigid future. Rather, it tempers a viscous flow of unorthodox speculations that smolders through the distant past, blazing a trail all the way to the frontier of fate. Absorbed by questions about the relationship between humans and technology, tradition and progression, the individual and the group, OSMIUM channel their experience and expertise into a set of forward-thinking sonic interrogations that skewer established cultural preconceptions. And although genre is acknowledged - the album draws from folk, doom metal, 20th century minimalism, industrial music and extreme noise - there’s never a sense that it’s riveted firmly in place.

                                                                                                            Widely known for her soundtrack work (including ‘Joker’ and ‘Chernobyl’) Guðnadóttir plays the halldorophone, a unique cello-like electroacoustic instrument designed by Halldór Úlfarsson that allows the performer to harness unstable feedback loops. Taking his cues from this process, Slater (who has worked alongside Jóhann Jóhannsson, Ben Frost and others) generates rhythms using a self-oscillating drum he designed with KOMA Elektronik and Subtext boss and Emptyset member Ginzburg responds in kind, producing booming tambura-like sonorities from a device he developed himself based on the monocord, an ancient single- stringed resonator.

                                                                                                            OSMIUM synchronize the three unique instruments using a custom system of robotics to generate basic rhythms that underpin their improvisations and experiments, and Shabara’s alien tones supply the band with their conceptual fulcrum. The vocalist is one of South Asia’s most recognizable underground artists, and the sounds he’s able to create using exhaustively rehearsed extended techniques are so distinctive that he’s been studied by scientists back home in Indonesia.

                                                                                                            Never weighed down by needless sound design or modish ornamentation, it’s music that feels authentically experimental; OSMIUM have figured out an awkward symmetry between their discrete approaches, concentrating their gaze on the outcome rather than the process. The result is a work of science fiction that’s driven by interaction, conversation and sensation.

                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                            1. OSMIUM 0
                                                                                                            2. OSMIUM 1
                                                                                                            3. OSMIUM 2
                                                                                                            4. OSMIUM 3
                                                                                                            5. OSMIUM 4
                                                                                                            6. OSMIUM 5
                                                                                                            7. OSMIUM 6
                                                                                                            8. OSMIUM 7

                                                                                                            The Montgolfier Brothers

                                                                                                            Think Once More: A Journey With The Montgolfier Brothers

                                                                                                              Needle Mythology, the label founded by music writer, author and broadcaster Pete Paphides, is honoured to announce the release of "Think Once More - A Journey with The Montgolfier Brothers", the first ever anthology by the feted duo made up of Mancunian musicians Roger Quigley and Mark Tranmer.

                                                                                                              The Montgolfier Brothers released three acclaimed albums between 1999 and 2005. Roger Quigley had released music as Quigley and At Swim Two Birds, while Mark Tranmer has released music both as GNAC, in his own name and with Vetchinsky Settings.

                                                                                                              The Montgolfier Brothers’ music is perhaps best compared to that of artists such as The Durutti Column, Yann Tiersen, Young Marble Giants and Robert Wyatt – artists whose music is celebrated for its ability to arouse deep emotion by the sparest of means.

                                                                                                              Working closely with the family of Roger Quigley who passed away in 2020, Think Once More was sequenced by Mark during the summer of 2024. Think Once More gathers together music from the albums Seventeen Stars, All My Bad Thoughts and The World Is Flat.

                                                                                                              Featured on the album is Between Two Points, interpreted by David Gilmour and Romany Gilmour on the recent UK number one album Luck and Strange. Prior to the album release this was also a single and, across all platforms, has surpassed 10 million streams. Of its 14 songs, nine songs featured on Think Once More have never previously been released on vinyl. As well as David Gilmour, other well-known fans of The Montgolfier Brothers include Tim Burgess and the celebrated author Jonathan Coe, who has written liner notes for the release of Think Once More.

                                                                                                              Think Once More comes in specially created artwork by esteemed Philadelphia-based Creative Director Timothy O’Donnell. It is also first Montgolfier Brothers release to feature Roger and Mark on its front cover – the photograph (by Olivier de Banes) captures the duo in 1997, following a French show two years prior to the release of Seventeen Stars. 

                                                                                                              The songs were all mastered for this release by Miles Showell at Abbey Road.

                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                              1. Even If My Mind Can't Tell You
                                                                                                              2. Pro-Celebrity Standing Around
                                                                                                              3. Seventeen Stars
                                                                                                              4. In Walks A Ghost
                                                                                                              5. Between Two Points
                                                                                                              6. Fin
                                                                                                              7. Be Selfish
                                                                                                              8. The World Is Flat
                                                                                                              9. Think Once More
                                                                                                              10. Inches Away
                                                                                                              11. The First Rumours Of Spring
                                                                                                              12. Koffee Pot
                                                                                                              13. Brecht's Lost Waltz (Summer Is Over)
                                                                                                              14. Journey's End

                                                                                                              Daily Toll

                                                                                                              A Profound Non-Event

                                                                                                                'Profound Non-Event', the debut album by Sydney-based three piece Daily Toll, comprises 11 songs traversing three years of forged friendships, collaborative experimentation and a shared love of growing through words and song.

                                                                                                                Those attuned to the ever-vibrant Australian underground may already be well familiar with Daily Toll, their consistent live presence since their inception in 2021 embroidered by a handful of (mostly) home-recorded, (mostly) digital self-releases that have steadily accumulated an appreciative following. Initially the project of self taught musician, poet & artist Kata Szász-Komlós(they/them) and Jasper Craig-Adams(he/him), and expended to a three piece with the more recent addition of friend Tom Stephens(he/him), Daily Toll represents the union of three unique creative dispositions, of relationships blooming through the push and pull of creative practice. Mapping the band’s existence through their recorded output is to bear witness to the flux of three people learning to respond to one another and gently ossify into a collective vision that at once calls to mind folk song intimacy, post-punk dynamics and the artful poeticism of an adjacent Flying Nun legacy.

                                                                                                                If those earlier recordings reflect a band imagining themselves into being in real time, 'A Profound Non-Event' observes a clear shift in both conviction and approach. Recorded in just three days with Alex Bennett at the purely analogue Sound Recordings studio in Castlemaine and holing up at night in the century old cottage situated beside the studio, sheltering from the late-June wind and rain within walls littered with instruments and microphones, lighting fires to stay warm. Kata describes the experience as defined by “candle light and creative camaraderie”, an idyllic account of a collection of songs that glide with an undeniably warm, easy charm, evidenced in particular in the record’s second half as the tone turns increasingly introspective, the very sound of a cold evening’s drift into night. When contrasted with the moody swirl and sing-song bounce of the opening trio of tracks, there’s clear evidence of a band not simply in the process of becoming, but committed to finding their truth in that process.

                                                                                                                Still, if Daily Toll display a reluctance to be wholly defined, then album centerpiece ‘Killincs‘ (positioned in the middle for a reason) might just be their Rosetta Stone. A verbose rumination on unsettled feelings of isolation and longing, exploring the challenges in making peace with one's decisions amidst the uncertainty of an often harsh world and the realisation that some things remain best unresolved - “I have the keys still, but I’ve buried the path”.

                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                1. Another World
                                                                                                                2. Fleeting
                                                                                                                3. I’m Bored
                                                                                                                4. Easy Man
                                                                                                                5. Killincs
                                                                                                                6. My Sister’s Loom
                                                                                                                7. Mountain Song
                                                                                                                8. Belljar Convenience
                                                                                                                9. Fated To Pretend
                                                                                                                10. Waiting Game
                                                                                                                11. A Light

                                                                                                                S.G. Goodman

                                                                                                                Planting By The Signs

                                                                                                                  S.G. Goodman returns from the Western Kentucky bottomland with her latest full-length album, Planting by the Signs, available June 20, 2025 on her very own Slough Water Records via Thirty Tigers. Composed of songs inspired by love, loss, reconciliation, and the aforementioned ancient practice - how planting a garden, or weaning a baby, or getting a haircut are best timed in accordance with the cycle of the moon. A concept diametrically opposed to the tech-obsessed, profit margin-driven mania swirling around us. Through exploring themes related to planting by the signs, Goodman hopes to help herself and others reconcile this jarring disconnect, as well to pass along the story of the practice. Eleven tracks highlighted by the critically-acclaimed and award-winning artist’s singular voice and her penchant for juxtaposing vulnerable folk music with punchy rock ‘n roll, replete with chiming guitars, ethereal atmospherics, and her DIY ethos. Goodman provides a timely reminder that the only way forward is together, and that we must always take into account humanity’s dependence on and responsibility to the natural world.

                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                  1. Satellite
                                                                                                                  2. Fire Sign
                                                                                                                  3. I Can See The Devil
                                                                                                                  4. Snapping Turtle
                                                                                                                  5. Michael Told Me
                                                                                                                  6. Solitaire
                                                                                                                  7. I'm In Love
                                                                                                                  8. Nature's Child (ft. Bonnie "Prince" Billy)
                                                                                                                  9. Heat Lightning (ft. Clyde Charles, Mary Overbey, And Myrtle Turner)
                                                                                                                  10. Planting By The Signs (ft. Matthew Rowan)
                                                                                                                  11. Heaven Song

                                                                                                                  The Pigeon Detectives

                                                                                                                  Still Not Sorry

                                                                                                                    20 years into a career of indie bangers and amazing live shows The Pigeon Detectives bring the definitive tracks from across their catalogue onto one album...'Still Not Sorry'

                                                                                                                    This marble designed record comes as a double vinyl featuring the best of on one disc, and 3 re-works of classic tracks on the second disc. Side D features signatures from the band ETCHED into the record.

                                                                                                                    The album comes in a gatefold sleeve with previously unseen pictures from the band's history by long-time photographer Justin Slee. 

                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                    1. This Is An Emergency
                                                                                                                    2. I Found Out
                                                                                                                    3. Wolves
                                                                                                                    4. Lovers Come And Lovers Go
                                                                                                                    5. I Don't Mind
                                                                                                                    6. Take Her Back
                                                                                                                    7. Everybody Wants Me
                                                                                                                    8. Romantic Type
                                                                                                                    9. What Can I Say?
                                                                                                                    10. Say It Like You Mean It
                                                                                                                    11. Falling To Pieces
                                                                                                                    12. Enemy Lines
                                                                                                                    13. Done In Secret
                                                                                                                    14. I'm Not Sorry

                                                                                                                    Various Artists

                                                                                                                    Gabriele Poso Presents: Ritmo Italiano 'Unspoken Sounds Of Italian Tamburo'

                                                                                                                      Mr Bongo proudly presents Ritmo Italiano 'Unspoken Sounds of Italian Tamburo' a captivating compilation of percussive-driven, Italian gems curated by Sardinian multi-instrumentalist, percussionist and producer, Gabriele Poso

                                                                                                                      A journey into the heart of Italian musical history, it celebrates Italy's rich rhythmic traditions, showcasing a selection of genre-traversing, Italian treasures from the '60s to the early '90s. Honouring the timeless rhythms of Italian percussion masters, alongside a brand- new exclusive composition by Gabriele, 'Ritmo Italiano' shines a light on the universal, primal language of the drum. A connection sparked from an early age; percussion has always deeply resonated with Gabriele. It led to years of studying percussion traditions across Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Brazil, crafting his own songwriting skills in the process. An acclaimed producer and compiler, his releases on Yoruba Records, BBE and Soundway Records have garnered global support. Yet a growing need to rediscover the essence of his country's cultural heritage laid the foundations for this new compilation.

                                                                                                                      In Gabriele's own words, "Italy has always been a crossroads of civilizations, with influences from the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe converging over centuries. Ports like Naples, Genoa, and Venice played a crucial role as gateways for musical exchange, a melting pot of sounds and cultures brought by sailors, merchants and travellers. These influences blended with Italy's own folk and religious traditions, creating Italy's unique and emotionally resonant rhythms."

                                                                                                                      Across the 12 absorbing tracks, there's jazz influences, Italian library music aesthetics and experimental beats mixing with Afro- Cuban and Mediterranean rhythms. It's a broad selection anchored by the drums. The synth- heavy, '80s jazz funk flavours of Gege Munari's 'Police Man', sit side-by-side with the samba-infused 'Napulitano D' 'O Brasil' by Don Marino Barreto Jr. Tribal, earthly energy radiates from Naco's 'Volando Con Milton', with Tullio De Piscopo serving up cosmic disco brilliance, and blistering jazz funk mastery coming courtesy of Agostino Marangolo. Taking the name of the compilation, a new original track by Gabriele, 'Ritmo Italiano', blends traditional rhythms with contemporary energy, Afro-Latin influences with Italian jazz essence.

                                                                                                                      Recorded live in one take, it captures a raw, unfiltered vibe. "Each track tells a story, connecting the past with the present, and highlighting the deep-rooted traditions that shape Italy's rhythms. The collection also offers a glimpse into the diversity of Italian music with a variety of styles from the organic, earthy beats to the more experimental and modern takes on traditional rhythms. It's a reflection of how these rhythms have not only shaped Italian culture but also influenced global music."

                                                                                                                      A captivating compilation of percussive-driven, Italian gems from the '60s to the early '90s, curated by multi- instrumentalist, percussionist and producer, Gabriele Poso. Includes an exclusive new track by Gabriele.

                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                      Puccio Roelens E La Sua Grande Orchestra TV - Caravan
                                                                                                                      Gege Munari Percussion Modern - Police Man
                                                                                                                      Don Marino Barreto Junior- Napolitano D'o Brazil
                                                                                                                      Tony Esposito - Pagaia / Naco - Volando Con Milton
                                                                                                                      Rosario Jermano - Grand Oceano
                                                                                                                      Tullio De Piscopo - Temptation
                                                                                                                      Tony Cercola - Lumumba
                                                                                                                      Gabriele Poso - Ritmo Italiano
                                                                                                                      Agostino Marangolo - Certi Giorni Mi Sento Bene, Certi Giorni Mi Sento male
                                                                                                                      Tony Cercola - Lumumba (Clap! Clap! Version)

                                                                                                                      Vico Anthony And His Percussion Paesanos - Mambo Ravioli (CD ONLY)

                                                                                                                      Various Artists

                                                                                                                      Edna Martinez Presents Picó: Sound System Culture From The Colombian Caribbean

                                                                                                                        Berlin-based Colombian DJ, producer, and curator Edna Martinez presents a sonic journey into the electrifying world of Picó—the vibrant and dynamic sound system culture that has defined the streets of Cartagena and Barranquilla for decades. More than just a musical movement, Picó is a way of life, a bold expression of identity, community, and resistance. From its roots in the working-class neighbourhoods of Colombia’s Caribbean coast to its deep connections with Africa and the Caribbean, this compilation captures the pulse of a culture where music is played at full volume, rhythms travel across oceans, and dance is both a form of celebration and storytelling. For those unfamiliar, Picós are hand-painted sound systems, often adorned with dazzling colours and striking imagery, each with its own name and sonic identity. These mobile discos became the heart of neighbourhood bailes, where the sounds of champeta, highlife, soukous, mbaqanga, zouk, soca, and cumbia would turn every street corner, market, and terrace into a dancefloor. Initially built by local craftsmen using modified speaker components, Picós became legendary for their powerful bass and exclusivity, with DJs sourcing rare vinyl from African and Caribbean ports and rebranding them with unique piconemas—new names adapted to local slang, making the tracks instantly recognisable within the community.

                                                                                                                        This compilation brings together a carefully curated selection of these rare and sought-after tracks, tracing the deep-rooted musical exchanges between Colombia, West and Central Africa, and the Caribbean. Featuring artists like Los Corraleros De Majagual, Peacocks International Highlife Band, Pedro Lima, Zaïko Langa Langa, and more, the album also includes edits by Edna Martinez, reimagining these timeless rhythms for contemporary audiences while staying true to their original spirit.


                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                        1. Wulomei – Takoradi
                                                                                                                        2. Conjunto Ana N’Gola – Puxa Odoette
                                                                                                                        3. Zeal Onyia & His Music – Egbe Ne Lueli
                                                                                                                        4. Los Corraleros De Majagual – Remanga
                                                                                                                        5. Aquí Suena – Abel Llinas
                                                                                                                        6. Peacocks International Highlife Band – Igbala Oso
                                                                                                                        7. Pedro Lima Et L’Orchestre Os Leonenses – Philomene
                                                                                                                        8. The Shoe Laces – Isitha Somunthu
                                                                                                                        9. Claudio Y Su Combo – Como Sea
                                                                                                                        10. Pa’ Entro Mi Gente – Ángelo El Auténtico
                                                                                                                        11. Zaire – I’m Tired Of Living In The Shack
                                                                                                                        12. Afous - Anavdhou (Edna Martinez Extended Edit)
                                                                                                                        13. Zaïko Langa Langa – La Tout Neige (Edna Martinez Edit)
                                                                                                                        14. Erick Cosaque Et Les Voltage 8 – Ajaccio (Edna Martinez Remix)
                                                                                                                        15. Picó Sin Fronteras – Abel Llinas
                                                                                                                        16. La Calandria – Como Duele Una Traición
                                                                                                                        17. African System International – Amina
                                                                                                                        18. Carlos Díaz Y Su Orquesta – Tres Meses De Vida
                                                                                                                        19. No Puedes Conmigo – Ángelo El Auténtico

                                                                                                                        Various Artists

                                                                                                                        Praise Poems, Vol. 11 - A Journey Into Raw, Energetic Power Pop From The 1980s

                                                                                                                          Every compilation series has an end. After 10 outstanding issues, we are saying goodbye to the Praise Poems series, which is highly appreciated by collectors and music lovers, with this 11th installment. With this final installment, we are deliberately venturing into a genre that we have only included in exceptional cases to date: Power Pop of the late 1970s and early 80s.

                                                                                                                          We start with "Real Proof", an unreleased song by the band The Nails, originally from Boulder, Colorado, who were even signed to a major label a few years later. Although the Fingerprints recorded an entire album, it took over 45 years before it was finally released in 2022. "Wasted On You" comes from one of the three singles released between 1978 and 1980. In contrast to the Fingerprints, the original singles by Naked Rush are extremely rare. This is probably one of the reasons why none of their songs can be found on a compilation to date. It's great that we are now changing this. Incidentally, this applies to the majority of the songs on this album and to all our compilation albums in general. Fritz, Blue Rain and Holidaye are no exception.

                                                                                                                          We would like to mention two songs in particular. Firstly, "Don't Quit" by The Scam, which was produced by William Garrett. Garrett was responsible for the launch of Spotify Singles as Senior Music Producer at Spotify from 2016 to 2023 and has worked with artists such as Elton John, Ed Sheeran, John Legend and many more during this time. Secondly, there's a great story about Animal Logic. In 1989, the band found out that Stuart Copeland from The Police was forming a new band. The name? Animal Logic! After pleas not to use the name were ignored, the Animal Logic guys were forced to take the matter to court and eventually sold the name to Copeland. There are many more exciting stories about the bands in the booklet accompanying the CD and the LP insert.

                                                                                                                          With "A journey into raw, energetic power pop from the 1980s", we now conclude our 10-year journey of discovery through music history under the "Praise Poems" umbrella. We very much hope that you have enjoyed our meticulous work. When one door closes, another opens. It will be the same here. There is still so much to discover and we are already looking forward to many more releases!

                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                          1. The Nails - Real Proof
                                                                                                                          2. Fingerprints - Wasted On You
                                                                                                                          3. Naked Rush - Top 40
                                                                                                                          4. Spektr'm - What Do I Do (What Do I Say)
                                                                                                                          5. Fritz - Number Nine
                                                                                                                          6. Blue Rain - New Morning
                                                                                                                          7. Merrell Fankhauser - Calling From A Star
                                                                                                                          8. Nick Coluccio - Awaken (feat. Dream Illusions)
                                                                                                                          9. The Scam - Don't Quit
                                                                                                                          10. Angry Young Bees - Tell Me TV
                                                                                                                          11. Ted Paugh - Headin' Down The Highway
                                                                                                                          12. Animal Logic - The Meaning Of Life
                                                                                                                          13. Holidaye - Times
                                                                                                                          14. Hangnail Phillips - Let Me In
                                                                                                                          15. Sly Dog - Cryin' For Love

                                                                                                                          Various Artists

                                                                                                                          Soul Jazz Records Presents Queen Dem

                                                                                                                            ‘Queen Dem’ brings together a global selection of all powerful, maverick female artists, all creating new musical forms and re-writing the rules of expression to educate, entertain and empower.

                                                                                                                            Featured artists include Yaya Bey, Sudan Archives, Yaeji, COUCOU CHLOE, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Miso Extra, Aunty Rayzor, TeeZandos, Queenie, MC Yallah, Dizzy Fae, Vanessa the Finessa, Nira and Warrior Queen.

                                                                                                                            From Lagos to Brooklyn, London to Hong Kong, these artists’ widely diverse music is connected through an all-encompassing self-awareness of both self and musical identity and a collective fierceness in attitude.

                                                                                                                            ‘Queen Dem’ features multi-talented artists writing, singing, producing and creating new genres of sound. This album offers a snapshot of the current writing of musical history by women who embody confidence and conviction in their art - whether they are firmly-established artists such as Yaya Bey, Yaeji, Dizzy Fae, Sudan Archives, COUCOU CHLOE and Georgia Anne Muldrow, or under the radar rising stars such as Queenie, Aunty Rayzor, Vanessa Tha Finessa, MC Yallah or Nira.

                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                            COUCOU CHLOE - Nobody 
                                                                                                                            Yaeji Featuring Nappy Nina - Money Can’t Buy
                                                                                                                            TeeZandos - Lioness
                                                                                                                            Sudan Archives - Selfish Soul
                                                                                                                            Miso Extra - 1013
                                                                                                                            Aunty Rayzor - Kuku Corona
                                                                                                                            Yaya Bey - Meet Me In Brooklyn
                                                                                                                            COUCOU CHLOE - Pokerface
                                                                                                                            Queenie - Okay Twin
                                                                                                                            Yaya Bey - Best Thang
                                                                                                                            MC Yallah X Debmaster - Kubali
                                                                                                                            Dizzy Fae - Solo
                                                                                                                            Vanessa Tha Finessa - Bad Bitch Steppin’
                                                                                                                            Dubbing Sun & Blue Hill featuring Warrior Queen - Armageddon
                                                                                                                            Georgia Anne Muldrow - Big Mama Africa Jam
                                                                                                                            Miso Extra Featuring NAYANA IZ - Great Taste
                                                                                                                            Nira - Train Of Love

                                                                                                                            Steve Queralt (Ride)

                                                                                                                            Swallow

                                                                                                                              The debut solo album from Ride bassist Steve Queralt is a beautifully brooding collection that combines the darkly textured soundscapes of early M83 or Sigur Rós with the post-punk of Joy Division and New Order, all with an electronic sheen reminiscent of Mark Pritchard or Boards Of Canada. It features guest vocals on several tracks from Sonic Cathedral labelmate Emma Anderson (formerly of Lush and Sing-Sing) and Verity Susman (Electrelane, MEMORIALS).

                                                                                                                              Swallow has been slowly but surely pieced together between Ride albums and tours over the past eight years and, perhaps as a result, has a slightly dystopian, almost Blade Runner feel that reflects the liminal spaces in which it was created.

                                                                                                                              There’s also an underlying anger and political slant. Despite the fact that the majority of the album is wordless, there is plenty of power and emotion, summed up by the few lines from Julie Sheldon’s poem ‘The Same Boat’ that appear on the closing track ‘Motor Boats’ (“We’re all in the same boat they say, but I would disagree”). According to Steve, they “capture the reality of our times perfectly”.

                                                                                                                              There are also other words on the album courtesy of the two guest vocalists. “There have been some amazing instrumental albums made over the last few years, especially in the nu-classical and post-rock worlds,” says Steve, who points out the influence of Mogwai, and even titled one of the album tracks ‘I Don’t Know How To Sing’, “but some of the tracks sounded like songs to me, just without any words.”

                                                                                                                              This led to the collaborations that, ultimately, tied the whole thing together and paved the way to the finished album. “One of the demos reminded me of Lush, who Ride had toured with in the ’90s, so I contacted Emma thinking her voice would be perfect. But she was confused and said she’d never sung lead vocals.”

                                                                                                                              “At the time I hadn’t even decided I was going to sing on my own records, so I told Steve I couldn’t do it,” explains Emma. “Then, a couple of years later, when I was singing on my own records and my debut album Pearlies was about to come out, I enquired about it, thinking he must have found someone else, but luckily he hadn’t.”

                                                                                                                              “After a few false starts, I started to doubt the project altogether. It was going nowhere,” says Steve. “Then, out of the darkness, Emma got back in touch to tell me that she’d found her voice and could I send her some tracks. A few files back and forth and an afternoon in the studio later and we had ‘Lonely Town’ and ‘Swiss Air’.”

                                                                                                                              In the meantime, Verity from Electrelane had added vocals to the song ‘Messengers’ and transformed the track. Matthew Simms, her then future bandmate in MEMORIALS, would go on to mix the finished album.


                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                              Barry says: I've been a fan of Queralt's music for some time now, with his lovely album with Michael Smith getting a good amount of attention since I got it a few years ago. As brilliant as that was, this is a notable step up in cinematic intensity and songwriting skill. A profoundly superb debut album.

                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                              Side A
                                                                                                                              Mission Creep
                                                                                                                              Lonely Town Feat. Emma Anderson
                                                                                                                              High Teens
                                                                                                                              A Porsche Shaped Hole

                                                                                                                              Side B
                                                                                                                              Swiss Air Feat. Emma Anderson
                                                                                                                              I Don’t Know How To Sing
                                                                                                                              Messengers Feat. Verity Susman
                                                                                                                              1988
                                                                                                                              Motor Boats

                                                                                                                              The Bug Club

                                                                                                                              Very Human Features

                                                                                                                                The Bug Club are back, again, for their annual appointment at the garage rock makers’ market, where they’re flogging yet another pedigree record. LP number four, 'Very Human Features', arrives hot on the heels of the band’s first Sub Pop release, 2024’s 'On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System'. That record saw the band continue their love affair with BBC Radio 6, start up a new one with KEXP thanks to a session with them, and crop up in the pages of the NME. Anything else from the bucket list? Oh yeah, festival slots including packing home ground Green Man’s Walled Garden to its non-existent rafters. Then shows across the US in those venues us Brits tend to only hear about.

                                                                                                                                This record - a new batch of typically playful, riff-laden, smart Bug Club tunes - gives the band an excuse to continue their never-ending tour and feed their baying fans, engorged and expectant thanks to this band’s relentless record-releasing hot streak. “Have you ever been to Wales?”, asks the band in the album’s lead single. ”If not, why not? It’s good." A new, discordant national anthem, if they didn’t already have a decent harmonious one. Oh, to be from a country where national pride is something other than the mark of a tosser. Starting as a classic, chugging chantalong, it’s interrupted by what sounds like an alien choir before they let rip. Think Dinosaur Jr. with a job at the tourist board. And Welsh. Definitely Welsh. On 'Very Human Features' The Bug Club have continued in their habit of presenting as a collective mind. Two-in-one. Rarely do you find a band with two creative forces that have such a singular, shared perspective, sense of humour and knack for a pop melody. In 'Beep Boop Computers' vocalists Sam (also on guitar) and Tilly (on bass) swap between “I”s, “my”s and “we”s as if there isn’t any difference between the lot, all the while skewering interpersonal relationships and experiences in a glorious, glam rock dismantling of the human aspects the album’s title references. Staying on topic, 'How to Be a Confidante' does that-thing-The-Bug-Club-really-know-how-to-do where they, again speaking as two voices from the same mind, pluck out common aspects of how we all live and make them sound ridiculous. The surreal is in the familiar, not in ignoring the familiar - The Bug Club know this and that understanding joins an unrelenting bassline in forming the backbone of this garage rock-infused belter. Having gained an appropriately beefed-up stateside following thanks to the beefy slab of garage-punk on 'On the Intricate Inner Workings of the System', and the band’s subsequent US tour, The Bug Club’s fruitful partnership with Sup Pop gets even tastier with 'Very Human Features'. An assured and endlessly witty whirlwind of literary, self-referential, good-humoured rock ‘n’ roll, the new record sees the band riding their ever-swelling wave of popularity as if it’s a quick whizz around the Caldicot Aldi carpark on a pair of rollerskates. Long may it continue.

                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                Barry says: Fuzzy, jangling indie-rock that lets up just long enough to show how truly melodic and groove-led The Bug Club can be before launching into another harmonised burst of soaring distorted garage rock and thumping, snappy choruses. Cleverly written lyrics and wonderfully presented, brilliant.

                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                1. Full Grown Man
                                                                                                                                2. Twirling In The Middle
                                                                                                                                3. Jealous Boy
                                                                                                                                4. Young Reader
                                                                                                                                5. Beep Boop Computers
                                                                                                                                6. Muck (Very Human Features)
                                                                                                                                7. When The Little Choo Choo Train Toots His Little Horn
                                                                                                                                8. How To Be A Confidante
                                                                                                                                9. Living In The Future
                                                                                                                                10. Tales Of A Visionary Teller
                                                                                                                                11. The Sound Of Communism
                                                                                                                                12. Blame Me
                                                                                                                                13. Appropriate Emotions

                                                                                                                                Half Man Half Biscuit

                                                                                                                                All Asimov And No Fresh Air

                                                                                                                                  Brand new album from indie satirists Half Man Half Biscuit 'All Asimov And No Fresh Air'. Expect plenty of wit, absurd tales and some of the best track titles you'll see all year (Horror Clowns Are Dickheads is a highlight), HMHB never miss and there's nobody quite like them!

                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Classic jangling chords and upbeat missives from Half Man Half Biscuit here, humorously lamenting society and presenting it all in their well-honed garage rock style.

                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                  1. Horror Clowns Are Dickheads
                                                                                                                                  2. Goodbye Sam, Hello Samaritans
                                                                                                                                  3. Rawlplugs Of Yesteryear (Breaking The States)
                                                                                                                                  4. The Bliss Of The Hereafter
                                                                                                                                  5. McCalliog And His Hens
                                                                                                                                  6. Record Store Day
                                                                                                                                  7. I'm Going Out Of My Mind Trying To Get Into Yours
                                                                                                                                  8. No-One Likes A Polymath
                                                                                                                                  9. Don't Get Me Wrong Yvonne
                                                                                                                                  10. Birmos In The Cowshed
                                                                                                                                  11. Falmouth Electrics 
                                                                                                                                  12. Jack's Been To The National
                                                                                                                                  13. Possible Side Effects

                                                                                                                                  British Birds

                                                                                                                                  Silence Daedalus

                                                                                                                                    From the homogenous grey fizz of cloud hanging over deepest Lancashire springs this up-lifting, mad-cowbell infused self-unconscious and nostalgic record from Chorley’s British Birds; 12 songs of journeying through melancholy guided by sweet or shriek harmonies, disco bass, thumping drums and Bobby’s signature loping guitar and swoopy, off-kilter vocals: at times deeply intimate and at others theatrically dizzying with psych. Silence Daedalus is self-released by these staunchly DIY low-key ornithologists.


                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                    Liam says: Chorley DIYers British Birds are back with their latest LP 'Silence Daedalus' and it's another belter. Lead single 'This Bin' feels like a perfect mash-up of Parquet Courts and The Orielles, whilst elsewhere the quartet are pecking out indie-pop morsels from the soil for fun - top stuff!

                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                    1. Baby Blue
                                                                                                                                    2. Sheena’s Locket
                                                                                                                                    3. This Bin
                                                                                                                                    4. Merry-Go-Round
                                                                                                                                    5. Drunk Dancing To The Ramones
                                                                                                                                    6. I’m Not There
                                                                                                                                    7. Please Close The Curtains
                                                                                                                                    8. Spinning Jenny Forever
                                                                                                                                    9. Mother Of Jeanne
                                                                                                                                    10. Chivalry
                                                                                                                                    11. Reaction Time
                                                                                                                                    12. Price I Pay

                                                                                                                                    WITCH

                                                                                                                                    SOGOLO

                                                                                                                                      Legendary yet ever-evolving, Zamrock pioneers WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) continue to push boundaries with their bold new record, 'SOGOLO'. After their remarkable resurgence and 2023's critically acclaimed 'Zango'–their first album in nearly 40 years–'SOGOLO' proves that their innovative spirit remains as strong as ever.

                                                                                                                                      Derived from the Zambian word for “future”, 'SOGOLO' weaves together strains of the garage-infused psych, funk, and rock that WITCH quite literally helped invent back in their 1970s heyday, all while embracing the experimental spirit of the moment. Recorded in Berlin during their whirlwind world tour, 'SOGOLO' brims with urgency, excitement, and discovery, propelled as always by the magnetic presence of frontman Emmanuel ‘Jagari’ Chanda.

                                                                                                                                      The full story of WITCH is almost too extraordinary to believe. Known as the "Zambian Beatles," they founded the Zamrock movement and released seven albums throughout the 1970s and early '80s. Tragically, the AIDS epidemic brought an end to the Zamrock era, claiming the lives of all original members except Jagari. Their music was reissued in 2012, sparking a global rediscovery that led to their triumphant return. Zango was met with rapturous acclaim, including a major New York Times profile, sold-out world tours, and an award-winning documentary that screened globally.

                                                                                                                                      With 'SOGOLO', WITCH reaffirm that their creative fire still burns bright, proving their legacy is far from finished.

                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                      Barry says: A fiery distillation of western psychedelia and traditional Afro-rock, perfectly mixing their respective vibes into a danceable burst of energy and unpredictable, inventive joy. Superb.

                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                      1. Kamusale
                                                                                                                                      2. Nadi
                                                                                                                                      3. Queenless King
                                                                                                                                      4. Tiponde Madzi
                                                                                                                                      5. Bang Bang
                                                                                                                                      6. Set Free
                                                                                                                                      7. Mbangula Sesa
                                                                                                                                      8. (In Memory Of) John
                                                                                                                                      9. Dancer On A Trip
                                                                                                                                      10. Nibani
                                                                                                                                      11. Totally Devoted
                                                                                                                                      12. Machiriso

                                                                                                                                      If you've been following the Payfone story over the last 13 years, you'll know that Phil Passera and Jimmy Day's long-running collaborative project has specialised in one-off musical morsels - sublime songs cooked up in cahoots with all manner of guest musicians and vocalists. Never ones to rest on their laurels, Day and Passera have now delivered a full six-track tasting menu in the shape of Lunch, their hotly anticipated debut album.

                                                                                                                                      Recorded over an 18-month period at Passera's Barcelona studio and Day's studio in Brighton, 'Lunch' is an unsurprisingly assured and musically detailed affair that's entirely made up of previously unheard songs. Unlike acid-flecked recent single 'Volt To Volt', which delivered a tweaked take on late 1980s house music, the album's six tracks showcase the trademark sound the duo has been developing since first joining forces 13 years ago.

                                                                                                                                      Trawl back through Passera and Day's high-quality catalogue, which includes outings on Leng, Golf Channel Recordings and Defected as well as their own OTIS imprint, and that distinctive musical recipe becomes clear. Rooted in their love of classic drum machines and their trusty JUNO-60 synthesiser, the Payfone sound combines equal amounts of electronic and organic instrumentation, warm and inviting downtempo and mid-tempo grooves, and pertinent and thoughtful lyrics delivered with panache by an impressive roll call of guest vocalists.

                                                                                                                                      'Lunch', then, is a standalone sonic statement - an initially vinyl only album on their own OTIS imprint - that continues this impressive lineage. Like all Passera and Day's collaborative work, it is free of samples, with the pair preferring to create their own sounds from scratch. Opener 'Movin' On', featuring the honeyed vocals of former XL Recordings artist Willis Earl Beal AKA Nobody and slap-bass from Jo Gabriel Harris (who also features on three other songs across the album), is a deep and effortlessly evocative mid-tempo delight that perfectly sets the tone for what's to come.

                                                                                                                                      Brooklyn-born April Pittman and Russian/Armenian vocalist Zara Kian lend their talents to woozy, sun-baked shuffler 'Paperman' before regular Payfone collaborator Ludmilla Rodriguez headlines 'Joan of Arc', a veritable Mediterranean breeze rich in tumbling analogue synth synths, elastic bass and tumbling guitar solos. Those yearning for a touch of lightly disco-flecked dancefloor heat will savour 'Spend The Night', where Los Angeles singer Collette Tibbetts AKA Carmella The Balls, accompanied by virtuoso keys courtesy of Parisian pianist Gabriel Cazes, rises above a sweet, melodious, dub disco-adjacent backing track. In contrast, 'Pamela' is low-slung and hypnotic, with 'Sofian' vocalist Barbara Alcindor ushering us through a deep, heady groove-scape.

                                                                                                                                      Fittingly, Passera and Day round off Lunch via a vibrant and potent sweet treat, 'Pony Bar'. Headed up by the J.J Cale-esque lead vocals of man of mystery Leon Lace, the pedal steel-sporting song joins the dots between dusty Americana, kaleidoscopic Balearic beats and lilting, slow-motion disco. Like the rest of the album, you'll be thinking about it long after you've washed down the last few musical mouthfuls.

                                                                                                                                      Payfone have released over 16 individual 12" singles, including Phonica's 'Record of 2023 - 'I Feel You'

                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                      Matt says: The highly anticipated debut album from Payfone arrives and it doesn't disappoint! Seductive beatdown grooves, impressive vocals and skilled instrumentation throughout detail one of the hottest production duos across the new disco / Balearic / modern soul landscape. A truly breathtaking album that'll find constant rotation through the summer ahead.

                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                      A1. Movin' On
                                                                                                                                      A2. Paperman
                                                                                                                                      A3. Joan Of Arc
                                                                                                                                      B1. Spend The Night
                                                                                                                                      B2. Pamela
                                                                                                                                      B3. Pony Bar

                                                                                                                                      Cosey Fanni Tutti

                                                                                                                                      2t2

                                                                                                                                        Composed, performed and produced by Cosey Fanni Tutti, the 9-track album moves between propulsive beat constructions and expansive electronic explorations, continuing themes from 2019’s acclaimed album 'TUTTI'. It is a personal reflection; a sonic realisation of her life, drawing on her powerful inner resolve and expressing it through music. The album finds Cosey making sense of some very tough years, dealing with personal bereavements alongside swinging world events that have impacted us all. Centering on her own strength and self will, the album’s two distinct sides – one rhythmic, one more meditative – are connected by an overwhelmingly positive mood.

                                                                                                                                        She explains, “My overtone chanting on the track ‘Stound’ was part of that, tapping into the inner self, to the core of your being, emotionally, physically, allowing the sounds to permeate and soothe as well as create a sense of power, resistance and resilience to what we face.” Even in the more melancholic moments, there’s a lightness that she explains is an “acknowledgement that it’s alright to be sad, that’s part of life, but there is so much joy too in our memories of people we lose and in the moments we share with each other. Joy is our resistance.”

                                                                                                                                        There are also threads from her most recent projects running through '2t2'. Her latest book RE-SISTERS and the score she wrote for Caroline Catz’s film 'Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and Legendary Tapes' are acknowledged, most directly on ‘Threnody’ which is dedicated to Delia Derbyshire and Andy Christian, an artist friend of Delia’s. He sent Cosey an abstract drawing of the same name, created one night from an improvised evening where he drew while Derbyshire intoned and sang softly as she looked at the drawings, as if reading a score expressing how they made her feel. Cosey’s process and the different strands that make up her work form a totality of vision.

                                                                                                                                        She goes on to say, “Once you get creating and listening, weaving, collaging sound it’s a wonderfully fulfilling feeling that takes you both out of yourself at the same time as essentially deep within.” The artwork reflects this idea that the album is a “sound cameo”, reflecting the light within the music, and the buzz of life that exists within all of Cosey’s work. Musician, artist and author Cosey Fanni Tutti has continually challenged boundaries and conventions through her work. As a founding member of the hugely influential avant-garde band Throbbing Gristle, one half of electronic pioneers Chris and Cosey, and as an artist channelling her experience in pornographic modelling and striptease, her work on the margins has reshaped the mainstream.

                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                        Barry says: A startling, incredibly complex sonic document from one of the leading figures in electronic music history, and an artist who has managed to maintain their sonic identity while simultaneously drifting through remnants of every recognisable genre there is. A brilliant, beautiful electroacoustic journey.

                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                        1. Curæ

                                                                                                                                        2. To Be

                                                                                                                                        3. Stound
                                                                                                                                        4. Never The Same

                                                                                                                                        5. Stolen Time

                                                                                                                                        6. Respair

                                                                                                                                        7. Threnody

                                                                                                                                        8. Sonance
                                                                                                                                        9. Limbic

                                                                                                                                        Polypores

                                                                                                                                        Cosmically A Shambles

                                                                                                                                          Stephen James Buckley, aka Polypores, releases his brand new studio album on June 6th.‘Cosmically A Shambles’ sees a slight shift in direction from his signature sound, with stronger elements of rhythm and melody than his more abstract back catalogue though still remaining unmistakably Polypores.

                                                                                                                                          Highly textural, intricately woven modular synth tapestries, through to whirling psychedelic freak-outs with hypnotic polyrhythms and fuzzed-up drum machines. Still creating in the same method, using modular synths and ‘playing’, rather than the use of samples or studio or synthesiser pre sets, this album features more beats and textures, seeing a shift towards almost psyc or krautrock. Preceded by his first ever 7” lathe cut single ‘Whorl’, the album is released by Cracked Ankles Records from Stephen’s homewtown of Preston.

                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                          Barry says: Wildly energetic, fluid dance music that's forged through Buckley's love of ambient, jazz and electronica and honed through bracing live performances and hypnotic improvisational jams. One of the greatest electronic musicians on the scene. Video for the stunning lead single, 'Whorl' by Yin Wrong is a particular delight, and all beautifully presented on Preston's Cracked Ankles Records. Brilliant all round.

                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                          1 Lungs & Limbs
                                                                                                                                          2 Whorl
                                                                                                                                          3 Timeless Spirals Of The Motherfungus
                                                                                                                                          4 Spoonbender
                                                                                                                                          5 Mystery Energy
                                                                                                                                          6 Score
                                                                                                                                          7 Untethered (Ascend Now)
                                                                                                                                          8 Interdimensional Hopscotch
                                                                                                                                          9 Lossy
                                                                                                                                          10 Hazy Dazy

                                                                                                                                          Patrick Wolf

                                                                                                                                          Crying The Neck

                                                                                                                                            With his 7th album 'Crying The Neck', 41-year-old multi- instrumentalist and composer Patrick Wolf has created a confident, uplifting and hopeful record inspired by the transfiguring power of grief at the death of his mother, folklore, the Kentish landscape, and the state of England. On this album Patrick brings in long term friends Zola Jesus, Serafina Steer and Seb Rochford to provide guest appearances.

                                                                                                                                            The first in a planned four-album series, 'Crying The Neck' was written and recorded in the Kent coastal town Patrick now calls home. As well as the album’s release, 2025 will also see the release of a BFI funded feature-length documentary film about his life.

                                                                                                                                            Across his first six albums Patrick established himself as a much loved and respected artist. He is known for combining electronic sampling with classical instruments.


                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Grand, mournful orchestral music topped by Patrick Wolf's powerful vocals. Though the album is ostensibly about grief and sadness, there are pieces (in particular the uplifting monolith 'The Last Of England') which contrast that perfectly.

                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                            1. Reculver
                                                                                                                                            2. Limbo (ft. Zola Jesus)
                                                                                                                                            3. The Last Of England
                                                                                                                                            4. Jupiter
                                                                                                                                            5. On Your SIde
                                                                                                                                            6. Oozlum
                                                                                                                                            7. Dies Irae
                                                                                                                                            8. The Curfew Bell
                                                                                                                                            9. Lughnasa (ft. Serafina Steer)
                                                                                                                                            10. Song Of The Scythe
                                                                                                                                            11. Better Or Worse
                                                                                                                                            12. Hymn Of The Haar
                                                                                                                                            13. Foreland

                                                                                                                                            Instrumentals (CD Only)

                                                                                                                                            14. The Curfew Bell + Lughnasa
                                                                                                                                            15. Foreland

                                                                                                                                            Lindstrøm

                                                                                                                                            Sirius Syntoms

                                                                                                                                              Norwegian electronic pioneer Lindstrøm returns with Sirius Syntoms – seven tracks of melodic, cosmic disco and shimmering synth grooves.

                                                                                                                                              This is also the relaunch of Lindstrøm’s Feedelity label, with artwork by longtime collaborator Ole Martin Lund Bø. For fans of cosmic disco, nu-disco, synth-driven house, and electronic explorations with heart and soul.

                                                                                                                                              This album marks a more focused and open sound than his previous work, with warm analog textures, pulsating rhythms, and hypnotic basslines at the core.
                                                                                                                                              Combining the uplifting energy of house and the introspective tone of ambient synth music, Sirius Syntoms blends dancefloor elegance with emotional depth. The lead single “Cirkl” sets the tone for a record that’s both refined and playful.


                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Proper summer Scando disco business here from one of our favourite Norwegian synth fiddlers. Deep, percussive grooves that are both propulsive and danceable while retaining a woozy spacey quality that tempers the obviously upbeat backline. The production is, as you'd expect, impeccable too.

                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                              A1. Cirkl (5:11)
                                                                                                                                              A2. Thousand Island Man (4:33)
                                                                                                                                              A3. Moo)n (4:52)
                                                                                                                                              A4. Sharing An Orange (With Omar S On The Train From Minehead To London) (2:51)
                                                                                                                                              B1. These Are A Few Of My Favorite Strings (7:10)
                                                                                                                                              B2. Solveggen! Nå! (5:10)
                                                                                                                                              B3. Sirius Syntoms (5:21)

                                                                                                                                              The Cure

                                                                                                                                              Mixes Of A Lost World

                                                                                                                                                Conceived and compiled by Robert Smith, new remix collection from 2024 album 'Songs Of A Lost World', featuring remixes from Four Tet, Paul Oakenfold, Orbital, and more.



                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                Barry says: An absolutely star-studded stack of names on this remix LP, and an absolute wealth of superb takes from tracks on The Cure's brilliant new LP. For me, it's a particular delight to see a new remix from 65DOS who did the stunning 4 remixes that made up the last track of their 'Hypnagogic States' EP. Shout-out to the Four Tet remix we saw at RSD too, a lovely track.

                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                2CD/2LP Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                1. I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Paul Oakenfold ‘Cinematic’ Remix)
                                                                                                                                                2. ENDSONG (Orbital Remix)
                                                                                                                                                3. DRONE:NODRONE (Daniel Avery Remix)
                                                                                                                                                4. ALL I EVER AM (meera Remix)
                                                                                                                                                5. A FRAGILE THING (Âme Remix)
                                                                                                                                                6. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Danny Briottet & Rico Conning Remix)
                                                                                                                                                7. WARSONG (Daybreakers Remix)
                                                                                                                                                8. ALONE (Four Tet Remix)
                                                                                                                                                9. I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Mental Overdrive Remix)
                                                                                                                                                10. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Cosmodelica Electric Eden Remix)
                                                                                                                                                11. A FRAGILE THING (Sally C Remix)
                                                                                                                                                12. ENDSONG (Gregor Tresher Remix)
                                                                                                                                                13. WARSONG (Omid 16B Remix)
                                                                                                                                                14. DRONE:NODRONE (Anja Schneider Remix)
                                                                                                                                                15. ALONE (Shanti Celeste ‘February Blues’ Remix)
                                                                                                                                                16. ALL I EVER AM (Mura Masa Remix)

                                                                                                                                                3CD/3LP Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                1. I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Paul Oakenfold ‘Cinematic’ Remix)
                                                                                                                                                2. ENDSONG (Orbital Remix)
                                                                                                                                                3. DRONE:NODRONE (Daniel Avery Remix)
                                                                                                                                                4. ALL I EVER AM (meera Remix)
                                                                                                                                                5. A FRAGILE THING (Âme Remix)
                                                                                                                                                6. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Danny Briottet & Rico Conning Remix)
                                                                                                                                                7. WARSONG (Daybreakers Remix)
                                                                                                                                                8. ALONE (Four Tet Remix)
                                                                                                                                                9. I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Mental Overdrive Remix)
                                                                                                                                                10. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Cosmodelica Electric Eden Remix)
                                                                                                                                                11. A FRAGILE THING (Sally C Remix)
                                                                                                                                                12. ENDSONG (Gregor Tresher Remix)
                                                                                                                                                13. WARSONG (Omid 16B Remix)
                                                                                                                                                14. DRONE:NODRONE (Anja Schneider Remix)
                                                                                                                                                15. ALONE (Shanti Celeste ‘February Blues’ Remix)
                                                                                                                                                16. ALL I EVER AM (Mura Masa Remix)
                                                                                                                                                17. I CAN NEVER SAY GOODBYE (Craven Faults Rework)
                                                                                                                                                18. DRONE:NODRONE (JoyCut ‘Anti-Gravitational’ Remix)
                                                                                                                                                19. AND NOTHING IS FOREVER (Trentemøller Rework)
                                                                                                                                                20. WARSONG (Chino Moreno Remix)
                                                                                                                                                21. ALONE (Ex-Easter Island Head Remix)
                                                                                                                                                22. ALL I EVER AM (65daysofstatic Remix)
                                                                                                                                                23. A FRAGILE THING (The Twilight Sad Remix)
                                                                                                                                                24. ENDSONG (Mogwai Remix) 

                                                                                                                                                Joe Armon-Jones

                                                                                                                                                All The Quiet (Part II)

                                                                                                                                                  Keyboardist, producer and songwriter Joe Armon-Jones shares his most elevated solo project to date, 'All The Quiet'. A galvanising statement of intent, traversing jazz, funk, dub, hip hop, and soul music, entirely written, produced and mixed by Armon-Jones himself. As a band member, he is best known as part of the Mercury prize winning Ezra Collective, who capped 2024 by being the first jazz band to headline London’s Wembley Arena. 'All The Quiet (Part II)' is the second chapter of a two part album, released on his own label, Aquarii Records. Guest musicians & features include Greentea Peng, Wu-Lu, Yazmin Lacey, Hak Baker, Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome, and more.

                                                                                                                                                  Six years have passed since Armon-Jones’ last solo album, 2019’s 'Turn To Clear View' was released on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, but don’t mistake that gap for a break. In this time he’s toured the world, built a studio, contributed to albums from the great and good of UK jazz, and recorded collaborative releases with Liam Bailey, Fatima, Hak Baker, Prince Fatty, Ranking Joe, Maxwell Owin, and dubstep legend Mala.

                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                  1. Acknowledgement Is Key (feat. Hak Baker)
                                                                                                                                                  2. Lavender
                                                                                                                                                  3. Westmoreland (feat. Asheber)
                                                                                                                                                  4. PSR Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                  5. Paladin Of Sound & Circumstance
                                                                                                                                                  6. Another Place (feat. Greentea Peng & Wu-Lu)
                                                                                                                                                  7. War Transmission
                                                                                                                                                  8. 505 Standby
                                                                                                                                                  9. Journey South
                                                                                                                                                  10. One Way Traffic (feat. Yazmin Lacey)

                                                                                                                                                  Amsterdam natives Maarten Smeets and Lars Dales, aka Dam Swindle, unveil their third long-player, a multi-genre trip exploring lower tempos, synthwave, hip-house, and downbeat across fourteen tracks. With a gestation period that traces back several years, ‘Open’ is their most intimate and personal body of work thus far, birthed during a time of self-reflection away from touring and during a time of individual growth for the pair.

                                                                                                                                                  While the trademark Dam Swindle four-to-the-floor beats are still ever-present on tracks like ‘The Present Is Always Perfect’, ‘I Need You’, and ‘Is This Love?’, it’s the gentle waves of synths on opener ‘Home’, the contemplative piano chords of ‘Bloom’ featuring Joep Beving, and the lo-fi ambience of ‘It’s Okay, I Can Wait’ that showcase a melancholic, ethereal sensibility previously uncharted by the duo. Collaborations with vocalists such as NYC’s Haile Supreme on ‘Not Enough’ and Neo-soul singer Faye Meana on ‘Girl’ expertly find room in between the dancefloor and home listening sessions, and a clear standout on the LP is the title cut where message-heavy rapped vocals from UK artist Samson ebb and flow amongst iridescent grooves.

                                                                                                                                                  Under the helm of Maarten and Lars’ adept A&R, their Heist imprint has become a beloved home for house heads of both schools old and new, platforming some of dance music’s biggest names from Cinthie to DJ Sneak as well as the musical dawning’s of artists such as Kassian and Makèz. The Dam Swindle alias has achieved house music royalty-like status across a storied 15-year career that includes two critically lauded full-lengths, collaborations with the likes of Tom Misch and Kerri Chandler, and a globetrotting touring schedule. 


                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Not content with crafting certified club bangers for their Heist label, Dam Swindle turn their attention to a varied and expansive long player featuring a wealth of guest vocalists and exploring myriad styles.

                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                  A1. Home
                                                                                                                                                  A2. Not Enough Feat. Haile Supreme
                                                                                                                                                  A3. The Present Is Always Perfect
                                                                                                                                                  A4. Girl Feat. Faye Meana
                                                                                                                                                  B1. Run, Run, Run
                                                                                                                                                  B2. Only Ever Now
                                                                                                                                                  B3. Open Feat. Samson
                                                                                                                                                  C1. I Need You
                                                                                                                                                  C2. Bloom Feat. Joep Beving
                                                                                                                                                  C3. Some Day Feat. Ric Wilson
                                                                                                                                                  C4. Kiki Feat. LYMA
                                                                                                                                                  D1. Is This Love?
                                                                                                                                                  D2. It's Okay, I Can Wait
                                                                                                                                                  D3. Closer

                                                                                                                                                  Aldorande  is a band of five groove adventurers, led by their founder and captain Virgile Raffaëlli, who are pushing the boundaries of music with boundless passion and unparalleled instrumental mastery. After two critically acclaimed albums, the group returns with "Trois", the final chapter of their cosmic trilogy, recorded on tape at a prestigious Parisian studio.

                                                                                                                                                  "Trois" is an epic album, driven by bold instrumental explorations and waves of celestial choirs. Drawing inspiration from the 70s fusion movement, it honors the genre’s masters while adding a unique, contemporary twist. The galactic textures and sophisticated arrangements transport the listener on an unforgettable astral journey.

                                                                                                                                                  Once again, Favorite Recordings has poured its heart and soul into this album. Every note, every arrangement has been meticulously crafted to capture the essence of that era, with a relentless drive to ensure that every step of production and recording stays as true as possible to the genre’s iconic references.

                                                                                                                                                  On drums, Mathieu Edouard lays down a killer groove that leaves no one indifferent. Florian Pellissier, on keyboards, unfolds an interstellar sound palette with a spectacular collection of instruments: Fender Rhodes, Yamaha CP-70B, Moog Minimoog Model D, Sequential Prophet 5, ARP Solina String Ensemble, Roland Juno 106, Roland Jupiter 8, and Oberheim OB-8. On percussion, Erwan Loeffel scatters a jungle of intoxicating rhythms. Laurent Guillet, on guitar, fires off hypnotic, irresistible riffs, while Virgile Raffaëlli, on bass, anchors the entire experience with deep, melodic bass lines that give the band a captivating and unique dimension.

                                                                                                                                                  Get ready to take off with Aldorande  and their album "Trois", which promises to take you beyond the stars.

                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Frenetic jazz-funk from this French collective who've more than a casual penchant for old school synthesizers. Alongside the electronics, the instrument playing is second-to-none; making this a heady brew of modern grooves delivered by the good folks at Favourite.

                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                  A1.Alderaan Overture
                                                                                                                                                  A2.Gulf Of Mexico
                                                                                                                                                  A3.Opium Des Nuits
                                                                                                                                                  A4.Cosmic Boy
                                                                                                                                                  A5.Swingers On The Moons

                                                                                                                                                  B1.Sweet Spot
                                                                                                                                                  B2.Riviera Serenade
                                                                                                                                                  B3.Back To Mother Earth
                                                                                                                                                  B4.City High
                                                                                                                                                  B5.Carnaval Ao Sol (para Airto)

                                                                                                                                                  DjeuhDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson

                                                                                                                                                  Danses Divines

                                                                                                                                                  The fourth album from DjeuhDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson couldn't have a more explicit title. Masters of emotions and feelings, the duo has always known how to express melancholy and nostalgia with precision. Yet this time, all their efforts have concentrated on a single goal: taking listeners by the hand - no, by the ear, obviously! - to bring everyone back to the dancefloor and explore a variety of atmospheres together. And naturally, a variety of styles. Funk, ndombolo, electro, hip-hop or zouk, each new vibration discovered carries away the previous one to form a dancefloor where all eventually come together. 

                                                                                                                                                  To evoke transidentity, consent, economic malaise as well as the spiritual, or to tell little stories of frustrated loves, seemingly insoluble but which will end well. Anthony Hilaire for Creole words, Sarah Solo for hip-swiveling soukous, Patrick Bebey for pygmy flute notes, and Grégoire Mahé to bring electricity to DjeuhDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson's songs; styles blend in a musicality worked into its smallest interstices. Gathered on this dancefloor illuminated with 80s disco brilliance, you observe brassy notes slithering under the electronic veneer, synthesizer keys splashed by furious hip movements. To raise your eyes to connect with the spiritual is to watch the sky become constellated with crystalline Fender Rhodes notes, destined to fall like rain on the heavy bass of afrobeat groove. Smiles attached to faces, no one should think they can get through the ten tracks of "Divine Dances" while remaining seated.

                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Cosmic outernational vibrations! DjeuhDjoah & Lieutenant Nicholson refine their Afro-French formula for an album that's tailor made for summertime enjoyment.

                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                  A1.Danses Divines
                                                                                                                                                  A2.Inflation
                                                                                                                                                  A3.Joséphine (Ft. Manone)
                                                                                                                                                  A4.La Go Kitoko
                                                                                                                                                  A5.Redessiner

                                                                                                                                                  B1.Jackson Pollock
                                                                                                                                                  B2.I Salé
                                                                                                                                                  B3.Sarah Solo
                                                                                                                                                  B4.Consentement
                                                                                                                                                  B5.Sa Ou Fè

                                                                                                                                                  Big Flame

                                                                                                                                                  Peel Sessions 84-86

                                                                                                                                                    “James [Dean Bradfield] was always banging on about Big Flame and I could never understand it. But then I played a record of theirs at a slower speed by mistake on vinyl once, and suddenly I got the jazziness of it.” Nicky Wire, Manic Street Preachers

                                                                                                                                                    Working within a pre-determined lifespan, bIG*fLAME developed their own distinctive sound and style: super-fast, two-minute, non-decadent Mach 2 beats overlain by distinctive, spiky, loud, unorthodox guitars, and politically-charged lyrics.

                                                                                                                                                    John Peel described the band as “one of the two or three very best bands of Planet Earth”, and also called them “the best dance band since Glenn Miller and his Orchestra”.

                                                                                                                                                    Find out for yourself on this album which features all four Peel sessions recorded by the agitpop trio between 1984 and 1986 – 16 tracks in total, with versions of nearly everything they ever recorded. And a few things they didn’t.

                                                                                                                                                    Among the highlights are the covers of the June Brides’ indie standard Every Conversation (Phil Wilson, a big fan of bIG*fLAME, loves it), plus These Boots Are Made For Working – Nancy & Lee eat your hearts out.

                                                                                                                                                    Plus, of course, the notorious Wham! cover … Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go it ain’t. Well it is, but it’s also Testament To The Slow Death Of Youth Culture. Once heard, never forgotten.

                                                                                                                                                    There never was a bIG*fLAME LP because they didn’t believe in it. So we’ve struck it lucky here. All this, plus sleeve notes from Greg O’Keeffe and printed inners with photos and flyers etc. All the stuff you love from Precious.

                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                    Laura says: Finally I can bin my crackly cassette versions of these sessions! This collection is long overdue and perfectly captures the energy and intensity of the legendary biG fLAME. I think it was probably on the John Peel show that I first heard them and they left an immediate impression on me, a 17 year old Smiths fan who was used to guitars that jangled, not snarled and spat! I'd heard nothing like it before: the jagged guitars, odd time changes and rattling drums (I think it was journalist James Brown that described them as amphetamine harassed - which made me laugh at the time and always stuck in my head. It's the perfect description.) It took me a few more listens to actually catch the lyrics too which were political but not sloganeering: clever and satirical. I was hooked! I saw them live numerous times and as you can probably tell, I loved them. Over time they would open my eyes and ears to a whole new world of music - everything from Gang Of 4 and The Fire Engines to The Pop Group and On U-Sound, stuff I may never have discovered on my own it the pre-internet days.
                                                                                                                                                    Check this album out - they could be your new favourite band!

                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                    Debra
                                                                                                                                                    Man Of Few Syllables
                                                                                                                                                    Sargasso
                                                                                                                                                    Breath Of A Nation
                                                                                                                                                    All The Irish Must Go To Heaven
                                                                                                                                                    New Way
                                                                                                                                                    Chanel Samba
                                                                                                                                                    These Boots Were Made For Working
                                                                                                                                                    Earsore
                                                                                                                                                    Let's Rewrite The American Constitution
                                                                                                                                                    Cat With Cholic
                                                                                                                                                    Every Conversation
                                                                                                                                                    Sink
                                                                                                                                                    XPQWRTZ
                                                                                                                                                    Three On Baffled Island
                                                                                                                                                    Testament To The Slow Death Of Youth Culture

                                                                                                                                                    Ruth Lyon

                                                                                                                                                    Poems & Non-Fiction

                                                                                                                                                      ‘Poems & Non-Fiction’ is the debut album by Newcastle’s Ruth Lyon - a powerful songwriter who weaves deeply evocative narratives and potent meditations, with an artistry that balances delicacy and strength. Forged by her experiences as a disabled woman and a life-long sense of otherness, she explores the beautiful mess of existence, challenges social norms and ignites a journey towards self-acceptance, empowerment and perhaps most importantly, hope.

                                                                                                                                                      Working with acclaimed producer John Parish (PJ Harvey, Aldous Harding) and influenced by artists like Adrienne Lenker, Fiona Apple and Moondog, the songs are rich with poetic nuance and the unconventional insight of a young life lived to capacity. A mesmerising blend of analogue and angular indie-folk that gives as much attention to silence as sound, with understated yet muscular grooves. Musically the album is gently driven, with dreamy clarinets and melancholic strings sitting diffused like sea light on top of the mesmeric groove of piano, bass and drums.

                                                                                                                                                      Shimmering between the abstract, the archetypal and the naked truth, meaning lingers just beneath the surface, with Lyon daring listeners to both reach out and dig deep; to give emotion a solid, tangible shape. She says that “I surprised myself with the raw honesty in these songs and I hope these stories inspire healing and growth.”


                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                      1. Artist
                                                                                                                                                      2. Wickerman
                                                                                                                                                      3. Books
                                                                                                                                                      4. Perfect
                                                                                                                                                      5. Hill
                                                                                                                                                      6. Confetti
                                                                                                                                                      7. Ceasar
                                                                                                                                                      8. November
                                                                                                                                                      9. Cover
                                                                                                                                                      10. Weather
                                                                                                                                                      11. Seasons

                                                                                                                                                      Ryan Adams

                                                                                                                                                      Changes

                                                                                                                                                        Ryan Adams has always included a number of cover versions in his live sets. Most prominent is  Oasis' Wonderwall (not included here) which went on to be one of his biggest ever songs when it was physically released as a single. He's an artist, also, that's whizzed between genres, unashamedly wearing his musical heart on his sleeve.

                                                                                                                                                        Finally Adams has released the album we've all been waiting for: his soulful, unique take on some of his favourite ever songs. Here we have 20 tracks from all over the musical spectrum taking in the Velvets, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Repalcements , Alice in Chains, then beautiful "surprises" like  The Smiths, Prince, Pixies and even Simple Minds. My personal favourite though is his moving reading of the gorgeous Black Sabbath song "Changes".

                                                                                                                                                        Ryan Adams has been in deep and choppy waters in recent times, and its hard not to think that his enduring love of music, coupled with his ridiculous and undeniable talent , is the one thing that's kept him afloat. Maybe these songs are his "rubber rings"? Sounds like it to me. It makes for a superb record.


                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                        Andy says: Beautiful album featuring 20 cover songs from across the musical spectrum. Powerful renditions.

                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                        Side A
                                                                                                                                                        1.Powderfinger
                                                                                                                                                        2.Panic
                                                                                                                                                        3.Aching To Be
                                                                                                                                                        4.Don’t You Forget About Me
                                                                                                                                                        5.Changes

                                                                                                                                                        Side B
                                                                                                                                                        6.Headshrinker
                                                                                                                                                        7.The Man In Me
                                                                                                                                                        8.Candy Says
                                                                                                                                                        9.Runaway Train
                                                                                                                                                        10.Queen Of Hearts

                                                                                                                                                        Side C
                                                                                                                                                        11.Sympathy For The Devil
                                                                                                                                                        12.Harvest Moon
                                                                                                                                                        13.After The Gold Rush
                                                                                                                                                        14.Atlantic City
                                                                                                                                                        15.Living On A Prayer

                                                                                                                                                        Side D
                                                                                                                                                        16.Nutshell
                                                                                                                                                        17.Monkey Gone To Heaven
                                                                                                                                                        18.The Crystal Ship
                                                                                                                                                        19.When Doves Cry
                                                                                                                                                        20.True Love Will Find You In The End

                                                                                                                                                        Van Morrison

                                                                                                                                                        Remembering Now

                                                                                                                                                          With ‘Remembering Now’, Van Morrison returns to the transcendent, uncategorisable rhapsodies that make him unique. Soul, jazz, blues, folk, country - this is music in conversation with all of them but limited by none. Its rich with hallmarks of classic Van Morrison, from dominant themes of love in spirit with the great ‘Someone Like You’ (the escapist romance of ‘Once In A Lifetime Feelings’, the self-deprecating candour of ‘The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours’) to specific references to locations from his youth in the title track and ‘Stomping Ground’. The title of another song, ‘When the Rains Came’, echoes a lyric from his classic ‘Brown Eyed Girl’.

                                                                                                                                                          From the radiant opener, ‘Down to Joy’, to the joyously resilient ‘Haven’t Lost My Sense of Wonder’, Van Morrison’s voice, guitar and saxophone continue to mesmerise and he is surrounded, as always, by a fabulous band - Richard Dunn (Hammond organ), Stuart McIlroy (piano), Pete Hurley (bass) and Colin Griffin (drums and percussion) - who have worked with him since ‘Three Chords and the Truth’ in 2019.

                                                                                                                                                          The single ‘Down To Joy’ feels like he has gone back to his soul and gospel roots, its strong emphasis on an uplifting big band arrangement with evocative strings providing fans with a taste of timeless sounds which represents the rest of the album.

                                                                                                                                                          Beyond his key band members, ‘Remembering Now’ features an array of accomplished collaborators. Its strings were arranged and directed by Fiachra Trench (Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello), whose association with Van Morrison goes back to ‘Avalon Sunset’ in 1989. Those strings were performed by the Fews Ensemble led by Joanne Quigley.

                                                                                                                                                          Other contributions come from Michael Beckwith, the founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, the renowned lyricist Don Black (Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Quincy Jones); and the acclaimed folk artist Seth Lakeman.


                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: A new one from one of the most legendary voices in music, 'Remembering Now' sees Morrison tone down the political and ideological campaigning of the past few albums to great effect, sounding like a beautifully relaxed version of his smoothly delivered best and accompanied by a host of impactful orchestrations.

                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                          1. Down To Joy
                                                                                                                                                          2. If It Wasn’t For Ray
                                                                                                                                                          3. Haven’t Lost My Sense Of Wonder
                                                                                                                                                          4. Love, Lover And Beloved
                                                                                                                                                          5. Cutting Corners
                                                                                                                                                          6. Back To Writing Love Songs
                                                                                                                                                          7. The Only Love I Ever Need Is Yours
                                                                                                                                                          8. Once In A Lifetime Feelings
                                                                                                                                                          9. Stomping Ground
                                                                                                                                                          10. Memories And Visions
                                                                                                                                                          11. When The Rains Came
                                                                                                                                                          12. Colourblind
                                                                                                                                                          13. Remembering Now
                                                                                                                                                          14. Stretching Out

                                                                                                                                                          The Ting Tings

                                                                                                                                                          Home

                                                                                                                                                            UK Salford band The Ting Tings released their first catalogue of hits in 2008, with global success taking them on an immediate 6-year world tour. 'That's Not My Name', 'Shut Up & Let Me Go', 'Great Dj' & 'Hands', still regular fixtures on playlists and syncs worldwide. They vowed never to make the same record twice, 5 albums in, they are sticking to their word.

                                                                                                                                                            Their new album 'Home' was recorded in a wooden decked analogue studio is an easy breezy yacht rock album committed to traditional songwriting inspired by their all-time favourites, Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits, The Eagles, The Carpenters, Cosby Stills & Nash, Supertramp, Christopher Cross, best heard in a car, preferably with the sea in view and the windows down.


                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                            1. Good People Do Bad Things Dreaming
                                                                                                                                                            2. Home
                                                                                                                                                            3. Goodbye Song
                                                                                                                                                            4. Winning
                                                                                                                                                            5. In My Hand
                                                                                                                                                            6. Danced On The Wire
                                                                                                                                                            7. Song For Meadow 
                                                                                                                                                            8. Mind Thunder
                                                                                                                                                            9. Down

                                                                                                                                                            The Budos Band

                                                                                                                                                            VII

                                                                                                                                                              Two years after releasing the 'Frontier’s Edge' EP, the Budos Band are returning with their first full-length since 2020’s 'Long in the Tooth'. Titled simply 'VII', the new album sees them doing what they do best: laying down hypnotic, horn-spiked grooves that menace and mesmerize in equal measure.

                                                                                                                                                              Produced by Budos guitarist Tom Brenneck with Simon Guzmán engineering, 'VII' features 11 tightly constructed new tracks that draw on the group’s wide range of influences, sounding like only the Budos can. It’s music for getting down, for nighttime drives, and for alternate headspaces — a beguiling mix of mystery and rhythm that stands with the formidable work they’ve released in their two decades of recording. 'VII' was recorded in California and serves as the Budos Band’s first full-length album on Diamond West, the independent label founded in 2023 by Tankel and Brenneck. It’s also the group’s first album to include instrumental contributions from percussionist Rich Tarrana, who previously played in the Frightnrs. All told, it succeeds in opening up some new sonic spaces while staying tethered to the intuitive, unique musicality that made them such a sensation from the jump.

                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                              1. Thrice Crowned
                                                                                                                                                              2. Overlander
                                                                                                                                                              3. Night Raid
                                                                                                                                                              4. Lair Of 1,000 Serpents
                                                                                                                                                              5. Kudzu Vine
                                                                                                                                                              6. Sharky’s Delight
                                                                                                                                                              7. Curse Of The Ivory Fang
                                                                                                                                                              8. Behind The Black Curtain
                                                                                                                                                              9. Escape From Ptenoda City
                                                                                                                                                              10. The Strigoi
                                                                                                                                                              11. Mean Streets

                                                                                                                                                              Featuring: Coby Sey, Mica Levi and Mark Pell (Good Sad Happy Bad / Micachu & The Shapes)

                                                                                                                                                              ‘Affectionately’ is the debut album by London based songwriter and musician Raisa K. With self produced instrumentals supporting Raisa’s signature vocal performance, the record delves into the intricate emotional cycles of relationships with heartfelt sincerity. Melodies appear simple and direct, while the themes explored present a great level of complexity. Whether about trust, kindness, doubt, frustration, annoyance, regret, honesty, insecurity, loneliness or friendship, each of the album’s twelve songs lie somewhere in between a diary and a letter.‘Affectionately’ is almost entirely produced on Raisa’s laptop and written in her home in London, as well as finding small pockets of time on trains and buses, during breaks at work, during the kids' nap-times, at the playground, in the park. The production's backbone is formed by a synthesiser sample, weaving together a range of recordings and sonic textures.

                                                                                                                                                              This creates a consistent expression where diverse electronic styles merge with Raisa's crisp, candid vocals in unique and personal songwriting. Some listeners might recognise Raisa’s voice and musical language from records by the band Good Sad Happy Bad, which she is a part of. While ‘Affectionately’ certainly moves in its own space, a kinship with fellow London artists is also present, as the record includes a feature with Coby Sey as well as instrumental contributions from long-time collaborators Marc Pell and Mica Levi.

                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                              Matt says: Intriguing DIY / bedroom, experimental synth-pop curio which will appeal to regular visitors to the Dean Blunt sphere.

                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                              Affectionately
                                                                                                                                                              How Did You Know
                                                                                                                                                              Feel It
                                                                                                                                                              Tall Enough
                                                                                                                                                              As It Seems
                                                                                                                                                              Both Still
                                                                                                                                                              Honest
                                                                                                                                                              Step
                                                                                                                                                              Dreaming
                                                                                                                                                              Stay Feat. Coby Sey
                                                                                                                                                              Come Down
                                                                                                                                                              Final Generations

                                                                                                                                                              An immersive long-form composition in two parts that seamlessly blends a collage of spoken word, field recordings and drones with elements of dub, jazz, fourth world and ambient music.

                                                                                                                                                              Son Of Chi is the latest project of Rotterdam-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Hanyo van Oosterom. Van Oosterom’s prolific career spans multiple decades and genres; among countless projects he has been involved in, he is known for founding the Dutch ambient collective CHI in the early eighties, and in recent years for his prolific collaboration with CHI co-founder Jacobus Derwort as Chi Factory. Following Derwort’s passing in 2019, van Oosterom decided to close the CHI circle with the birth of Son Of Chi.

                                                                                                                                                              Sonically, the world of ‘We Carry Eden’ is fully immersive; it ripples with depth and shimmers in detail. Motifs, ideas and fragments, arise and disappear like passing thoughts, drawing the listener deeper and deeper inwards. For those familiar with Oosterom’s work as Chi Factory, the depth and meditative nature of the work will come as no surprise; however it is Oosterom’s skill with grooves that shines equally bright here; his infectiously dubby basslines and percussion rise up from the ether, grounding the listener to the earth. ‘We Carry Eden’ at times invokes the fourth world landscapes of Jon Hassell, (with whom Oosterom has collaborated) but as a whole, it remains the unique work of an artist fully in tune with their vision.

                                                                                                                                                              Thematically, storytelling traditions lie at the heart of ‘We Carry Eden’, with van Oosterom’s long-time collaborator Omar Ka playing a central role. Ka, who hails from the West African nomadic Fulani tradition of storytelling, responds to the collage of field recordings and sounds collected by Oosterom. His voice is woven throughout ‘We Carry Eden’, creating a narrative that binds the multiple sound sources of the album together.

                                                                                                                                                              As with much of van Oosterom’s musical output, inspiration is drawn from the Greek Island of Patmos and the wisdom and prophecies of the Native American Hopi Tribe. Since his work with CHI in the early eighties, van Oosterom has often incorporated quotes from Hopi Elders into his music. Gods, spirits, animals and humans, all existing in one unchangeable relationship tied to nature; ‘We Carry Eden’ is rooted in this philosophy, serving as a peaceful message of beauty, harmony and respect for the wisdom of the Elders and ancient traditions.

                                                                                                                                                              Sleeve art and design by Michael Willis.

                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                              Matt says: A rich, exotic sonic garden full of enchanted artefacts, transportive textures and dreamlike mood. Perfectly hitting the MFM remit, but also opening up a whole world of musical curiosity.

                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                              1st Movement Side One
                                                                                                                                                              2nd Movement Side One
                                                                                                                                                              3rd Movement Side One
                                                                                                                                                              4th Movement Side One
                                                                                                                                                              5th Movement Side One
                                                                                                                                                              1st Movement Side Two
                                                                                                                                                              2nd Movement Side Two
                                                                                                                                                              3rd Movement Side Two
                                                                                                                                                              4th Movement Side Two
                                                                                                                                                              5th Movement Side Two
                                                                                                                                                              6th Movement Side Two

                                                                                                                                                              Holden & Zimpel

                                                                                                                                                              The Universe Will Take Care Of You

                                                                                                                                                                British synth wizard James Holden and Polish clarinet guru Waclaw Zimpel (Saagara, Shackleton) continue their fruitful collaboration with the blissful escapism of lush album debut 'The Universe Will Take Care Of You'.

                                                                                                                                                                A deeply emotive warm and fuzzy delight, the rich textures and beguiling sound palette of the entrancing 'The Universe…' roams freely between bucolic pastorals, insistent arpeggios and shimmering euphoria.

                                                                                                                                                                Embracing the playful, experimental approach of their Krautrock forefathers to explore their deepest improvisational urges, this is the joyful convergence of two like-minded masters of their craft, weaving in violin, percussion, lap steel guitar and the Indian twin pipe algoza flute amongst the expected modular synth and clarinet.

                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                1. You Are Gods
                                                                                                                                                                2. Sunbeam Path
                                                                                                                                                                3. Time Ring Rattles
                                                                                                                                                                4. Sparkles, Crystals, Miracles
                                                                                                                                                                5. Incredible Bliss
                                                                                                                                                                6. The Universe Will Take Care Of You

                                                                                                                                                                Always unique in blending traditional elements (latin jazz, funk, soul) with modern sounds, since "Moving Ahead" in 2020 Gerardo Frisina, a leading name in the international jazz and electronic music scene, has introduced new 'cosmic' and 'futuristic' elements into his style. His evolution culminates today with "In Sight", a double work conceived and produced in two separate volumes. "In Sight Vol. 2" is characterised by four new structured compositions with a distinct psychedelic and minimal-dance vein that makes them more structured and thoughtful. In addition, the new arrangements of "Mindoro", "Tarab" and "Mystical Funk" represent the 'club-oriented' moments of this release. One of Gerardo Frisina's most complete and eclectic productions ever!

                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                1. Uzuri
                                                                                                                                                                2. Gigil
                                                                                                                                                                3. Mindoro (Alternative Version)
                                                                                                                                                                4. Ingenua
                                                                                                                                                                5. Ya'aburnee
                                                                                                                                                                6. Tarab (Dub Version)
                                                                                                                                                                7. Mystical Funk (Album Version)

                                                                                                                                                                Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

                                                                                                                                                                Talkin' To The Trees

                                                                                                                                                                  ‘Talkin To The Trees’ is a personal and powerful album featuring ten new compositions by Young. 'Big Change', the first song from the album, was released in January 2025, with a message that left no doubt where Neil Young stands in these challenging times.

                                                                                                                                                                  The Chrome Hearts are Spooner Oldham (Organ); Micah Nelson (Guitar and Vocal); Corey McCormick (Bass and Vocal); Anthony LoGerfo (Drums); with Neil Young (Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vibes). The album is co-produced by Lou Adler and Young, and recorded at Shangri La Studios in Malibu.

                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                  1. Family Life
                                                                                                                                                                  2. Dark Mirage
                                                                                                                                                                  3. First Fire Of Winter
                                                                                                                                                                  4. Silver Eagle
                                                                                                                                                                  5. Lets Roll Again
                                                                                                                                                                  6. Big Change
                                                                                                                                                                  7. Talkin To The Trees
                                                                                                                                                                  8. Movin Ahead
                                                                                                                                                                  9. Bottle Of Love
                                                                                                                                                                  10. Thankful

                                                                                                                                                                  The Young Gods

                                                                                                                                                                  Appear Disappear

                                                                                                                                                                    The guitars are out, and the knives are drawn. To the galloping rhythm of a world spiraling out of control, The Young Gods take aim and strike with renewed power. From the very first second of 'Appear Disappear', the six- string tears through space, baring its fangs in an electric howl. The trio has returned to its most aggressive fundamentals, to its art of sonic warfare - never superfluous when war is everywhere.

                                                                                                                                                                    Rarely has a Young Gods album been so deeply infused with its era-one of military conflicts, mass surveillance, and intimate dramas. Since their inception in 1985, the band has pioneered musical landscapes that dared to fuse the raw urgency of rock with the power of electronics. 'Appear Disappear' captures that beating heart. The Young Gods honor their wn history as much as their lifelong influences, from psychedelic rock to post- punk, from the swirling, very «Doors-like» 'Intertidal' to the industrial rolls of 'Systemized'.

                                                                                                                                                                    «We wanted something raw,» summarizes Franz Treichler, guitarist and vocalist. «After the atmospheric rock of 'Data Mirage Tangram' (2019) and the instrumental piece 'In C by Terry Riley' (2022), we needed and wanted to express ourselves more directly.»

                                                                                                                                                                    A guerrilla album, then. A record of resistance. In both its themes and intensity, it plunges into the heart of the trap, into «the brain of the monster» - which Che Guevara precisely located in Switzerland and which still thrives there comfortably. But it is not impossible to confront it.

                                                                                                                                                                    'Appear Disappear' is a reflection on our involvement in the world’s problems and our ability to take a stand. How do we react, make the right move amid the vast sea of data we process every second?» asks Treichler. Propelled skyward by the electro pulse of Cesare Pizzi (sampling, electronics) and the pounding drums of Bernard Trontin, 'Mes yeux de tous' unfolds the same dizzying question: How do we avoid being swallowed by the «cloud» we ourselves feed?

                                                                                                                                                                    The answer is in our hands. The impact is physical, the dance tribal. To an obsessive tempo, 'Shine that Drone' imagines a crowd stomping the ground, raising a wall of dust to blind surveillance drones. 'Blackwater' celebrates new tools of resistance how to turn digital surveillance to our advantage. 'Blackwater' was the codename of a Chinese activist who mapped police movements in real-time during the Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution. The bass undulates and sways, like a silent revolt spreading through the streets.

                                                                                                                                                                    But 'Appear Disappear' is also - and above all - a record about love. A collective chant, created in jam sessions by a trio more united than ever, and an ode from Franz Treichler to his wife Heleen, who passed away in 2023. Love is shouted, it overturns everything. 'Blue Me Away' reserves the album’s most beautiful explosions, its rawest bursts of sound. Treichler is certain: «Chaos dances when feminine and masculine dances unite.» The music of The Young Gods is its soundtrack.

                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                    A1. Appear Disappear
                                                                                                                                                                    A2. Systemized
                                                                                                                                                                    A3. Blue Me Away
                                                                                                                                                                    A4. Hey Amour
                                                                                                                                                                    A5. Blackwater
                                                                                                                                                                    B1. Tu En Ami Du Temps
                                                                                                                                                                    B2. Intertidal
                                                                                                                                                                    B3. Mes Yeux De Tous
                                                                                                                                                                    B4. Shie That Drone
                                                                                                                                                                    B5. Off The Radar

                                                                                                                                                                    Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                    Jon Savage's Space: Light Years From Home

                                                                                                                                                                      Jon Savage's Space - An amazing musical voyage through the theme and idea of Space - music for Space - Space - Music - Through West-Coast US Rock , Techno, Post-Punk , Jazz, Ambient & Experimental sounds-this is a journey like no other .. From Sun Ra to Mr Fingers and way beyond..

                                                                                                                                                                      "We are taken to less familiar musical quadrants-fascinatedly & instructively so"
                                                                                                                                                                      (Roy Wilkinson - MOJO Feb 2025) .

                                                                                                                                                                      Freestyle Records compile a killer overview of rare & undersung UK street soul & boogie tracks from across the 80s and early 90s, selected from the creme of the label's recent 12" reissue programme. Features an exclusive mid-90s cut from Manchester street soul act Gold In The Shade, along with photography from Andrew Holligan and notes from Kevin Le Gendre.

                                                                                                                                                                      "The sleeve of this album has faces that tell a thousand stories. In Hackney, east London, where photographer Andrew Holligan created a series of inspired pictures, every day people developed a vibrant culture, enlivening a part of the capital that was much maligned during the Thatcher years. The street was a lounge, a place to meet, talk, laugh, and, generally, hang. This was also the golden age of the house party.

                                                                                                                                                                      At the dawn of the 80s the sound of black popular music that these good folk were listening to was in the grip of change. For the most part bands with horn sections were scaling down and the 8-10 piece unit gave way to much smaller ensembles with a less orchestral sound, as saxophonists, trumpeters and trombonists who provided finely shaded harmonies and counter-melodies were being replaced by keyboard players. Indeed the rainbow of colours fashioned by an arsenal of synthesizers, from Prophets and Korgs to Rolands and Yamahas, brought preen and sheen to soul, which, with a lower tempo and heavy bouncing bass lines, was being referred to as boogie. Needless to say the new sub-genre caught on in the UK and became another form of vocabulary for audiences to embrace in the slipstream of the Brit-funk movement of the mid '70s, which was spearheaded by groups of mostly young Britons of West Indian heritage.

                                                                                                                                                                      During this transitional period, which also saw the emergence of lovers rock, there was a certain amount of movement between genres, and a cursory glance at the total output of black British music reveals the presence of female vocalists recording in several styles. Lines were crossed. Furthermore, there was an increase in the amount of one-off studio projects, in which a producer-composer wrote a track, played keys and called in a singer and some additional sessioneers to add finishing touches. This is one of the main reasons why the era is so fascinating, and is still the subject of the extensive research that has led to an album such as The Way U Make Me Feel. Rather than being a scene that was centred around several marquee bands, boogie Brit-Funk was more disparate and fragmented, and therefore far harder to pin down and document.

                                                                                                                                                                      The other term that was coined for the slew of releases was Street Soul, which also resonated with a certain spirit of independence, as the bulk of the artists who stood under this umbrella were releasing their work on small labels that did not have the reach of the majors. It meant that they were often consigned to obscurity, for the most part. The story is all too familiar. But low key can be high grade. Big labels and large venues serve a purpose but the real good times are to be had at house parties on the street where people live. The Boogie is always funkier when it drops in the basement."

                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: They might be a few volumes behind the Full Beam mob (at least these are licensed shhh!) but you can't fault Freestyle Records' collection of UK boogie and street soul. A perfect snapshop of this fertile time; if you're yet to dip your toe into this funky homegrown scene, this is the perfect place to start!

                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                      1. La Famille & Caron Wheeler - Dancer (Vocal Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Clarity - The Way U Make Me Feel
                                                                                                                                                                      3. Distance - Just One More Kiss (feat. Janey Hallett)
                                                                                                                                                                      4. Pause - It's Just Amazing
                                                                                                                                                                      5. Roy Hamilton & Capiche - Turn Up The Music
                                                                                                                                                                      6. Rick Clarke - Gonna Make You Happy (feat. Jill Francis)
                                                                                                                                                                      7. Candy McKenzie - Remind Me
                                                                                                                                                                      8. Eddie Capone's Treatment - I Won't Give You Up (feat. Diane Jones)
                                                                                                                                                                      9. T.J. Johnson Band - I Can Make It (Good For You)
                                                                                                                                                                      10. Private Funk-Shun - All That I Wanted Was You
                                                                                                                                                                      11. Purely Fizzycal - Make A Move
                                                                                                                                                                      12. Gold In The Shade - I Really Love You So

                                                                                                                                                                      The fifth Jahtari label compilation full of all-new outsider dubs, bit-crunched reggae, circuit bent dancehall and lots of cosmic low end, marking twenty years of mainframe skanking oddness from Leipzig.

                                                                                                                                                                      Vol. 5 is the first addition to the "Jahtarian Dubbers" series in over ten years, starting off with "The Loop Jerk" by DJ and activist Dave Watts aka KingLMan (who sadly passed away in 2024).

                                                                                                                                                                      Kiki Hitomi turns up the heat with "Red Mustang", a raw but sweet PG 18-rated Japanese lofi reggae gem, followed by "Casio HipHop", an addictive synth & drum machine session by UK bedrock producer Kris Kemist (Reality Shock Records).

                                                                                                                                                                      Singjay miracle El Fata brings the positive energy with "Boom Sound", a synthie dancehall scorcher hot off the tape reels at Naram’s studio in the New Zealand bush, while Jura Soundsystem’s hypnotizing "On My Way (Dub)" easily shifts gears into Sly & Robbie-mode.

                                                                                                                                                                      Side B starts off with Pupajim’s prophetic "Tidal Wave", produced by digi-reggae specialist Raggattack and coming in an epic extended Disco Dub version.

                                                                                                                                                                      Melodica wizard Taka Noda (Mystica Tribe) and synth shaman Danny Wolfers (Legowelt) enter into deep magnetic communion with their Sacred Tascam tape deck on "Cabal of Puppeteers", followed by DJ veteran Speng Bond chanting "Wha Mek" over a spaced out depth charge by Jahtari co-founder Rootah.

                                                                                                                                                                      Gameboy-whisperer DJ Scotch Egg (WaqWaq Kingdom, Seefeel) joins forces with disrupt and dub trumpet black belt Pablo Volt (STA) for a mindbending journey going all the way from synth heavy roots to acid jazz, on Namahage‘s "Voidout Dub".

                                                                                                                                                                      The voyage ends with a hazy and mystical Ambient Dub version of "Muuri" by Finish singer Tiiu Helinä, with Tapes on keys – not to be missed!

                                                                                                                                                                      All lovingly mixed by disrupt, coming with iconic artwork by Disko 69 (Doppeldenk).

                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: The iconic 8-bit soundsystem wreckers return! The ingenious concept has spread far and wide; volume 5 hosts a range of global talent - all tuned into the mystic wonders of the retro sound circuits.

                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                      Dave Watts Aka Kinglman - The Loop Jerk
                                                                                                                                                                      Kiki Hitomi - Red Mustang
                                                                                                                                                                      Kris Kemist - Casio Hiphop
                                                                                                                                                                      El Fata - Boom Sound
                                                                                                                                                                      Jura Soundsystem - On My Way (Dub)
                                                                                                                                                                      Pupajim - Tidal Wave (Raggattack Disco Dub)
                                                                                                                                                                      Noda Wolfers - Cabal Of Puppeteers
                                                                                                                                                                      Speng Bond - Wha Mek
                                                                                                                                                                      Namahage - Voidout Dub
                                                                                                                                                                      Tiiu Helina - Muuri Dub

                                                                                                                                                                      Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                      Totally Wired… A New Collection From Acid Jazz

                                                                                                                                                                        This compilation sees the return of Acid Jazz’s iconic ‘Totally Wired’ series, which became a huge success in the early ‘90s, following the international breakthrough of the likes of The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai and the James Taylor Quartet.

                                                                                                                                                                        Originating in 1988, initially compiled by Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson as a ‘best of…’ , it became an independent music phenomenon, selling in the tens of thousands, with major label artists even vying for inclusion, with a significant influence in shaping the sound of the time, as Acid Jazz went global.

                                                                                                                                                                        The return of ‘Totally Wired…’ is a milestone , which continues to showcase the depth and development of Acid Jazz, combining new and exclusive releases with previously unheard gems.


                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                        1. Something In My Eye – The Acid Jazz Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Samba De Flora – Romero Brothers
                                                                                                                                                                        3. Tambores De Vida (Drums Of Life) – Chris Bangs
                                                                                                                                                                        4. Coconut Rock – Soul Revivers
                                                                                                                                                                        5. Rocksteady – The Brand New Heavies
                                                                                                                                                                        6. Crucifix Lane – Matt Berry
                                                                                                                                                                        7. Thinkin’ About You – Carmy Love
                                                                                                                                                                        8. Beggin’ – BDQ
                                                                                                                                                                        9. This Is Day One – Earth-o-Naut
                                                                                                                                                                        10. That’s About The Time (I Fell In Love With You) – Quiet Fire

                                                                                                                                                                        WORDS FROM JARVIS ON “MORE”

                                                                                                                                                                        “This is the first Pulp album since “We Love Life” in 2001. Yes: the first Pulp album for almost 24 years.

                                                                                                                                                                        How did that happen?

                                                                                                                                                                        Well: when we started touring again in 2023, we practiced a new song called 'Hymn of the North' during soundchecks & eventually played it at the end of our second night at Sheffield Arena. This seemed to open the floodgates: we came up with the rest of the songs on this album during the first half of 2024. A couple are revivals of ideas from last century. The music for one song was written by Richard Hawley. The music for another was written by Jason Buckle. The Eno family sing backing vocals on a song. There are string arrangements written by Richard Jones & played by the Elysian Collective.

                                                                                                                                                                        The album was recorded over 3 weeks by James Ford in Walthamstow, London, starting on November 18th, 2024. This is the shortest amount of time a Pulp album has ever taken to record. It was obviously ready to happen.

                                                                                                                                                                        These are the facts.

                                                                                                                                                                        We hope you enjoy the music. It was written & performed by four human beings from the North of England, aided & abetted by five other human beings from various locations in the British Isles. No A.I. was involved during the process.

                                                                                                                                                                        This album is dedicated to Steve Mackey.

                                                                                                                                                                        This is the best that we can do.

                                                                                                                                                                        Thanks for listening.”

                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: It's been over two decades since the last full Pulp outing, not counting Cocker's solo work as Jarv Is, so you'd be right to expect some of the magic from the band we once loved has dissipated. If that's you, then fear not! All of the deadpan Northern lyricism and operatic vocal turns you'd expect are well in place, and tempered by a good few years lying fallow. It's a beautiful exercise, a tentative teasing of their more unique aspects and a strong indication of what sort of persepctive a few years can give. Wonderfully well humoured, brilliantly memorable. Classic Pulp.

                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                        1. Spike Island
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Tina
                                                                                                                                                                        3. Grown Ups
                                                                                                                                                                        4. Slow Jam
                                                                                                                                                                        5. Farmers Market
                                                                                                                                                                        6. My Sex
                                                                                                                                                                        7. Got To Have Love
                                                                                                                                                                        8. Background Noise
                                                                                                                                                                        9. Partial Eclipse
                                                                                                                                                                        10. The Hymn Of The North
                                                                                                                                                                        11. A Sunset

                                                                                                                                                                        Little Simz

                                                                                                                                                                        Lotus

                                                                                                                                                                          Little Simz returns with Lotus which she describes as her ‘most personal album to date’. It’s a heart on its sleeve collection of songs, at times angry, at others reflective. The raw emotion kicks straight in on opening track ‘Thief’, which may or may not address the breakdown of her friendship with producer Inflo. A subject which has obviously impacted the album massively, not just emotionally and lyrically but production wise too. Themes of loss, anger, paranoia and grief are all covered and she’s diverted her rage into creating yet another absolute killer album. Where her previous two albums were all lush cinematic production and sweeping strings, this time around there’s a more contained sound: a darker, brooding intensity that’s powerful and provides the perfect space for Simbi’s smart, witty and incisive flow. With the help of a whole host of guest collaborators, she’s really spread her musical wings this time around too. The previously mentioned ‘Thief’ is a direct, pounding rocker (yes really!), while collaborations with Obongjayar are infused with afrobeat, There’s a 70s soul-funk vibe to ‘Free’ and ‘Enough’ reminds me of late periods Specials: a playful funky groover with snappy drums. Both Michael Kiwanuka and Sampha’s soulful vocals prove the perfect foil for her rage on ‘Lotus’ and stunning album closer ‘Blue’ respectively. Other standout tracks include ‘Blood’, a conversation between siblings that is an amazingly perceptive look at family dynamics and ‘Hollow’ which again (possibly) addresses the breakdown of her relationship with Inflo and perhaps deliberately is the most like the feel of her previous albums full of lush strings and cherubic backing vocals. It’s an absolutely stunning album and Simbi once again proves that she is one of the greatest artists of her generation.

                                                                                                                                                                          TURNSTILE

                                                                                                                                                                          NEVER ENOUGH

                                                                                                                                                                            Recorded between Los Angeles and their homes in Baltimore, 'NEVER ENOUGH' is produced by TURNSTILE’s Brendan Yates. The expansive collection is a restless and exhilarating evolution of the band’s genre-defying sound. A transformative journey, both fearless and alive, by one of the most forward-thinking and influential bands of their generation. 'NEVER ENOUGH' follows TURNSTILE’s widely celebrated album 'GLOW ON', which earned the band four GRAMMY nominations.

                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Genre-hopping electronic rock music that veers between ambient synth throbs and snapping kick drums to scathing distorted guitars and roaring hardcore vocals. A hugely athletic, surprisingly cohesive collision of seemingly disparate sound worlds.

                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                            1. Never Enough
                                                                                                                                                                            2. Sole
                                                                                                                                                                            3. I Care
                                                                                                                                                                            4. Dreaming
                                                                                                                                                                            5. Light Design
                                                                                                                                                                            6. Dull
                                                                                                                                                                            7. Sunshower
                                                                                                                                                                            8. Look Out For Me
                                                                                                                                                                            9. Ceiling
                                                                                                                                                                            10. Seein’ Stars
                                                                                                                                                                            11. Birds
                                                                                                                                                                            12. Slowdive
                                                                                                                                                                            13. Time Is Happening
                                                                                                                                                                            14. Magic Man

                                                                                                                                                                            Marconi Union

                                                                                                                                                                            The Fear Of Never Landing

                                                                                                                                                                              The Fear of Never Landing takes us on a dynamic journey that's atmospheric, diaphanous and never short of mesmerising. While the new record is certainly infused with a sense of hope, there's more than a soupon of anxiety too, as the title suggests.

                                                                                                                                                                              Formed in Manchester in 2003, their debut album, Under Wires and Searchlights (2003), introduced their signature sound, but it was their 2011 release of Weightless that brought international acclaim. Developed in collaboration with a sound therapist, Weightless was scientifically recognised as "the world's most relaxing song", praised for its ability to reduce anxiety and heart rates. With over 900 million streams and widespread coverage across media, the track remains a cultural phenomenon.

                                                                                                                                                                              Over the years, Marconi Union has continued to evolve, producing critically acclaimed albums such as Signals (2021), Ghost Stations (2016), and Tokyo+ (2017). Their work has been hailed for its emotional resonance and sonic depth, with The Quietus noting their ability to find "beauty in the bleakest places" and The Sunday Times describing them as "amongst today's most talented musicians."

                                                                                                                                                                              With The Fear of Never Landing, Marconi Union once again showcases their unmatched ability to create immersive soundscapes that resonate deeply. The album reaffirms their position as masters of atmosphere and emotional storytelling, making it an essential addition to their storied catalog.

                                                                                                                                                                              A 55-minute odyssey presented as one seamless piece divided into nine movements, they transcribe the nexus of modern living into a mostly wordless odyssey. The album encapsulates Marconi Union's ability to translate the complexities of the human experience into sound, all while maintaining a stunning sense of cohesion.

                                                                                                                                                                              Beyond their studio albums, Marconi Union has collaborated with visual artists, provided soundtracks for installations, and remixed notable acts like Max Richter and Vk. Their invitation by Brian Eno to perform at Norway's Punkt Festival further cemented their reputation as innovators in the ambient music sphere.

                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Stunningly rich electronic music that beautifully drifts in the open space between ambient downbeat music or 'IDM' (sorry) like Kiasmos or Jon Hopkins while cleverly and impactfully floating through a series of clever key changes and pivots more akin to the jazzy timbres of GoGo Penguin or The Drift. A stunningly cohesive, evocative behemoth of an album, and a collection that shows the true breadth of MU's staggering sound design skill.

                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                              Through The Heat Waves
                                                                                                                                                                              Eight Miles High Alone
                                                                                                                                                                              In Motion
                                                                                                                                                                              Inhale
                                                                                                                                                                              Crystalline
                                                                                                                                                                              Exhale
                                                                                                                                                                              One More Rush
                                                                                                                                                                              Silence Is Gliding
                                                                                                                                                                              Cloud Surfing

                                                                                                                                                                              Frankie & The Witch Fingers

                                                                                                                                                                              Trash Classic

                                                                                                                                                                                Los Angeles psych-punk shapeshifters Frankie and the Witch Fingers have spent the last decade mutating their sound into bold, electrifying new forms. Their latest release, ‘Trash Classic’ (via Greenway Records and The Reverberation Appreciation Society), plunges into a sewer-slick fusion of proto-punk venom, fractured new wave, and industrial grime. Brimming with wiry synths, angular melodies, and grooves that squirm and bite, it’s all delivered with a sly, playful wink. Fueled by relentless global touring and a fierce DIY ethos, the band has shared stages with OFF!, Ty Segall, Oh Sees, Cheap Trick, and ZZ Top, cementing their place as one of the most unforgettable live acts around. Frankie and the Witch Fingers continue to morph, dragging listeners into whatever warped direction their experimental journey takes next.


                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: A snapping blast of acerbic mid-heavy guitars and grimy distortion atop insistent percussion and syncopated garage-rock groove. Moving from scattered instrumental shards and atonal weirdness into a dynamic burst of momentous rock riffage in the blink of an eye. Ace.

                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                1. Channel Rot
                                                                                                                                                                                2. T.V. Bab
                                                                                                                                                                                3. Dead Silence
                                                                                                                                                                                4. Fucksake
                                                                                                                                                                                5. Economy
                                                                                                                                                                                6. Eggs Laid Brain
                                                                                                                                                                                7. Out Of The Flesh
                                                                                                                                                                                8. Total Reset
                                                                                                                                                                                9. Conducting Experiments
                                                                                                                                                                                10. Gutter Priestess
                                                                                                                                                                                11. Trash Classic

                                                                                                                                                                                Ajay Saggar has been making music under the moniker Bhajan Bhoy for the last 5 years, releasing several albums and touring around the globe. As a member of both Water Damage and CHELA, he appeared on 3 consecutive nights at Le Guess Who? festival in November 2024. Bhajan Bhoy’s music “plough a peak time psychedelic furrow; from lazy interstellar ragas to lysergic dance music, mellow psychedelic rock and all sorts of kosmische mutations” (The Slow Music Movement).

                                                                                                                                                                                “Summer In St. Mary’s” is an album of beautiful and highly meditative and minimalist compositions with repetitive motifs, played on a 19th century church organ in the 15th century church of St. Mary’s in the small village of South Cowton in North Yorkshire (U.K.).

                                                                                                                                                                                It’s an incredibly beautiful church with a rich history. Built in the 1450s by Sir Richard Conyers (who also built his castle on the hill opposite), this handsome church, like the castle, is sturdy in character. Inside the church are the alabaster effigies of Sir Richard Conyers and his two wives. The church is unused but maintained by the the Churches Conservation Trust. Inside is a church organ built by the The Packard Company, who were based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. I dated this particular organ by finding the serial number that had been scratched into the back of the organ, and via a wonderful website setup by a fan of the organ company, could see that it was built somewhere between 1896 - 1898!

                                                                                                                                                                                I discovered the church in the summer of 2022, whilst on a visit, that summer, to unusual buildings in North Yorkshire with my mum. I saw the organ tucked away in a corner and immediately was drawn to playing it, and heard the amazing sound that emanated from it, and the seeds of an idea to record on it were sown. Over two long days in the summer of 2023, I composed and recorded a number of long compositions. Spending those long hours in the church gave me a stereophonic impression of the auditory surround. Inspired by the “natural musics” of the house’s structure (its acoustics, creaks, wind blowing through the wooden doors and room tone) and the history of it (stain glass windows, effigies of Sir Richard Conyers and his two wives, Latin inscription above the doors), I fell into a spell of playing music in a very open and free manner for many hours that, within the confines of this very special building, felt transcendent and astral.

                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: Eschewing Bhajan Bhoy's usual widescreen psychedelic fare somewhat for an entirely minimalistic sound palatte seems like it could easily sacrifice some of BB's usual seismic intensity, but 'Summer In St. Mary's' is a completely absorbing, dizzying wonder.

                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                Sir Richard Conyers
                                                                                                                                                                                Alice Wycliffe

                                                                                                                                                                                Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                Piscina
                                                                                                                                                                                Font

                                                                                                                                                                                Side C
                                                                                                                                                                                Funeray Helmet
                                                                                                                                                                                Gauntlet

                                                                                                                                                                                Side D
                                                                                                                                                                                Custom
                                                                                                                                                                                Parvis

                                                                                                                                                                                F.G.S.–the musical project of Los Angeles artist Flannery Silva–announces the first-ever vinyl release of her debut album ‘Tinker Bell’s Cough’, arriving May 27 via Scenic Route. Alongside the release comes a new single, ‘The Punisher (Tinker Bell’s Edit)’, and an exclusive vinyl-only live track, ‘Passions (Live at Tinker Bell’s Clubhouse)’.

                                                                                                                                                                                Co-created with musician and producer Chase Ceglie, ‘Tinker Bell’s Cough’ is a surreal Americana record that filters the language of girlhood, heartbreak, and fantasy through a warped, theatrical lens. It’s Lana Del Rey meets David Berman in a cartoon whirlwind, with traces of Dolly Parton, Arthur Russell, and David Lynch.

                                                                                                                                                                                Silva describes the record as “fairy tale theatre”. It’s packed with alt-universe country hits (‘Beth’s Deth’, ‘American Shield’), uncanny ballads (‘I’m Growing A Cross Around My Neck’), and leftfield pop songs rooted in character and place. ‘Passions’, the opening track, was inspired by Mary MacLane’s ‘I Await the Devil’s Coming’, while the title track imagines Tinker Bell herself singing a lullaby to God.

                                                                                                                                                                                New single ‘The Punisher’ is an anthemic road song about loneliness and transcendence. “It’s about driving north on I-5 in California, worrying my car will overheat, bargaining with God, and falling in love with dust tornados,” Silva says.

                                                                                                                                                                                Raised in the woods of upstate New York and formerly one half of the cult duo Odwalla88, Silva brings a visual artist’s sensibility to music. She studied art in Baltimore and continues to make sculpture and performance work that informs her songwriting. ‘Tinker Bell’s Cough’ was written on the Rhode Island coast, where she and Ceglie met weekly to write and record—drawing from old texts, visual references, and poetry.

                                                                                                                                                                                F.G.S. has drawn praise from NTS, The FADER, Gorilla vs. Bear, The Line of Best Fit, Artforum, Sex Magazine, and more. With the reissue of ‘Tinker Bell’s Cough’ and the release of ‘The Punisher’, Silva continues to expand the strange, magnetic world of F.G.S., one that feels both deeply American and entirely her own.

                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: The ketamine-fueled, make-believe love child of Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey debuts on taste-making imprint Scenic Route for a fairy tale of disassociation and lost American dreams.

                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                A1. Passions
                                                                                                                                                                                A2. Tinker Bell’s Cough
                                                                                                                                                                                A3. Beth’s Death
                                                                                                                                                                                A4. Buck Blood
                                                                                                                                                                                B1. American Shield
                                                                                                                                                                                B2. Fairuza’s Theme
                                                                                                                                                                                B3. I’m Growing A Cross Around My Neck
                                                                                                                                                                                B4. The Punisher
                                                                                                                                                                                B5. Passions (Live At Tinker Bell’s Clubhouse)

                                                                                                                                                                                Death In Vegas

                                                                                                                                                                                Death Mask

                                                                                                                                                                                  Death In Vegas return with new album ‘Death Mask’, where disintegration, overload and total sonic immersion tell a personal tale. With dirty circuitry and rough-hewn textures at the fore, this is gritty, unpolished techno; an audio outlier that’s full of personality, and a bold artistic statement. It’s closer in DNA to the grainy growl of sunn O))), or the searing intensity of Underground Resistance at their fiercest, and as far from generic influencer business as you could possibly get.

                                                                                                                                                                                  “I’ve been soaking in Ramleh’s ‘Hole In the Heart’, the machine funk of Terrence Dixon’s Population One, Jamal Moss’ psychedelic techno jams, the stunning minimalism of Mika Vanio’s Ø and Panasonic, the layered drones of LOOP, and drowning in the acid of TM 404”

                                                                                                                                                                                  Broader inspirations are weaved into the album’s fabric too; from his Thameside Metal Box studio and evocations of nautical ghosts, to lamentations for a broken world, to memories of a youthful Detroit pilgrimage, and the innocent fraternity of rave euphoria, there’s a lot going on, acting as a chronicle of moments, and locations.


                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Grinding arpeggios and roaring basses, skittering hardware drum machines and slowly evolving pads, the elements you've definitely heard before but Death In Vegas' core sound is something nobody else can replicate and that is woven among the hardware oscillators and grinding industrial soundscapes.

                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Chingola
                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Lovers
                                                                                                                                                                                  3. While My Machines Gently Weep
                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Hazel
                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Roseville
                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Róisín Dub(h)
                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Robin’s Ghosts
                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Your Love
                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Death Mask

                                                                                                                                                                                  Ambre Ciel

                                                                                                                                                                                  Still, There Is The Sea

                                                                                                                                                                                    Ambre Ciel is a composer, violinist, pianist and singer who hails from Montreal, Canada and is a purveyor of dreamy, expansive, spacious pop music that draws influence from the contemporary classical influenced artists such as Agnes Obel, Patrick Watson, Sufjan Stevens and Thom Yorke. As well as the impressionist world of Debussy and American minimalists such as Phillip Glass and Steve Reich and in addition mentions ‘music that breathes’ from such artists as Gyða Valtýsdóttir, JFDR, or the collaborative work of Jónsi and Alex Somers.

                                                                                                                                                                                    Ambre who sings in both her native French and English hails from a family of singers and artists, “I started my journey learning violin at six and began experimenting with pedal effects and looping melodies later on”. University followed with a focus on composition and recording. “That’s when I started exploring composing and songwriting more deeply—both the world of sounds in itself and songs built mostly with layers of violin and voice. It was also during this time that I returned to my ‘first’ instrument, the piano, which opened more harmonic possibilities.”

                                                                                                                                                                                    For Ambre, her debut album still, there is the sea, represents a beginning, a first and she says imperfect attempt to create this other world that was living in her mind. She has crafted a beautifully refined ‘pop album’ making a lot of space for strings arrangements and other acoustic instruments, as well as her own beautiful voice. “On a personal level, I was searching for silence. I had just finally moved to a quiet apartment in Montreal and for the first time, I had all the time and space to hear silence and create, being solitary and living in the intangible world of possibilities”.

                                                                                                                                                                                    The enigmatic title of the album, ‘still, there is the sea’, came to Ambre when she realised that water was a subconscious but recurring theme throughout the album in terms of melodies and lyrics: ‘eau miroir’ refers to how the water can be some kind of mirror, ‘cycle’ embodies a cyclical, perpetual movement, ‘atlantis’ refers to this inward looking quest and distancing from the world, ‘sometimes’ has sounds from rain and storm, and refers to a storm happening inside someone’s thoughts. The water element can be very thin, fragile, but it’s always in movement and can resemble a larger and massive current, expansive, and I wanted to move between instrumental and song with this fluidity and was interested in finding ways to create something that could still feel cohesive. It also reflects this entire season of solitude and silence, how to me creating music represents this access to an underworld closer to the realm of dreams, that can be deep, surreal, rich and very grounding too”.

                                                                                                                                                                                    While ‘still, there is the sea’ is very much Ambre’s own personal statement and artistic vision as a composer, arranger and producer, Pietro Amato, a member of Bell Orchestre and The Luyas and a french horn player for Patrick Watson and Arcade Fire, offered support and experience (and an extra pair of ears) as co-producer and Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy, Arcade Fire) gave assistance with the orchestral arrangements Ambre wrote for the FAMES Skopje Studio Orchestra conducted by Sasho Tatarchevski. And deeply sensitive musicians such as percussionist Stefan Schneider (Bell Orchestre, The Luyas), clarinettist Guillaume Bourque and a string trio made of Marilou Lepage, Sebastian Gonzalez Mora and Julien Siino all brought their unique voices to the record.

                                                                                                                                                                                    This then is ‘still, there is the sea’ the debut album from Canadian composer and singer Ambre Ciel, at once dreamy, spacious, self-contained, fragile, mysterious but open and honest and we’re delighted to share this gift with the world and invite you to join this wonderful artist on the first steps of her artistic journey.

                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: Evocative, folky modern classical that falls comfortably in neither camps but slowly moves between worlds, bringing with it a draft of Ciel's haunting, beautifully pitched vocal. Wonderfully warm in parts, but painted with the mysterious chill of winter. A superbly transformative, gloriously enjoyable listen.

                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                    1. The Sun, The Sky
                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Eau Miroir
                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Cycle
                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Atlantis
                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Dream / Mirage
                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Sometimes
                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Pièce No.8
                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Fragment Of

                                                                                                                                                                                    The Flying Hats

                                                                                                                                                                                    The Return Of

                                                                                                                                                                                      Every ATA project is marked by collaboration – some over a few weeks and some over decades. When drummer Sam Hobbs and bassist Neil Innes decided to make 'The Reurn Of', by The Flying Hats they were building on twenty yeards of playing together; Innes’s years of nightclub residencies and love of Afro-American dance music, and Hobbs’s intensive exploration of the links between American soul and R&B, Jamaican rocksteady and roots, and the music of the wider Caribbean from Cuba to Trinidad and Brazil. Organist Bob Birch (the original Organ player for New Mastersounds) and Chris Dawkins (Nightmares on Wax, Jimi Tenor, David Holmes, Finlay Quaye) were the other crucial elements – Birch started out as a jazz Hammond player in the bluesy McGriff/McDuff role before discovering the more exotic colours of Art Necille and Jackie Mittoo, and Dawkins has been a session guitarist for the cream of British reggae and rock for a generation.

                                                                                                                                                                                      'The Return of the Flying Hats' occupies a space somewhere between The Aggrovators and The Meters, under the influence of Lynn Taitt & the Jets, and Fatman Riddim Section. Tracks like 'Grafter' and 'Bust Up' conjure up the image of classic New Orleans funk recorded in Kingston, whilst 'Tough Swagger' sounds like half of Bunny Lee’s Aggrovators have dropped in at Ultrasonic to jam with Ziggy Modeliste.

                                                                                                                                                                                      In other places the Jamaican sound predominates: 'An Autumn Sun' is as sweet a dish of Kingston soul as you could wish for, 'Strong Fish' an honest homage to Hot Milk-era Mittoo, whilst the introductory fanfares of opener 'Night Bus' and 'Power Cut' feel like they should be ushering in hot I Roy cuts.

                                                                                                                                                                                      Meanwhile, 'Iron Fist' mixes everything up together in a fresh brew of asymmetric drums, talking bass and free-flowing organ melodies: when Innes and Hobbs started jamming together they roughed out melodies to every groove, but Birch came in and ignored virtually every note, preferring instead to simply channel extempo lines that sound both original and traditional at once.

                                                                                                                                                                                      It would be a mistake to call this group a new band, with all the communal miles they’ve travelled together: what this undoubtedly is though, is a fresh take on a couple of cherished genres (New Orleans R&B, Instrumental Rocksteady) that comes up with something more than the sum of its parts.


                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: Amazing vintage scented collection of Hammond-powered dub-reggae-funk-ska that'll appeal to fans of Al Breadwinner and Jackie Mittoo, as well as the other contemporary crossover dub albums we've had recently from Jimi Tenor & Nat Birchall.

                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Night Bus
                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Grafter
                                                                                                                                                                                      3. An Autumn Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Power Cut
                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Strong Fish
                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Bust Up
                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Forward
                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Tough Swagger
                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Iron Fist

                                                                                                                                                                                      The debut release from Lil Ronin
                                                                                                                                                                                      RIYL - Hype Williams, Malibu, Drain Gang, Simo Cell.

                                                                                                                                                                                      Getting You Back to the Game of Life Records’ opening release, ‘Comme Des Mots’ LP is a journey through diverse sonic textures and energies from label-founder Lil Ronin.

                                                                                                                                                                                      Getting You Back to the Game of Life Records is the headline of a physical and mental health therapy center. Casually popped in your conscience from an advertising board. But what is the game of life? This label could be that space to get you back, to forget and perhaps find a form of youthful innocence again.

                                                                                                                                                                                      As a first solo project Lil Ronin freely experimented between different influences and genres that present his intimate universes, juggling with abstract, ballad and more dancefloor music, mostly recorded in Parisian suburb Alfortville between 2022 and 2024.

                                                                                                                                                                                      ‘Comme des mots’ means ‘like words’ and evokes the ambiguous presence of his voice in the album, hidden in different characters, sometimes raving other times being conscious. Finally becoming a schizophrenic presence guiding you for the trip.

                                                                                                                                                                                      The cover follows the same ambivalence showing a typography with a distinct message that loses its readability in abstraction. The record also includes an insert with a childhood photo of Lil Ronin.

                                                                                                                                                                                      The LP was mastered in Paris by artist and engineer Krikor KOUCHIAN,
                                                                                                                                                                                      (past works for Simo Cell, Maoupa Mazzocchetti, Tolouse Low Trax…);
                                                                                                                                                                                      The design was created by sculptor artist and designer Marie-Mam-Sai BELLIER (past works for Erwan Sene’s JUnQ LP - PAN record, Zulu’s Hear The Sound Of My Feet - Association fatale etc.). The handmade drawings are by Vincent BENTOLILA (associated with the ‘Isengard’ label and parties in Brussels). The cover was handmade through silk-screen printing by the Lyon-based printer Olivier BRAL (whose past projects include Brigade Cynophile, Ateliers Dénudés, and Megabasse).




                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: A beautifully intriguing and intimate piece of modern electronica with nuances of experimental synth pop a la Sophie or the futurist sophistication of South Korean artist Yetsuby.

                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                      A1. Monday
                                                                                                                                                                                      A2. Edge
                                                                                                                                                                                      A3. Comme Des Mots
                                                                                                                                                                                      A4. Katerina Star
                                                                                                                                                                                      B1.timbaland
                                                                                                                                                                                      B2. California Gate
                                                                                                                                                                                      B3. Chinagora
                                                                                                                                                                                      B4. Quelqu’un Aurait Vu Mes Lunettes ?
                                                                                                                                                                                      B5. Happy End

                                                                                                                                                                                      Ben LaMar Gay

                                                                                                                                                                                      Yowzers

                                                                                                                                                                                        Gay's de facto debut album—the 2018 compilation 'Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun'—properly introduced him to the world by placing fifteen stylistically diverse tracks from seven then-unreleased albums next to one another. The release of his critically-acclaimed 2021 song cycle 'Open Arms To Open Us' followed, and then the explosive free-electronics of 2022’s 'Certain Reveries'. In addition to being featured on a staggering number of International Anthem releases (including albums by Makaya McCraven, jaimie branch, Damon Locks, Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly), Gay is one of the most prolific collaborators in creative music today, making active contributions to Mike Reed’s Separatist Party, Joshua Abrams’s Natural Information Society, Bitchin Bajas, Theaster Gates’s Black Monks of Mississippi, and many more.

                                                                                                                                                                                        A uniting factor in Gay's deep, multi-faceted discography is a never-ending commitment to taking the stories of the past and pushing them outward, filtered through a sense of self, to keep that information moving. Information moves through 'Yowzers' via the intuitive physicality of Gay’s creative polyrhythmic constructions, as he covertly delivers familiar folk melodies. “It’s the most natural thing,” says Gay. “That’s how the world is. There are overlapping rhythms all around us, and so it reminds you of the reality of the world when you hear them. It’s a loop and the loop is always changing.”

                                                                                                                                                                                        'Yowzers' features Gay's working quartet with Tommaso Moretti (drums, percussion, voice), Matthew Davis (tuba, piano, bells, voice), and Will Faber (guitar, ngoni, bells, voice), as well as guest instrumentalist Rob Frye and a mini-choir comprising vocalists Ayanna Woods, Tramaine Parker, and Ugochi Nwaogwugwu. The album recalls the high-minded freedom of Liberation Music Orchestra, the glitched-out electronic webs of Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, the unbridled rhythms and sandpaper bellows of Bukka White, and the harmolodic cartoon glory of Arthur Blythe’s Illusions. It’s all there, filtered through an improvisational approach and a lifetime of secrets embodied. For a man who has inhabited and traveled these continents so extensively, it’s safe to call this work true “Americana,” despite what that word might mean to the average person in the United States. 


                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Yowzers
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. The Glorification Of Small Victories
                                                                                                                                                                                        3. There, Inside The Morning Glory
                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Roller Skates
                                                                                                                                                                                        5. For Breezy
                                                                                                                                                                                        6. I Am (bells)
                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Promontory
                                                                                                                                                                                        8. John, John Henry
                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Damn You Cute
                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Cumulus
                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Touch
                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Leave Some For You

                                                                                                                                                                                        McKinley Dixon

                                                                                                                                                                                        Magic, Alive!

                                                                                                                                                                                          Magic, Alive! Began life when Dixon received an unexpected email from English producer Sam Yamaha. Dixon’s early beats had inspired Yamaha’s own nascent work, and he wanted Dixon to listen. Before long, Dixon rendezvoused with him in London, digging through his archive to find a wealth of beats that resonated with his own approach and with the burgeoning concept for Magic, Alive! In July 2024, Dixon returned to his native Richmond, Virginia, with a tranche of sounds from Sam Yamaha and Koff, with whom he’d worked before.

                                                                                                                                                                                          Alongside a cavalcade of guests and friends, from the mighty singer Anji mile and imaginative Alabama emcee Pink Siifuto trombonist Reggie Pace and harpist Eli Owens, Dixon split these beats wide open, adding hooks and horn lines and guest spots. He strung several songs together, too, so that Magic, Alive! moves like adream or, at the very least, an alternate reality where new rules reign.

                                                                                                                                                                                          For the better part of a decade, Dixon has been turning his experiences as a native Southerner sometimes living in Queens and an eager student of literature into vivid reflections on joy, pain, and perseverance. His breakthrough, though, began with2021’smuch-lovedFor My Mama and Anyone Who Look Like Herand continued with 2023’s Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?, both instrumentally rich exercises in storytelling wrapped up in the trauma and grief of losing a young friend. Those albums were emotional expurgations, Dixon dumping his feelings into marathons of literary references where Toni Morrison and Greek mythology shared space with detailed personal reflections.

                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                          Side A:
                                                                                                                                                                                          01. Watch My Hands
                                                                                                                                                                                          02. Sugar Water (feat. Quelle Chris And Anjimile)
                                                                                                                                                                                          03. Crooked Stick (feat. Ghais Guevera And Alfred.)
                                                                                                                                                                                          04. Recitatif (feat. Teller Bank$)
                                                                                                                                                                                          05. Run, Run, Run Pt. II
                                                                                                                                                                                          06. We're Outside, Rejoice!

                                                                                                                                                                                          Side B:
                                                                                                                                                                                          07. All The Loved Ones (What Would We Do???) (feat. ICECOLDBISHOP And Pink Siifu)
                                                                                                                                                                                          08. F.F.O.L. (feat. Teller Bank$)
                                                                                                                                                                                          09. Listen Gentle
                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Magic, Alive!
                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Could've Been Different

                                                                                                                                                                                          Azymuth

                                                                                                                                                                                          Marca Passo

                                                                                                                                                                                            Marking fifty years since their 1975 debut album Azimuth , their new album Marca Passo proves that the band's alchemic brew of Brazilian jazz-funk and cosmic samba soul remains as vital as ever, as the group honours the profound legacy of their departed founders.

                                                                                                                                                                                            Recorded in Rio de Janeiro, Marca Passo is the first full- length release since the passing of founding drummer Ivan "Mamao" Conti in 2023, following the earlier loss of keyboardist Jose Roberto Bertrami in 2012. Alex Malheiros, the sole remaining original member, sees his stewardship of the band's musical legacy as his spiritual duty. He is joined by the equally devoted Kiko Continentino (Milton Nascimento, Djavan) on keyboards, who has been with the group since 2016, and new recruit Renato Massa (Marcos Valle, Ed Motta) on drums.

                                                                                                                                                                                            Yet since their earliest recorded music, Azymuth have always been far greater than the sum of their parts. The "three-man orchestra's" unmistakable sound is rooted in Brazil's MPB studio scene of the 1970s and early 1980s--a time when artists blended traditional Brazilian rhythms with global jazz, rock, and emerging psychedelic and progressive elements. Marca Passo continues this legacy, seamlessly fusing Brazilian musical traditions with global infuences while showcasing the exceptional musicianship that powers Azymuth's distinctive, multi-dimensional sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                            The album is produced by studio mastermind Daniel Maunick, responsible for Azymuth's two previous studio albums, Fenix in 2016 and Aurora in 2011. Daniel's credits also include albums by Marcos Valle, Sabrina Malheiros and Terry Callier. Azymuth also invited Daniel's father, British jazz- funk royalty Jean Paul "Bluey" Maunick, of Incognito, to play guitar on a new version of Azymuth's eighties classic "Last Summer In Rio", in tribute to the song's composer, Jose Roberto Bertrami. Equally, "Samba Pro Mamao" is a new composition dedicated to Azymuth's beloved original drummer, Ivan "Mamao" Conti.

                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                            Matt says: Still life in the old dogs yet, as Brazil's finest jazz-funk and cosmic disco export, Azymuth return marking some 50 years in the game. Impressive stuff!

                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Fantasy '82
                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Belenzinho
                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Marca Tempo
                                                                                                                                                                                            4. O Mergulhador
                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Last Summer In Rio (Featuring Jean Paul 'Bluey' Maunick, Of Incognito)
                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Arabuta
                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Criancas Valentes
                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Andarai
                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Samba Pro Mamao
                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Togu
                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Arabuta (Daniel Maunick Extended Mix)

                                                                                                                                                                                            Hayden Pedigo

                                                                                                                                                                                            I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away

                                                                                                                                                                                              Since the release of his 2023 record, 'The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored', Pedigo earned widespread critical acclaim, performed a stunning NPR Tiny Desk Concert, toured non-stop with the likes of Jenny Lewis, Devendra Banhart and Hiss Golden Messenger, and more. He then decamped on a 20,000-acre ranch at an artist residency in Wyoming to write his new album, which he’d later record in Ojai with Scott Hirsch and name for a “pretty devastating” episode of Little House on the Prairie from 1978. The resulting album, 'I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away', is the final installment of what Pedigo has dubbed 'The Motor Trilogy’ – his three latest solo albums, tied together by their vehicular Jonathan Phillips artwork. An innovator of the instrumental genre, challenger of the stereotypical, and son of a truck-stop preacher, Pedigo has crafted an intentionally maximalist, genre-resistant work of warped instrumental Americana on this release, which he calls “a micro-dose psychedelic album…as if somebody had cut up a tab of LSD and put on a Fahey record.” 

                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Long Pond Lily
                                                                                                                                                                                              2. All The Way Across
                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Smoked
                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Houndstooth
                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Hermes
                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Small Torch
                                                                                                                                                                                              7. I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away

                                                                                                                                                                                              Lifeguard

                                                                                                                                                                                              Ripped And Torn

                                                                                                                                                                                                The youthful trio of Asher Case (bass, baritone guitar, vocals), Isaac Lowenstein (drums, synth), and Kai Slater (guitar, vocals) have been making music together since they were in high school, nearly a quarter of their lives. Noisy and immediate, cryptic but heartfelt, they draw inspiration from punk, dub, power-pop and experimental sounds, and bring them all together in explosive cacophony.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Recorded last year in Chicago with producer Randy Randall (No Age), the album captures a claustrophobic scrappiness that evokes the feeling and energy of house parties and tightly-packed rooms, where ears are easily overwhelmed, and ragged improvisations connect with the same force as melodic hooks.

                                                                                                                                                                                                The members of Lifeguard are no longer kids. As they’ve grown up, their tastes and identities have naturally diverged with Case, Lowenstein, and Slater each immersing themselves into passions and subcultures that lay outside of the group’s initial scope. But they’ve learned to make space for one another, mirroring the motto of UK experimental icons This Heat: "All possible processes. All channels open. Twenty-four hour alert.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                'It Will Get Worse' evokes early punk, with Lowenstein swapping seamlessly between a blistering d-beat and a shuddering odd-time break. The dub-inflected “Like You’ll Lose” takes inspiration from Lee Perry’s tight drum sound and expansive lo-fi atmospherics, with Case’s baseline providing a center of gravity for skittering rhythms and tumbling echoes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                'Under Your Reach' has become a linchpin of the Lifeguard live set, where its electric organ intro often signals the close of a mid-set free-form freakout. That drone gives way to Slater’s laser-beam guitar riff, and to his and Case’s eerily anthemic vocals, before ultimately blasting off into buzzsaw noise in the song’s climactic breakdown.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Lifeguard remains a singular and intimate space where freedom, noise, and melody find visceral form. “The physical element is something we’re all very together on,” explains Slater. “The immediacy of making music. The instant pleasure and satisfaction of it.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                1. A Tightwire
                                                                                                                                                                                                2. It Will Get Worse
                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Me And My Flashes
                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Under Your Reach
                                                                                                                                                                                                5. How To Say Deisar
                                                                                                                                                                                                6. (I Wanna) Break Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Like You’ll Lose
                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Music For 3 Drums
                                                                                                                                                                                                9. France And
                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Charlie’s Vox
                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Ripped + Torn
                                                                                                                                                                                                12. T.L.A.

                                                                                                                                                                                                Comet Gain

                                                                                                                                                                                                Letters To Ordinary Outsiders

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Formed in London in 1992 by singer and songwriter David Christian, Comet Gain were originally inspired by early Creation Records, Television Personalities and mod culture, drawing from the same ideals as Dexys, The Style Council and Vic Godard, and from the lineage of The Velvet Underground, The Byrds and the 13th Floor Elevators. In the ensuing years they have released eight albums on such esteemed labels as Wiiija, Kill Rock Stars, What’s Your Rupture and Fortuna POP! that blend French New Wave with English kitchen-sink heart, Riot Grrrl with acid punk, and C86 with Post-Punk and Northern Soul, somehow outliving their peers and in turn inspiring a younger generation of DIY musicians. On this record, their second album proper for Tapete Records, Comet Gain are David Christian (vocals, guitar), Ben Phillipson (guitar), Rachel Evans (vocals), Robin Christian (percussion), Anne Laure Guillain (keyboards) and Clientele bassist James Hornsey, with additional vocal, brass and keyboard contributions from producer Sean Read (Dexys, Edwyn Collins, Rockingbirds).

                                                                                                                                                                                                  So who IS the ‘Ordinary Outsider’? The wayward, hungry, tender, bruised, scared, defiant, shy but knowing, blessed with unseen magic, keeping their flames hidden away until needed, waiting for the time to let rip their powers in his age of hopelessness. In this TikTok narcissist era they hide from the spotlight but in their hearts are all reaching  for the total Whatever-It-Is. These songs are postcards to and for them - you can’t go wrong in hard times with a
                                                                                                                                                                                                   ense of belonging. After Comet Gain’s last LP ‘FIRERAISERS FOREVER!’ which was a necessary exorcism of the Moron Era that has in fact only got worse – they have put aside the fuzz drenched broken glass howls for a more immediate, toe-tapping rush of melody and intent. Sifted through from the library of songs David Christian Feck had been recording over the last couple years for Bandcamp LPs of homemade snap, crackle and POP and picked the best bunch and streamlined, improved and muscled up 8 or so and wrote new songs that would fit into a living thing - a jukebox of favourites playing somewhere in the background - evergreen sixties UK pop with tough edges, soul stompers with a slight tear in the eye, Alex Chilton, Gene Clark, ’Sound Affects’ Jam, euphoric melancholic folk rock, Hitchcock and Cope, The Fall when they made pop records, snarling freakbeat, yearning 80s baroque popness and jangled mornings and sad midnights - an alchemy mix to make something direct with hooks and hope and heart-looking back to look forward and looking forward to be in the NOW.

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Songs about old buildings, old streets and the ghosts that live in them - when you’re gone does the house remember you, does it mourn you? Songs about clothes, the ones you don’t fit in anymore, the ones you only have photos of, songs about that time you used to walk by the Thames with the gang of ordinary outsiders at midnight singing Style Council songs into the wind - when you were younger and stronger, songs about that first band - the one that never made it anywhere but gave you the strength to carry on, about the scars that build up in your heart like punctures from darts that turn into a kind of forcefield to protect you from the sadness now, about the vibrant pound of blood as the beat of the song ricochets into your system giving you the strength you need, about the defiant, tender poets whose job it is to show us how we can get OUT of here, about the girl who walked through the factory door and changed your life, lifted your broken spirit and made the day beautiful again, about the new wildhearted outsiders – the next generation of weird lions and lionesses who will show the NEXT lot the way to get out, because y’know, maybe one day it’ll REALLY happen….

                                                                                                                                                                                                  And who better to glue all this together than Sean Read (Dexys, Edwyn Collins, Rockingbirds, The Loft, etc etc) who not only breathed vivid life into these postcards of song but added his golden touch with vocals, brass sections, keyboards etc so the songs stomp, shimmy and soar. Comet Gain also welcome new drummer (and old comrade) Robin Christian (no relation/ex Male Bonding etc) to the gang whose fire and skill propels these new hymns along. Truly this is one of the best of the Comet Gain LPs - a concise mix of all their bags of tricks but in a way where everything fits like close friends that finish their own sentences - pop singles, garage snarl, midnight ballads, morning floor shakers, folkrockers, obtuse angles and direct hits. Just good things to hum for the Ordinary Outsiders every-where as they watch the world falling down around them… because sometimes that’s all you can do.


                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. The Ballad Of The Lives We Led
                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. If They Can't Find The Way Then There's No Way Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Beat Of The Veins
                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. We Were Paintermen
                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Threads!
                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Yeah, I Know It's A Wonderful Life, But There's Always Further  You Can Fall 
                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Do You Remember 'The Lites On The Water'
                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Danbury Road
                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Buildings
                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Hearts Of Scars
                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Ashtray Cult
                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Maybe One Day It'll Really Happen

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe

                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lateral

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Brian Eno is a legendary musician, producer, visual artist and activist who first came to international prominence in the early ‘70s as a founding member of the British band Roxy Music, followed by a series of solo albums, collaborations, and production work with artists such as David Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo, U2, Coldplay, his brother Roger Eno, and most recently, fred again.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Beatie Wolfe is a Los-Angeles-based, British-American conceptual artist & activist. Named by WIRED as one of the “22 people changing the world,” Wolfe is pioneering new artistic formats that bridge the physical and digital. United by their mutual commitment to art & the environment, the pair team up for Luminal and Lateral. Recorded in London and centered around the concept of “art, and feelings,” both albums feature original music and cover an array of genres/styles: Luminal being a vocal alternative album, and Lateral comprising of a continuous ambient work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe

                                                                                                                                                                                                    Luminal

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Brian Eno is a legendary musician, producer, visual artist and activist who first came to international prominence in the early ‘70s as a founding member of the British band Roxy Music, followed by a series of solo albums, collaborations, and production work with artists such as David Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo, U2, Coldplay, his brother Roger Eno, and most recently, fred again.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Beatie Wolfe is a Los-Angeles-based, British-American conceptual artist & activist. Named by WIRED as one of the “22 people changing the world,” Wolfe is pioneering new artistic formats that bridge the physical and digital.United by their mutual commitment to art & the environment, the pair team up for Luminal and Lateral. Recorded in London and centered around the concept of “art, and feelings,” both albums feature original music and cover an array of genres/styles: Luminal being a vocal alternative album, and Lateral comprising of a continuous ambient work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Lucy Gooch

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Desert Window

                                                                                                                                                                                                        On her debut album, Lucy Gooch stays true to her electronic foundations, while incorporating more acoustic instrumentation and digging deeper into her folk roots through songwriting. But at the heart of Lucy’s music is her rapturous vocal, with which she has experimented more than ever over the course of her first full-length.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Many of the pieces on ‘Desert Window’ started out as vocal improvisations from which she pulled a narrative. Taking cues from the incantatory chanting found in middle English poetry such as ‘The Names of the Hare’, as well as the prescient imagery in contemporary works like ‘The Hearing Trumpet’ by Leonora Carrington (1974). “To a larger extent, this became an experiment in placing my voice in a more narrative way, while remaining oblique,” Gooch explains.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        While her previous work could be compared to drawn-out landscapes punctuated with moments of romance and radiance, this album feels grounded in materiality and the everyday. Gooch’s voice is at times strident, while elsewhere restrained and broken. “I lost connection to my voice and then had to rediscover it, which was exhilarating. There were these bursts of energy where I’d be messing around and occasionally stumble upon something”. There are hushed melodies and exhausted squalls, creating dissonance and space.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        The result is an atmospheric balance between Kate Bush and Cocteau Twins harmonies, Vangelis major chords, and a juxtaposition of folk ambience reminiscent of the offset madrigals of The Third Ear Band and Italian cult film composers Goblin. It is a complex and elegant album, an all-consuming series of songs that reach into jazz, electronica and classical song construction.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Like Clay
                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Night Window (Part One)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Night Window (Part Two)
                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Keep Pulling Me In
                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Jack Hare
                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Clouds
                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Our Relativity
                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Desert Window

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Phoebe Rings

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Aseurai

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Phoebe Rings shimmers into orbit with their debut LP, 'Aseurai', pulling from lead singer/synthesist Crystal Choi’s Korean mother tongue to encapsulate the themes. “Aseurai means around you in the atmosphere, hard to reach, fading away,” Choi says. “It’s a poetic expression. You wouldn’t say it in normal conversation, but I like that.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Following the four-piece band’s 2024 self-titled EP, 'Aseurai' adds disco and city-pop influences while staying true to dream-pop roots. While Phoebe Rings was originally a solo project of Choi’s, 'Aseurai' marks a shift with contributing songwriting credits from the whole band. The four musicians cut their teeth working on other notable NZ projects such as Princess Chelsea, Fazerdaze, Tiny Ruins, AC Freazy,, Sea Views and Lucky Boy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          With a more ambitious collection of instruments, Choi says this album heralds the start of true collaboration: “I feel more precious about this LP because it includes everyone’s gems.” Guitar/synthesist Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent spearheads unexpected arrangements, with bold fuzzy guitar textures, to spice up the mix. Benjamin Locke adds maturity to the lyrics, paired with perfectionist bass lines. And drummer Alex Freer’s slick production soars Aseurai to diverse and synergetic heights. The broth is richer with more cooks in the kitchen, and the brewing of textures creates a distinct ‘Phoebe Rings’ sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          If the EP was spacey, then Aseurai settles on earth, rooted in tangible moments. “Without getting too gloomy, it’s a weird world out there. A lot has changed in the world since the EP came out,” says Kavanagh-Vincent on this transformation. The album delves into hope and longing across all possibilities, and this exploration of holding on and letting go is organically threaded throughout. Across ten songs, Phoebe Ring’s storytelling ranges from tongue-in-cheek musings on gentrification to tender autobiographical memories.


                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Aseurai
                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Not A Necessity
                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Mandarin Tree
                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Get Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Playground Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Fading Star
                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Static
                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Drifting
                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Blue Butterfly
                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Goodnight

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Richard Norris: Mr Norris Changes Brains

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Over the past few years Eskimo Recordings have invited some of the best crate diggers around to curate compilations that don’t just reveal the hidden contents of their record bags but something about themselves too. Now, following in the footsteps of the likes of Bill Brewster and Psychemagik, producer, musician, DJ, writer and more, Richard Norris, takes us on a globetrotting psychedelic journey with the epic 42 track collection, 'Mr Norris Changes Brains'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Banchee - Evolmia
                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. The Dirty Filthy Mud - Forest Of Black
                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Wool - Love, Love, Love, Love, Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Spencer Mac - Ka-Ka Baya Mow-Mow (Sing A Little Love Song)
                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Trifle - One Way Glass
                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Brainticket - Black Sand
                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Emma De Angelis - Trip
                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Blonde On Blonde - Castles In The Sky
                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. The Braen's Machine - Fall Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Eddie Warner & Roger Roger - Shut Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Köy Karde?ler - Shürük
                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. The Children - Beautiful
                                                                                                                                                                                                            13. Moebius & Beerbohm - Doppelschnitt (Richard Norris Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                            14. Demon Fuzz - Past, Present & Future
                                                                                                                                                                                                            15. Iron Butterfly - Iron Butterfly Theme
                                                                                                                                                                                                            16. Rare Bird - Devil's High Concern
                                                                                                                                                                                                            17. Paul St. John - Flying Saucers Have Landed
                                                                                                                                                                                                            18. Chris Hodge - We're On Our Way (2010 Remaster)
                                                                                                                                                                                                            19. Juantrip - Shadows
                                                                                                                                                                                                            20. 62 Miles From Space - Time Shifts
                                                                                                                                                                                                            21. White Trash - Road To Nowhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                            22. Blue Phantom - Diodo
                                                                                                                                                                                                            23. The Mannheim Rock Ensemble - Hungarian Dances
                                                                                                                                                                                                            24. Limousine - Barriers
                                                                                                                                                                                                            25. Ugo Busoni - Rullio
                                                                                                                                                                                                            26. Bernard Estardy - Cha Tatch Ka
                                                                                                                                                                                                            27. Kate - Shout It
                                                                                                                                                                                                            28. Dyna-Might - Need You
                                                                                                                                                                                                            29. La Metamorfosi - Scusa, Eh!
                                                                                                                                                                                                            30. André Brasseur - Saturnus
                                                                                                                                                                                                            31. Contessa Vittoria - Can We Stay Together
                                                                                                                                                                                                            32. Klaus Weiss - Time Signals
                                                                                                                                                                                                            33. Brainstorm - You Are Whats Gonna Make It Last
                                                                                                                                                                                                            34. Paladin - The Fakir
                                                                                                                                                                                                            35. A To Austr - Thumbquake & Earthscrew
                                                                                                                                                                                                            36. DAVE - In My Mind
                                                                                                                                                                                                            37. Relatively Clean Rivers - Journey Through The Valley Of O
                                                                                                                                                                                                            38. The Advancement - Stone Folk
                                                                                                                                                                                                            39. The Pretty Things - The Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                            40. Poll - Psachno Na Vro To Filo Mou
                                                                                                                                                                                                            41. Higamos Hogamos - Moto Neurono
                                                                                                                                                                                                            42. The Invisible Girls - Huddersfield Wastes

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Richard Norris: Mr Norris Changes Brains - Chapter 1

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Over the past few years Eskimo Recordings have invited some of the best crate diggers around to curate compilations that don’t just reveal the hidden contents of their record bags but something about themselves too. Now, following in the footsteps of the likes of Bill Brewster and Psychemagik, producer, musician, DJ, writer and more, Richard Norris, takes us on a globetrotting psychedelic journey with the epic 42 track collection, 'Mr Norris Changes Brains'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Banchee - Evolmia
                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. The Dirty Filthy Mud - Forest Of Black
                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Wool - Love, Love, Love, Love, Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Spencer Mac - Ka-Ka Baya Mow-Mow (Sing A Little Love Song)
                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Trifle - One Way Glass
                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Brainticket - Black Sand
                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Emma De Angelis - Trip
                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Blonde On Blonde - Castles In The Sky
                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. The Braen's Machine - Fall Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Eddie Warner & Roger Roger - Shut Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Köy Karde?ler - Shürük
                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. The Children - Beautiful
                                                                                                                                                                                                              13. Moebius & Beerbohm - Doppelschnitt (Richard Norris Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                              14. Demon Fuzz - Past, Present & Future

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                              Richard Norris: Mr Norris Changes Brains - Chapter 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Over the past few years Eskimo Recordings have invited some of the best crate diggers around to curate compilations that don’t just reveal the hidden contents of their record bags but something about themselves too. Now, following in the footsteps of the likes of Bill Brewster and Psychemagik, producer, musician, DJ, writer and more, Richard Norris, takes us on a globetrotting psychedelic journey with the epic 42 track collection, 'Mr Norris Changes Brains'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Iron Butterfly - Iron Butterfly Theme
                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Rare Bird - Devil's High Concern
                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Paul St. John - Flying Saucers Have Landed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Chris Hodge - We're On Our Way (2010 Remaster)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Juantrip - Shadows
                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. 62 Miles From Space - Time Shifts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. White Trash - Road To Nowhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Blue Phantom - Diodo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. The Mannheim Rock Ensemble - Hungarian Dances
                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Limousine - Barriers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Ugo Busoni - Rullio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Bernard Estardy - Cha Tatch Ka
                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. Kate - Shout It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                14. Dyna-Might - Need You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                15. La Metamorfosi - Scusa, Eh!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                Richard Norris: Mr Norris Changes Brains - Chapter 3

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Over the past few years Eskimo Recordings have invited some of the best crate diggers around to curate compilations that don’t just reveal the hidden contents of their record bags but something about themselves too. Now, following in the footsteps of the likes of Bill Brewster and Psychemagik, producer, musician, DJ, writer and more, Richard Norris, takes us on a globetrotting psychedelic journey with the epic 42 track collection, 'Mr Norris Changes Brains'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. André Brasseur - Saturnus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Contessa Vittoria - Can We Stay Together
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Klaus Weiss - Time Signals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Brainstorm - You Are Whats Gonna Make It Last
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Paladin - The Fakir
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. A To Austr - Thumbquake & Earthscrew
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. DAVE - In My Mind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Relatively Clean Rivers - Journey Through The Valley Of O
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. The Advancement - Stone Folk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. The Pretty Things - The Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Poll - Psachno Na Vro To Filo Mou
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Higamos Hogamos - Moto Neurono
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. The Invisible Girls - Huddersfield Wastes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Can't Stop It! Australian Post-Punk 1978-82 - 2025 Deluxe Edition

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Chapter Music's landmark collection of Australian 70s-80s post- punk, originally released in 2001, gets its first ever vinyl release!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Can’t Stop It!' documents a fantastically inventive and dynamic era, when Australian acts stepped out of the shadow of overseas influence and asserted their own musical identity for perhaps the first time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Featuring tracks by future members of bands such as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Einsturzende Neubauten, Dirty Three and The Go- Betweens, Can’t Stop It! is a vivid survey of the creativity and innovation bubbling away under the surface of Australia’s fairly unadventurous music culture of the time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    All of the bands on 'Can't Stop It!' released their music independently, either themselves or through the handful of visionary labels of the era such as Au-Go-Go, M Squared, Missing Link or Innocent Records.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    On its original release in 2001, the compilation got Chapter Music its first major international attention, written up in The Wire magazine, stocked at Other Music in New York and selling out numerous CD pressings.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Remastered with updated liner notes and photos, this deluxe 2LP set expands on the original 20 track CD with six bonus never- before-reissued tracks.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. The Moodists – Gone Dead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Voigt/465 – Voices A Drama
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. The Take – Summer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Essendon Airport – How Low Can You Go...?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. The Apartments – Help
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Ash Wednesday – Love By Numbers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Primitive Calculators – Pumping Ugly Muscle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. The Makers Of The Dead Travel Fast – The Dumbwaiters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Ron Rude – Piano Piano
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Xero – The Girls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. The Limp – Pony Club
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. The Fabulous Marquises – Honeymoons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Slugfuckers – Cacophony
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. Equal Local – Lamp That
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Tame O’Mearas – Sweat And Babble
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. The Particles – Apricot’s Dream
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    17. People With Chairs Up Their Noses – Song Of The Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    18. Wild West – We Can Do
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    19. The Pits – Words
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    20. → ↑ → – One Note Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    21. *****,***** – Knots
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    22. Electric Fans – Garden Of Uluru
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    23. The Voice Of Drama – A Song Of Colours
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    24. Synthetic Dream – Work
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    25. Yclept Dinmakers – Yclept Enemy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    26. The Plants – The Path

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fabric Presents Rødhåd

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Fabric Records proudly announces the latest edition in its esteemed mix series, *fabric presents Rødhåd*, a masterful journey through the dark, hypnotic depths of techno. Renowned for his innovative and atmospheric sound, Rødhåd crafts an experience that resonates deeply with both seasoned techno enthusiasts and new listeners alike.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Vinyl Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A1 Rødhåd - Inception Report
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A2 Ignez - First Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B1 Alarico - Hubris
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B2 Peryl - Eternal Delay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C1 Rødhåd - Nightlife Experiences Feat. Theo Nasa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C2 Inox Traxx - DSF
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D1 . VRIL - Pump Out Kids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D2 Out Of Place Artefacts - Science Faction

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      CD Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rødhåd - Inception Report
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Clotur - Apexis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Beste Hira - Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Casual Treatment - Falling Backwards
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mathys Lenne - The Moon Speaks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rill - Molar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Arkan - The Ones Who Suffers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rødhåd - Nightlife Expiriences Feat. Theo Nasa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Delano Legito - Kyoshi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      DVS1 - Droid
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Inox Traxx - DSF
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      SAMA - Can You Find Meaning Within?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ignez - First Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Nastia Reigel - Chaotic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      UFO95 - Suspense
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A.Morgan - I Don't
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Alarico - Hubris
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Peryl - Eternal Delay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Highlimiter - Lost In Fractals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Tascamboy - Recover
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rene Wise - Children Of The Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Klint - Drunk With Fuel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Marcal - Fear Is Your Enemy (Space Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Augusto Taito - Mi Tierra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Phil Berg - Photons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Holden Federico - Close
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      .Vril - Pump Out Kids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Out Of Place Artefacts - Science Faction

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rollin' The Dice - Music From The Films Of Martin Scorsese

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Born in 1942, Martin Scorsese is one of the major film directors of the New Hollywood era. Thanks to movies such as Taxi Driver (1976), New York, New York (1977), Raging Bull (1980), The Color of Money (1986), Goodfellas (1990), Casino (1995) and The Irishman (2019), among many others, he has received several recognitions, including an Academy Award, four BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. Presented here are over 20 songs from the soundtracks of some of Scorsese's movie masterpieces.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        "It really begins with the music for me. And once I hear the music, I mean, I really start to feel the story." - Martin Scorsese

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        CD Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Tony Bennett - Rags To Riches (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Timi Yuro - Hurt (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea (From Good Fellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Dean Martin - You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Marty Robbins - A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation) (From The Irishman)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Bo Diddley - Road Runner (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Mickey & Sylvia - Love Is Strange (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Jimmy Smith - Walk On The Wild Side [part 1] (From Casino & The Color Of Money)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman (From Mean Streets)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Jerry Vale With Glenn Osser Orchestra - Al Di La (From The Irishman)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Eartha Kitt - C'est Si Bon (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Johnny Mathis - It's Not For Me To Say (From Good Fellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Mina - Il Cielo In Una Stanza (From Good Fellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Ray Charles - Stella By Starlight (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk (From The Irishman)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Dinah Washington - What A Difference A Day Made (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots - Cow Cow Boogie (From Raging Bull)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21. Elmore James - Dust My Broom (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        22. The Cadillacs - Speedo (From Good Fellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        23. Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me (From Raging Bull)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        24. Renato Carosone - Maruzzella (From Mean Streets)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        25. Billy Ward And His Dominoes - Stardust (From Goodfellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        26. The Five Satins - In The Still Of The Night (From The Irishman)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        27. Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy (From Good Fellas)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        LP Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Tony Bennett - Rags To Riches (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Timi Yuro - Hurt (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea (From Good Fellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Dean Martin - You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Marty Robbins - A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation) (From The Irishman)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Bo Diddley - Road Runner (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Mickey & Sylvia - Love Is Strange (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Jimmy Smith - Walk On The Wild Side [part 1] (From Casino & The Color Of Money)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman (From Mean Streets)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Jerry Vale With Glenn Osser Orchestra - Al Di La (From The Irishman)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Eartha Kitt - C'est Si Bon (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Johnny Mathis - It's Not For Me To Say (From Goodfellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Mina - Il Cielo In Una Stanza (From Goodfellas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Ray Charles - Stella By Starlight (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk (From The Irishman)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Dinah Washington - What A Difference A Day Made (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry (From Casino)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots - Cow Cow Boogie (From Raging Bull)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21. Elmore James - Dust My Broom (From The Wolf Of Wall Street)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind The Iron Curtain Part 1

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          One of the most politically charged terms of the 20th century, the Iron Curtain was a metaphor for political and cultural division. In a post-war telegram Winston Churchill referred to the fault line that ran through Europe between East and West as "an Iron Curtain is drawn down upon their front. We do not know what is going on behind".

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In this two-part album, as far as jazz is concerned, we will showcase, describe and celebrate exactly what was 'going on behind'. We see that music is the power supreme, with the ability to transcend all barriers, be they physical, political or metaphorical.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Our liner notes illustrate the complex and contradictory history of Soviet jazz, and the tracks we've chosen cover the key period of the early 1960s to the 1980s. It was during these dark years of the Cold War that the Soviet Union and its satellite states produced a number of outstanding artists playing in a variety of styles. The impact of modernism, from hard bop and Latin to modal and cool jazz, had found its way through cracks in the curtain. The deeply-felt ancestral strains of traditional European folk music were combined with the exciting new and progressive sounds of the West, and a radical, intoxicating brew was created that no amount of guns, tanks or polonium tea could overcome.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          We chronicle the triumph of jazz at a time of extreme geopolitical conflict. What went on behind the Iron Curtain in these countries was once mysterious and unknown to the West, but the perseverance of their artists provided sound and light amid the secretive, dark days of the communist-capitalist standoff. There was no end of life-affirming spiritual jazz behind the Iron Curtain.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          "Whether it's by improvisation in the African-American jazz tradition, or by a village kobza player standing on top of a damn hill - he feels connected to the stars."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Collage - Halb Sirp (Bad Sickle)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Manfred Ludwig - Sextett
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Krzysztof Komeda - Crazy Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Polish Jazz Quartet - Promenade Through Empty Streets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Vagif Mustafa-Zade - Caucasus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Quartet "Jazz Focus-65" - Monday Morning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Theo Schumman Combo - Karawane
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Vaclav Zahradnik - Podzimní Slunce
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Karel Velebny - Lori
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Sevil - Mugam
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Focus '65 - Autumn Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Golstain-Nosov Quintet - Rosinent In Toledo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. YU All Stars 1977 - Kosmet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          14. Michael Fritzen Quartett - Rien
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          15. Dan Mindrila - Sonet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Suburban Base Records Presents: "Subbase Sampler" - the first time it's been released on vinyl! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Originally released in 1997 as a CD-only compilation, "Subbase Sampler" is finally available on double vinyl for the first time ever! This iconic collection captures the energy and evolution of the jungle and drum & bass scene, featuring a heavyweight lineup of genre pioneers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The reissued album includes classic tracks from legends like Remarc, Mampi Swift, Dream Team (Bizzy B & Pugwash), Pascal, and Intalex presents The X (Mark XTC) - bringing together the unmistakable sound of Suburban Base during the golden era of drum & bass.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This long-awaited vinyl edition is a must-have for collectors and fans alike, delivering timeless cuts that shaped the underground. Don’t miss your chance to own a piece of Suburban Base history!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Fierce collection of era-defining hits from one of the hottest underground labels to of ever existed. Real rude boy business from start to finish instantly conjuring up memories of pirate radio, Moschino, brandy and coke and disembowelling bass frequencies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A1. Intalex Productions Present The X - Turn Da Lites Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A2. Mampi Swift - Old Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B1. Dream Team Aka Bizzy B & Pugwash - Raw Dogs (Shy FX Re-Lik)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B2. Intalex Productions Present The X - New Dawn (VIP Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C1. Remarc - One Style
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C2. Dream Team Aka Bizzy B & Pugwash - X-Files
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D1. Mampi Swift - Little Touch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D2. Pascal - Like Dat 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Caroline

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Caroline 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Returning with 'caroline 2', the eight-piece collective embrace a bolder, more expansive sound. Going beyond their debut's explorations of repetition, slowness and space, the new album pushes further into dynamic contrasts — organic and electronic, raw and refined. Launched with the striking single ‘Tell me I never knew that’, featuring Caroline Polachek’s unmistakable vocals, caroline 2 showcases a fearless interplay of layered instrumentation, warped vocal processing, and moments of both euphoria and melancholy. Intentional and immersive, this next chapter solidifies caroline as one of the most innovative voices in contemporary music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: With the sort of off-piste melodic direction and slowly building, soaring verses you'd expect from any of the big post-rock bands, you'd be forgiven for thinking of Caroline as rich in feeling but lacking in hooks, fortunately you'd be dead wrong. This is beautifully structured, monolithic compositions with soul and intrigue that also get stuck in your head like nothing else.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Total Euphoria
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Song Two
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Tell Me I Never Knew That (ft. Caroline Polachek)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            When I Get Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            U R UR ONLY ACHING
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Coldplay Cover
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Two Riders Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Beautiful Ending

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sea Fever

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Surface Sound

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Since 2020, Sea Fever has gathered the innate, restless artistry, studio craft and stage experience of New Order members, Tom Chapman and Phil Cunningham, together with Iwan Gronow, a former member of cherished 00’s emotive indie band, Haven as well as playing bass with Johnny Marr for over ten years. The band is made complete by Section 25’s Beth Cassidy and drummer, Elliot Barlow, formerly of Brix and The Extricated.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Both resulting from and regardless of previous projects and the highs and lows of global touring, Sea Fever’s identity is increasingly forged by such connection, collective growth and generosity found amongst the ever more cohesive collective. If their debut was an opening chapter, 'Surface Sound' is a complete, rewarding and open book all of its own.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Chapmans expands on the album’s special place in the band’s hearts, saying: “It’s an album full of hope and melancholy. It was written through a difficult period of my life, dealing with a breakup and the loss of my father. I immersed myself in my work on a daily basis and used music as my solace and therapy to deal with the various waves of emotions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “The result is a beautiful album, with Iwan and Beth confirming their roles as vocalists and lyricists with heartfelt melodies and poignant words, raising the bar again with their singing abilities. Phil stepped up again as the quintessential indie guitarist and Elliot Barlow is the engine room and heartbeat of the band. I am very proud of this record. It’s Sea Fever at our best.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Dynamic, dancefloor indie music that sings with the influence of Manchester's musical history but brings the genre forward with a mix of soaring, poppy breakdowns and funky basslines. A particularly lovely version with the Denise Johnson featured 7".

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Breaking Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Go To Ground
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Shouldn’t Have Been This Way
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Sincere To Some
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Able Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Thrills, Kicks And Lies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Triggers Us
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Loose Cut
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Truth Dare
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Seen As A Lifeline

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7” Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Explanation (featuring Denise Johnson) - Full Length Version
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Explanation (featuring Denise Johnson) - Edit

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Jacob Alon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In Limerence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Hailed as “one of the most remarkable voices of their generation” (The Independent), Scotland’s Jacob Alon redefines contemporary folk with their debut album, ‘In Limerence’. Featuring the acclaimed singles’ Fairy In A Bottle’, ‘Confession’, and ‘Liquid Gold 25’, the Dan Carey-produced record weaves poetic storytelling with ghostly vocals and intricate guitar work. Alon’s deeply personal songwriting has earned praise from Clash, Billboard, and The Times, plus an appearance on Later… with Jools Holland and support from BBC 6 Music. A haunting yet hopeful debut, ‘In Limerence’ cements Alon as a singular new voice in British folk.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: A beautiful wash of brittle, folky guitars and hushed vocals morph into powerful passages of reflective exuberance and celebratory praise. Though Alon's hushed vocals suggest timidity, the beautifully confident strokes of musicality and majestic changes juxtapose it beautifully. Brilliant.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Glimmer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Of Amber
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Don’t Fall Asleep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. I Couldn’t Feed Her
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Confession
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Elijah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Liquid Gold 25
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. August Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Home Tapes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Zathura
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Fairy In A Bottle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Sertraline

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Alan Sparhawk

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                With Trampled By Turtles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  No one can help you build something beautiful quite like those who know you best. Alan Sparhawk knows this well. In his years in Low, he built decades of stirring music with his wife and lifelong creative partner Mimi Parker. In recent years, he has performed around Minnesota with his son Cyrus in DERECHO Rhythm Section, a funk band that also frequently features his daughter Hollis on vocals. There’s an irreplaceable naturalism that comes with this kind of dynamic. Those who know you understand you. They love you. They want to help you bring your greatest passions to fruition. So it made sense that Sparhawk would turn to fellow Duluth musicians Trampled by Turtles to realize his latest record. As friends and mentees of Low’s, taken under Sparhawk and Parker’s wing from their earliest days as a bar band, Trampled by Turtles have performed with Sparhawk countless times over the years. The Duluth ties run deep: “There’s a certain vibe that has to do with underdog syndrome, coming from a small town,” Sparhawk muses. “Some of it is the weird grind and slackness that being at the mercy of Mother Nature puts in you. It humbles you.” The two artists hold the kind of ironclad bond.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Following Parker’s passing in 2022, Trampled by Turtles invited Sparhawk to join them on tour to give him a space to be surrounded by friends. Occasionally, he would join them onstage. The outpouring of love was palpable every time they played together, a surge of warmth. When playing together is that powerful, why stop there? In winter, 2024, Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles created With 'Trampled by Turtles', a record exactly as its name implies: Collective. Communal. Fraternal. Empathetic. A vessel for comfort, a reminder of the harmony that can exist when surrounded by those closest to you. 'Where White Roses, My God', Sparhawk’s last album, plunged headfirst into electronica and radical vocal modulation, With 'Trampled by Turtles' leans into the folk and bluegrass stylings of its backing band, Sparhawk’s voice now completely unvarnished. With Trampled by Turtles is far more than just Alan Sparhawk and Trampled by Turtles. It’s an affirmation of all the people who have been vital in Sparhawk’s life and music, and an opportunity to hold each of their gifts into the light. It’s producer Nat Harvie, who has been collaborating and performing with him for years. It’s Sparhawk’s daughter Hollis, who duets with her father on 'Not Broken'. And it’s Mimi Parker, too: 'Too High', 'Princess Road Surgery', and 'Not Broken' were all tracks she and Sparhawk had been working on in the last few years. These songs finally found a setting that stirringly commemorates them, bolstered by a full ensemble to make every note sing. Their presence is a kind of eternal connection to Parker, a way her musical grace will keep flourishing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: A beautifully familiar sounding album that reminds me of the most celebratory pieces in Low's famously expansive and stunning catalogue, but with a loose ensemble feel and flickering bucolic chill. Sparhawk's voice will forever be tied to Low for me (no bad thing), but this is a wonderful way to continue hearing his superbly written songs in a full band setting.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Stranger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Too High
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Heaven
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Not Broken
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Screaming Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Get Still
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Princess Road Surgery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Don't Take Your Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Torn & In Ashes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt Berninger

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Get Sunk

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Get Sunk' is an ode to the infinite. It brings brush-stroked, blurry memories to the surface, amassing in a heap of colors and connections that stretches beyond individuality and into an endless altering. Under water, everything moves in slow motion and for Matt Berninger, he saw his creative voice slipping away with the current. But sometimes we have to drown to remember how to breathe. 'Get Sunk' is the purgative inhale. It’s seeing the undulating reflection in the water and realizing that you are not yourself without a thousand others: parents, friends, siblings, spouses and exes, college roommates, childhood best friends, cousins and kids, strangers even––all of it––make up the spirit of 'Get Sunk’s narrator. Berninger wanted to figure out why he loves what he does and it’s in the album’s collaborative spirit and loose, unfurling attitude that Berninger looked up and felt the warmth on his face. When we sink into ourselves, we’ll often find that we are actually swimming with others. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: Matt Berninger finds his latest LP draped in the sort of thoughtful solemnity we find in the work of his parent band, but 'Get Sunk' has reaped the sonic benefits from crackly, saturated drift and staggered syncopated wooze.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Inland Ocean
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. No Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Bonnet Of Pins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Frozen Oranges
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Breaking Into Acting Feat. Hand Habits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Nowhere Special
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Little By Little
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Junk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Silver Jeep Feat. Ronboy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Times Of Difficulty 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Kathryn Joseph

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    WE WERE MADE PREY.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Continuing her creative partnership with 2022’s 'For You Who Are The Wronged' producer Lomond Campbell, recording took place in the remote Black Bay Studios on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. 'WE WERE MADE PREY.' dances on the knife-edge: of action versus inaction, of want versus wanting, of self-fulfilment versus shame. Kathryn's fourth album is both a reaction to and reprieve for the animal within. Eleven songs that accept her whole being, with all its hunger, lust and rage, and its devastating tenderness too.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Richly melodic electronic music that's steeped in the history of modern classical and post-rock, with flickers of folk and minimal singer-songwriter fare. Rock action are consistently one of the greatest labels in the game, and Joseph's latest is another stunning entry in their impressive label output. Brilliant.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. WOLF.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. DARK.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. HARBOUR.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. BEL(ll).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. BEFORE.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. DEER.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. DRAWN.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. ROADKILL.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. HOLD.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. CHILDREN.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. FIRE.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Greatest Fits is a deep dive into the superb sounds of German avant-garde new wave pioneer Gina X on the cult Dark Entries label. This double LP compilation spans the whole of the bold, boundary-blurring career of Gina X Performance, which came together first in 1978 when singer Gina Kikoine and producer Zeus B set out to create "the absolute union of music, poetry and travesty". With selections taken from four albums, you'll find their signature blend of icy electro, camp theatrics and subversive pop throughout, and it all ranges from the pulsing 'Nice Mover' to the decadent 'No G.D.M.' Greatest Fits is both a musical time capsule and a vital reminder of how far ahead Gina X always was while also serving as a celebration of queer culture and synth-driven hedonism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mine says: One of the coolest and most interesting German artists of all time (in my humble German opinion) that I can't recommend highly enough. If you're into Saada Bonaire, Vicious Pink, Gary Numan, Soft Cell etc. do yourself a favour and get a copy of this mega compilation, you won't be disappointed!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. No GDM
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Exhibitionism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Be A Boy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Tropical Comic Strip
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Nice Mover
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Cologne Intime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Opposite Numbers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Vendor's Box
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Strip Tease
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. IC Code
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Kaddish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Hypnosis/Hypnose
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13. Babylon Generation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      14. Die Kunst Des Liebens (The Art Of Loving)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15. Kanal Banal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      16. French Lift
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      17. Waiting

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Swans

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Birthing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Swans return with 'Birthing', the latest album, developed over the course of a yearlong 2023–2024 tour.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'Birthing' is released via Mute and Young God Records. The initial pressings of the deluxe vinyl and CD include a bonus DVD featuring Swans Live 2024 '(Rope) The Beggar', a concert film by Marco Porsia documenting the band's most recent US tour. The DVD also includes 'I Wonder If I’m Singing What You’re Thinking Me To Sing', a documentary by Christopher Nicholson following Michael Gira’s 2022 solo tour.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Refined through relentless improvisation and live performance, as well as newly composed studio pieces, 'Birthing' is a testament to Michael Gira’s uncompromising sonic vision. Beginning as skeletal acoustic compositions, the songs were gradually expanded and transformed in the studio with longtime live members and collaborators.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        “This album, coupled with the recent live release, 'Live Rope', constitutes my final foray (as producer / impresario) into the all-consuming sound worlds that have been my obsession for years. We’ll do a final tour in this mode towards the end of 2025, then that’s it. After that, Swans will continue, so long as I’m able, but in a significantly pared down form. Hints of that direction can be found in a few moments on the current album. In the meantime, my hope is that the music provides a positive and fertile atmosphere in which to dream.” – Michael Gira / Swans

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Produced by Gira, 'Birthing' was recorded at Soundfabrik Berlin, mixed at Candy Bomber Studio by Ingo Krauss, and mastered by Doug Henderson at Micro-Moose.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: A perfect continuation of 2023's epic 'The Beggar', 'Birthing' sees Gira and Co drift through a raft of sonically expansive, emotionally weighty pre-post-rock gloomers. A perfect distillation of the modern sound of Swans.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. The Healers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. I Am A Tower
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Birthing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Red Yellow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Guardian Spirit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. The Merge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Rope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Away

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ty Segall

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Possession

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ty hits the big sky trail of our good ol’ frontier empire, discovering non-stop bangers and inspired new sonics around every bend. With lyrics co-written by long-time collaborator, filmmaker Matt Yoka, Ty's glittering rhythm arrangements move with fresh scansion, inviting in sweeps of strings and horns to further the charge righteously. You’re invited too! Don’t miss the trip – the country inspires awe from up on Ty’s high-octane ride.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: Ty & Co get all country on their latest instalment of garagey punk rock, eschewing some of the more frenetic aspects of their sound for this drifty mix of lysergic picnic fare and rhythmic head-bobbing instrumentation. For me, the best iteration of Segall yet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Shoplifter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Possession
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Buildings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Shining
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Skirts Of Heaven
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Fantastic Tomb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. The Big Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Hotel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Alive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Another California Song

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Yeule

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Evangelic Girl Is A Gun

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1yeule (aka Nat Ćmiel), the cyborg alchemist coalescing the soundscapes of glitch-pop electronica, alt rock, and trip-hop. After their breakthrough sophomore album in 2022, 'Glitch Princess', Nat Ćmiel crystallised their place as alt electronica luminary with their boundary-breaking 2023 album, 'softscars'. Both albums were named ‘Best New Music’ by Pitchfork with the latter lauded as a “riotous, high-energy journey” by the Guardian.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            'Evangelic Girl is a Gun', is yeule’s most unrestrained and emotionally baring work yet, as they grapple with ideas of a self-destructive identity burning through the canvas of post-modernity. Accompanied by still visual artworks made in collaboration with artist Vasso Vu (Ashnikko, Marina Abramović), Ćmiel explores the duality of darkness, as well as their personal history to their role as the "painter.” Through the album’s hypnotic melodies, they present a portrait of the tortured artist trapped within an image, as Ćmiel’s haunting vocals act as an emotional chokehold atop dance beats. The album features production from A.G. Cook (Charli xcx, Caroline Polachek), Chris Greatti, Mura Masa, Clams Casino, Fitnesss and Kin Leonn, Ćmiel’s trusted collaborator and co-executive producer of 2023’s 'softscars'. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Jagged, snapping synth-pop that's as innovative as it is surprising. Waves of glitch and distorted vocals churn alongside rapidly morphing FM bass and snarling digital pads, all while retaining a strong sense of rhythm and unrivalled futuristic ingenuity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Tequila Coma
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. The Girl Who Sold Her Face
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Eko
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. 1967
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. VV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Dudu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. What3vr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Saiko
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Evangelic Girl Is A Gun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Skullcrusher

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Obongjayar

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Paradise Now

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Obongjayar's sophomore ‘Paradise Now’, is an ambitiously fresh global prospect, with roots grounded in his own wide-ranging world of influences. It’s everything from pop to punk, dance to Afrobeat, funk to folk, refracted through a thrilling new perspective. “I wanted an album that I could listen to from start to finish on a night out.” But he still considers it something of a Trojan Horse.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Recorded between London and LA with UK alt-rap mainstay Kwes Darko ( Pa Salieu, John Glacier) and Grammy-winning production trio Beach Noise (Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem, Bakar), the record is as emotionally complex and broad as Obongjayar has ever been, even within its contagious candy coating

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TBC

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Léa Sen

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              LEVELS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                French singer, songwriter and producer Léa Sen’s debut album 'LEVELS', is a deeply immersive journey through memory, self-discovery, and emotional growth—imagined as a surreal, liminal hotel where each room holds a different chapter of her life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Created in collaboration with her brother, Florian Fourlin, and inspired by Léa's own coming-of-age, 'LEVELS' blends experimental pop with slinky R&B, woozy trip-hop, and warm, smudged guitars. The album plays with the tension between reality and dreamlike abstraction, examining the mysterious ups and downs of existence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Since moving from Paris to London following a personal loss in 2019, Léa has built a growing network of collaborators (Joy Orbison, Sampha, Don Toliver, Oscar Jerome, Speaker’s Corner Quartet and more). Through her intense work ethic and magnetic creative spirit Léa has settled into a reputation as an artist poised to break out, supported by the likes of the Fader, the Guardian, Crack, 6Music, Radio 1 and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Lvl 1 - HOME ALONE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Lvl 2 - ALIENS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Lvl 3 - EDGE OF THE MAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Lvl 4 - WATERSMOKE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Lvl 5 - GHOSTWRITER
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Lvl 6 - VIDEO GAMES
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Lvl 7 - LAZY DAYS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Lvl 8 - HOW?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Lvl 9 - MORE THAN HAPPY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Lvl 10 - LOBBY BOY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Garbage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Let All That We Imagine Be The Light

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ‘Let All That We Imagine Be The Light’ is the eighth studio record from Garbage and was recorded at Red Razor Sounds in Los Angeles, Butch Vig’s studio Grunge Is Dead, and Shirley Manson’s bedroom. The record was produced by the band and longtime engineer Billy Bush. The album is unmistakably Garbage. All the hallmarks and signatures for which they are known are present here. Big angular guitars, precise, propulsive beats and cinematic soundscapes all lurk beneath Shirley Manson’s expressive voice, her lyrics bristling with attitude. It is the sound of a group at the peak of their creative powers - characteristically harnessing sonic juxtapositions and moods to create an album that thrums equally with both light and shade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  “Going into making this record, I was determined to find a more hopeful, uplifting world to immerse myself in. The title of the album, Let All That We Imagine Be The Light is a perfect, headline statement for the record as a whole. When things feel dark it feels imperative to seek out the forces that are light, positive and beautiful in the world. It almost feels like a matter of life and death. A strategy for survival” - Shirley Manson

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ashley says: I had a real soft spot for Garbage around the first two / three albums, and still consider 'Version 2.0' one of my favourite indie electronic albums of all, so I was excited to hear the new one. Fortunately, it has all of the propulsive drive and soaring, anthemic glory we've come to know and love from the STILL ORIGINAL line-up, long may they continue.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. There’s No Future In Optimism
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Chinese Fire Horse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Hold
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Have We Met (The Void)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Sisyphus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Radical
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Love To Give
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Get Out My Face AKA Bad Kitty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. R U Happy Now
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. The Day That I Met God

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Shura

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I Got Too Sad For My Friends

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Five years after her critically acclaimed album ‘forevher’, Shura is back with her highly anticipated third studio album ‘I Got Too Sad For My Friends’. A pastoral blend of chamber pop, sixties folk and campfire Americana, it builds Shura’s introspective songwriting out into a vast landscape – more tranquil than the soulful bounce of ‘forevher’, and more rustic than the brooding synth-pop of her 2016 debut ‘Nothing’s Real’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    That landscape is both sonically comforting and representative of her headspace during the writing process, which was one of sadness and isolation. The itinerant emotional state is mirrored in the artwork, which sees Shura perched on a Welsh mountainside in a baggy jumper, ripped jeans, Converse, and cobbled-together armour that covers everything except her vital organs – part Kurt Cobain, part Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo + Juliet. The image references the French novella The Little Prince, which follows a young boy who sets out to explore other planets to cure his loneliness.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Though it’s an album exploring themes of depression and loneliness, ‘I Got Too Sad For My Friends’ is far from dejected it retains Shura’s usual crystalline sound and precision while introducing a different kind of warmth and earthiness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Approached like an “old school record” that captures a performance rather than a production, much of the album was recorded live, with the keys, bass, guitar, and drums all tracked as a single performance. The vocals were done separately – with the exception of soft funk track 'Ringpull'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The decision to explore a wider breadth of instruments for the first time came from a sense of urgency that was, in part, prompted by the pandemic. “It made me think: this could be over at any minute. I could never get to make a record again. I could never tour again. So my approach to this record was like, if I never get to do this again, what do I want to make sure I've done? I want to record live. I want to work with textures I've never worked with before. I want to dress up as a gnome bard knight and climb a mountain in Wales, regret it, and have no one else to blame except for myself because I'm freezing,” she laughs. “So even though it’s not necessarily a maximalist record in terms of how it sounds, the approach was maximal joy for me making it… which is hilarious, because it's about being miserable!”


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Tokyo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Leonard Street
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Recognise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. World’s Worst Girlfriend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Richardson (ft. Cassandra Jenkins)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. America
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Online
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. I Wanna Be Loved By You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Ringpull
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. If You Don’t Believe In Love (ft. Helado Negro)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Bad Kid (ft. Becca Mancari)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Joy Spheres Rees is the coming together of three essential innovators in contemporary music, who have fused their distinct individual sounds into a definitive collaboration for their debut album, ‘Solina’. Allysha Joy, Hidden Spheres and Finn Rees together forged a new sonic landscape which draws on vast inspirations from Balearic house to street soul, alt-rnb and jazz.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This is an album that is conceptually driven from beginning to end, as overarching melodic themes and lyrical mantras weave in and out of hard hitting grooves to create a deeply moving and meditative experience for the listener. Combining Allysha Joy’s potent lyricism, effortless musicianship, unique production & incredible vocals with Hidden Spheres' production values and Djing sensibilities, honed in over a decade's worth of music across different labels, genres, and highly revered releases, alongside the final ingredient of synths, keyboards and skilled musicality of Finn Rees, renowned for his new wave jazz and dance music output and heavy involvement with acts from the Melbourne/Naarm scene.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Personal and poetic, ‘Solina’ speaks to both the intimate and collective desires for connection, through the differing lenses of romance, spirituality, connectivity to nature and the self. It is the culmination of each member's deeply honed skill set, with Hidden Spheres as lead producer, Finn Rees guiding the harmonic synthesis and Allysha Joy’s unmistakable vocal sound, intimately interweaving to create this rich, textural masterpiece - a collaborative magnus opus.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Hidden Sphere's sets up his hammock on an abandoned beach and invites Allysha Joy and Finn Rees for a horizontal excursion into stoned street soul, spiritual jazz and island moods. Highly impressive, unhurried beauty.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.Caught In A Wind 03:49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2.Trust The Feeling 04:18
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3.Cave Sands 04:58
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4.Surrender Love 04:43
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5.When Will The Day Come 04:33
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6.Promised Me Love 04:28
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7.Delta Spirit 03:17
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8.Always Leaving 05:24
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9.Surrender Love Reprise 02:18

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Prince Philip

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Dubplates & Raw Rhythm From King Tubby's Studio 1973-1976

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This compilation is dedicated to the memory of the late great “Prince” Philip Smart - the first apprentice of King Tubby and the first engineer at Tubby’s studio besides Tubby himself. Alongside Tubby, Philip was integral to the innovation that took place at Tubby’s studio in the mid 1970s, where the mixing of new roots reggae revolutionized the sound of Jamaican music and created styles and techniques that are still being echoed today, nearly 50 years later.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Though rarely credited on records in comparison to Tubby, Philip also mixed a lot of the paramount music produced by those close associates of Tubby’s studio such as Bunny Lee, Yabby You, and Augustus Pablo. Philip was closely tied to Pablo due to their childhood friendship and was a partner in his stylistically significant early production works. In the early years of Tubby’s studio, both men were making and cutting custom dubs there for their sound systems before starting to produce their own tunes from scratch, and Philip becoming the second chair engineer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Several of the songs on this compilation are a selection of the aforementioned work. All of the songs here are sourced from Philip’s personal tape archive, and basically all of these mixes and versions have been scarcely if ever heard, and never released before. This double album comprises a rare and genuine glimpse into the dubplate workings of the inner circle of Tubby’s studio in the mid 1970s, where the prime players and emerging giants of reggae music production and sound system versioned, remixed and voiced rhythms for custom and exclusive cuts. Some of the cuts heard here were formerly exclusive power plays on King Tubby’s own legendary sound system, and unlike some previous issues of such material, these are genuine mixes done at the time. Some other tracks clearly exude the youthful enthusiasm of the participants. In both cases we find this collection of tracks to be truly compelling, so please enjoy this glimpse into such rare air. Rest in power Prince Philip Smart.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    -RB/DKR, Summer 2023

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Unmissable selection of previously unreleased dub recorded at Tubby's by Prince Philip. This is a high grade, vintage set; raw as a bear's arse, gritty as the backstreets of Kingston and pure rootsical energy. A must for any dub heads.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A1. Madness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A2. You Were Mine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A3. Revolution Come
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A4. Man Free Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A5. Days Of Old
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B1. Dubb Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B2. Dubb Girl Rhythm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B3. Official Sound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B4. Fragile Rhythm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B5. Kid Phil Rhythm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C1. Zion City - Jacob Miller
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C2. Zion City Dub Wise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C3. Lorraine Dub Wise - Jacob Miller
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C4. Rock My Soul Dub Wise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C5. Trying Man - Johnny Clarke
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D1. You Were Dubbing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D2. Sit And Cry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D3. Iron Bird - Jacob Miller
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D4. Riding On A High & Windy Day (alt. Take) - Breezy & Hugh Mundell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D5. Riding Rhythm

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Tape to tape disco edits made between 1989-1999 by Chicago DJ Mark Grusane. Super limited copies, strictly no digital release. Guess the source material for bonus material!


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Big soft spot for Mark Grusane. Seems to just tweak out the edit that little bit wilder than the others cats on the scene. Case in question here: "Stomp The Floor" - incessant wiggle that'll have the whole floor salivating and whooping like a banshee.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A1. Poho (explicit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A2. I Can’t Come Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B. The Fever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C1. Stomp The Floor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C2. The Dream Call
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D. Giving Nothing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Wilson Tanner returns to dry land with "Legends", a wine-soaked agricultural fantasy, made among the grapevines at Manon Farm in South Australia. Where their earlier works settled into the sun-struck torpor of a suburban Perth backyard ("69" or drifted off-course on a riverboat on Port Phillip Bay ("ii"), "Legends" trades salt air for vineyard sweat, the scrape of boots on dry earth and workers’ radios humming with the summer test cricket season.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Through this agricultural haze an image of a working vineyard emerges - ducks, dogs and plovers intrude; tractors and quads fly-by; stainless steel gleams at the edges. Recorded without mains power, the Manon demos overflow with farmyard ingenuity. Wind, brass, balalaika, balloon, pipe and synth are trained onto the staff with wire, tape and string.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A caricature of Australian viticulture, "Legends" is packed to the horns with the mythology and manure of natural wine. Swigging and belching in camaraderie, Wilson Tanner press their surroundings into something raw and unfiltered, letting bum notes, leftovers and sediment linger in the bottle. A cornucopia of biodynamic sounds.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Much anticipated follow up to the best selling "69", and "II", the Melbourne duo conjure up vistas of sun-blushed, abandoned vineyards; dusty, hedge-lined lanes; forgotten glasses of wine in the midday heat and falling asleep in the afternoon. As transportive as the two albums before it, just the destination that's changed.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Cherry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Blush
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Grasshopper
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Brown
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Bubbles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Old Vine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Jaune
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Summer Rot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Hogshead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Legends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Botrytis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Daddles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ransom Note Records welcome illustrious French Electronic duo Froid Dub to the fold for their new release, "Tears Maker Chant". Head honchos of the wonderful Delodio label, Stéphane and François mark the 50th release for R$N Recs, and this is without a shadow of a doubt an incredibly special one. So, sit back and ready yourself for some inimitable Froid Dub cuts; laid back but pounding, graceful yet aggressive but above all, thoroughly danceable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Opening proceedings is the acid tinged "Just One", a masterclass in making people dance at under 80bpm. Achingly gorgeous polysynth chords rain down, hovering like a film overhead the saturated 303 line that wobbles along in the low end. First single "On The Nose" enters next, with a delightfully soft, round bass that feels like bouncing around a padded room. Inside a Zorb. On MDMA. More echoed, analogue motifs dart from left to right, confirming with strong conviction that our chaps from Paris put the Dub in Indubitably Fantastic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    "Digital Pond" closes side A, a low slung, nonchalant piece of mood music. Idiosyncratically 'French,' brittle chords piece the sound stage, evoking past Italo disco spaces, but remaining conscientiously chug-dubbed out. Second single "Control (Special Mix)" opens side B... with a capital B. For Banger. Another space echo heavy workout in the lower frequencies of the audio spectrum, this is testament to the old adage that less is often, a hell of a lot more (to paraphrase).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The titular "Tears Maker" glides into view next, with its frantic 808 patterns and spacey melodica, setting the scene for the majesty to follow. This epically proportioned tune is probably going to be a little passe come the end of summer, because it’s going to be played at festivals the world over relentlessly. Be warned! Finally "Terri’s Dub" brings matters to a close, with its angular, stands and woozy vocals, we’re given the space and tie to contemplate what has just happened to us on two mere sides of vinyl.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Artwork by Sylvia Tournerie, mastered by Krikor Kouchian.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: France's premium dub specialists expand their palette with tectonic acid and a brand of cold-wave, industrial dub that's a formula all of their own creation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Just One
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. On The Nose
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Digital Pond
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Control (special Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Tears Maker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Terri’s Dub

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Rahaan brings the FIRE with his second 2x12” on Hot Biscuit offshoot: Now Is Not The Time. Disco edits inspired by the golden age of Chicago club culture. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Super limited copies, strictly vinyl, no digital. Don't sleep. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: More top drawer snips from the man like Rahaan. This strictly limited, vinyl only series proving to be quite the wealth of disco pressure for the discerning dee-jay.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A1. Do You Like It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A2. A Disco
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B. Columbian Dance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C. Jealous 4 No Reason
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D1. Return Of The Boogie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D2. Can’t Shake Your Love

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Miley Cyrus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Something Beautiful

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Miley Cyrus' ninth studio album, 'Something Beautiful' features 13 original tracks and is executive produced by Miley Cyrus and Shawn Everett.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Captured by renowned fashion photographer Glen Luchford, the album artwork features Miley Cyrus draped in archival 1997 Thierry Mugler couture, a striking nod to the album’s bold aesthetic and visual storytelling.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TBA

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      MRCY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Volume 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        In dark and difficult times, the music of Barney Lister and Kojo Degraft-Johnson lifts us up. As MRCY, the production and vocal duo are confronting the many crises of modern life with a fresh sound full of punchy instrumentation, enveloping orchestration and lyrical honesty. On their latest project, 'VOLUME 2', Barney and Kojo deliver emotive music that surprises as much as it comforts, referencing timeless sounds as much as a sense of the cutting edge. Channeling soulful vocal melody alongside afrobeat polyrhythms, jazz soloing and driving, distorted grooves, tracks like 'Man' address the challenges of modern masculinity, while standout number 'Fear' drives a message that encourages us to fight the terror we might feel about the state of the world with optimism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Following the acclaimed release of their 2024 debut project 'VOLUME 1', which saw the duo nominated as Rising Stars at the Rolling Stone Awards and named as one of DIY’s Class of 2025, MRCY returns with vital music that addresses the complexities of being alive today. “We’re trying to extinguish fear with optimism and worry with love,” Barney says. “'VOLUME 2' breaks the mould to present a bigger picture of who we are – something with angst, surprises and more guts. The main feeling of the project is that the world is fucked but let’s dance through it.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Angels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Wanna Know (Ontario)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Sierra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Flicker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Wandering Attention
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Fear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. More Than You Are Now

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Phi-Psonics

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Expanding To One

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “Phi-Psonics is a spiritual exploration of being together and connecting,” says acoustic bassist Seth Ford-Young of the immersive project he initiated in East Los Angeles in 2016. “From the beginning, I wanted to explore a contemplative sound, to create music that can be useful to listen to when you’re in a place of being more meditative, and maybe needing a break from the cacophony of the world.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          For his third long-player under the Phi-Psonics banner, Ford-Young marshalled a series of live recordings at the Healing Force Of The Universe record store in Pasadena, sculpting fourteen tracks, largely composed in the moment with a fluctuating cast of players, which wonderfully transmit his ideals of community and inner peace.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Called ‘Expanding To One’, it features exquisitely calming yet searching pieces like ‘There’s Still Hope’, where Seth’s softly undulating bassline underpins beatific explorations from core Phi-Psonics members, Sylvain Carton and Randal Fisher (both on saxophone), and Josh Collazo (drums), alongside guests Zach Tenorio (Wurlitzer piano) and Mathias Künzli (percussion). Equally sublime, ‘Healing Time’ ripples like a mountain stream, with Ford-Young, Carton, Fisher and Tenorio joined by Minta Spencer (harp), Dylan Day (guitar) and, on drums/percussion, Jay Bellerose, a revered LA stickman most recently under the spotlight in Jeff Parker ETA IVtet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          These exquisite recordings were captured at six fortnightly ticketed sessions at Healing Force in February-April 2024, with sixty-odd fans and locals sitting in rapt attention as the players improvised together. For Seth, the venture was partially a reaction to the brutality of COVID lockdown.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “That experience of being isolated really brought into focus how important being together is,” he says. “That’s really what we have. We have all these other ways of connecting, like via the internet, but actually being together in person, there’s no substitute for it. So, I was like, ‘Alright, I want to do something that brings people together, and builds communities.’”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As much a performance space as a record store, the room at Healing Force Of The Universe (named after the Albert Ayler album from 1970) allowed for studio-quality recording of rare warmth and definition, and Ford-Young wisely chose to present the material as a studio album, benefitting from the energy of the moment shared by all those in attendance across those six sessions, but editing out the crowd noise to let the music stand timelessly – the best of both worlds.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As the world opened up again, and social boundaries became less distanced once more, Seth very consciously took his creativity back towards the spontaneous, and opened up Phi-Psonics to broaden his community, and to improvise music collectively without too much prescribed in advance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “I thought, ‘Let’s involve some more musicians, different instruments, people that I've played with on other things… Some of them had even sat in with the band at different gigs and stuff, so let's bring them in and really involve them in the recording, and just expand things.’ That's why I called the album ‘Expanding to One’.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “I feel like the whole record is a document of a time and a place,” he goes on by way of summary. “There's a music community in Los Angeles right now which is doing special things, and that's part of why I chose the various people, because they’re doing beautiful work, and are of a similar mind. So, it’s all about capturing that moment”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The audiences on each night, he says, were “an intentional listening crowd”, seated on beanbags, eyes closed, drifting with the gentle tides of the music. Experiencing ‘Expanding To One’ in the comfort of their own home, listeners can now share in that moment, and immerse themselves in the gentle beauty of Phi-Psonics musical world.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Prelude: Expansion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. There's Still Hope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Healing Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Many Paths
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Sunrise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Love Theme From Your Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. We're All One
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Nature Signs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Discovery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. It Finds A Way
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Sounds Of The Universe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Before The Pyramids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. New Pyramid
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          14. Mysteries Of The Dark

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dalham

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          And The Sun

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            As humankind strives to create artificial intelligence what will faith, love, or morality look like to a nascent consciousness? Will it be capable of understanding its creators who often hold logic and superstition within themselves? In return how will humans comprehend its hallucinations? And the Sun, a ball of hot plasma oblivious to our existence continually burns hydrogen until it runs out and swallows its three closest neighbours.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Rare modern braindance music that's hugely innovative, non-derivative and genuinely wonderfully put together. Rippling synths and machinated drum machine glitches break into widescreen bliss and retro-futuristic momentum.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Vorei
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Air
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Jawns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Redd
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Kristall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. XOR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Chalk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Tare

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Dalham

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Cobra

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              On a remote gravel-covered spit of land on the east coast lie the abandoned buildings of a government facility for weapons testing and experiments with radar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In the mid 1960s this site witnessed the construction of an over-the-horizon radar, a technological marvel bouncing signals off the ionosphere, built to covertly monitor the activities of other nations.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The reflectivity of the ionosphere is a function of frequency, time of day, time of year and of the solar cycle. In essence, a sympathy for the celestial was required to fully exploit this man made construction.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Plagued by noise that created false returns on the monitors, the intended performance was never achieved, and despite several investigations the system was shut down and eventually dismantled in the early 1970s.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The long dormant Cobra is now a nature reserve.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: A more gloomy but impeccably brilliant affair here from Dalham, with all of their meticulously written melodies and finely wrought developments coated in a sheen of shadowy unease and crunchy analogue haze. It's all good, never a dull sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pulse Repetition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Absolute Elsewhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. The Proxy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Progress Report
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Buran
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Tesseract
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Backscatter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Frequency Shift

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Resavoir & Matt Gold

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Horizon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                'Horizon' is a new collaborative album by Resavoir & Matt Gold. Across the 10 tracks the two Chicago-based producers combine their distinct sensibilities to create a hypnotic and inviting love letter to their shared admiration for '60s and '70s Brazilian music. Resavoir leading man Will Miller the acclaimed trumpeter, composer, and producer who's worked with SZA, Whitney, and more makes room at the table for Gold — a seasoned multi-instrumentalistand accomplished guitarist who has collaborated with the likes of Makaya McCraven and Greg Ward - and the results are distinctly new for both of them. The sunny and expansive tunes on Horizon are as immersive as they are endlessly replayable, a dynamic and joyous body of work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Canopy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Memento
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Dewy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4 Zero Gravity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Diversey Beach
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Ahhh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Horizon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Hazel Canyon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Metropoli
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Tomorrow

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Chancha Via Circuito

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Remixes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Chancha Via Circuito - Remixes is a new compilation from the Argentine producer Chancha Via Circuito, who has been a key player in the Latin electronic music scene. The album brings together some of his top remixes from the past 11 years, now available for the first time on vinyl. This is Chancha's first physical release since his 2022 album La Estrella, and it features remixes with artists like El Búho, Nickodemus, Fuel Fandango, and Lagartijeando.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Chancha is known for blending cumbia with electronic sounds, a style he pioneered in Buenos Aires' vibrant digital cumbia parties. His music often mixes South American folk influences with environmental sounds. Over the years, he's built a global following, performing in cities like London, New York, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, and São Paulo, where he's played at some of the biggest clubs and festivals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Lulacruza | Uno Resuena (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Kaleema | Velo (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Lagartijeando | El Nogal De Las Pampas (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Ape Chimba | Niña Del Mas Allá (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. LUM | Pantera (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Perotá Chingó | Reverdecer (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Fuel Fandango | La Grieta (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. El Búho | Tecolotín (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Nickodemus | Do You Do You? (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Nicola Cruz | Cocha Runa (Chancha Via Circuito Remix)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Azzurro 80

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Flashback

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Azzurro 80's new album—his first ever on LP—is a beautifully faded Polaroid that, like a true flashback, plunges listeners into the heart of the 1980s. It's a sonic journey that captures the essence of a decade, distant yet vividly etched in our collective memory.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Roman producer unleashes his sonic vision with even greater intensity than before, weaving through dreamy italo-disco, electric atmospheres, soundtrack-worthy synth-pop, and boogie-funk grooves.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Each track opens a window onto an era the artist experienced only fleetingly as a child, yet he evokes it with a powerful and refreshingly original touch. Much like a classic library music record, these tracks conjure a wealth of images, scenes, and visual sequences—perfect soundtracks for imagined films or evocative advertising campaigns: as seductive as a perfume ad, as desirable as a car commercial, and brimming with the bright future the 80s promised.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It's no surprise that cinematic references spring to mind even before musical ones. The album echoes the dreamy atmospheres of early 80s Italian cinema, particularly films like Carlo Verdone's "Acqua e Sapone" (1983) and Carlo Vanzina's "Amarsi Un Po'" (1984). Meanwhile, flashes of New Romantic aesthetics and hints of electro-funk transport you to a neon-lit dance floor where a DJ is spinning the vinyl copy of Flashback.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Azzurro 80's new album is a vibrant, energetic work, balancing groove and emotion in equal measure and infused with a sense of nostalgia that feels remarkably contemporary.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Lampara
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Filobus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Rotative
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Sequenza Gennaio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Estensione
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Sabbia Magica
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Buongiorno Il Caffè
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Città Notte
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Disco Blu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Autolavaggio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Azimut
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Coccinella
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Meridiana

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    DJ-Kicks: Quantic

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      An artist whose reputation has long been forged by his engagement and musical exchange with local scenes and cultures from across the world. Quantic’s vast discography of electronic releases spans two decades, ranging from focused solo productions and intimate collaborations to expansive ensemble projects. Now, the multi-instrumentalist, DJ, composer and producer Will Holland delivers his DJ-Kicks compilation, which fittingly radiates friends and family energy. Having worked and lived in the UK, US and Colombia, Quantic reached out to the many wide-ranging music connections he has made during his 20-plus-year career. “It’s not like writing an album; you’re at the mercy of what other people are creating," he reflects of the mix’s creation. “Fortunately, the homies’ submissions were of an extremely high calibre!” Gathering these artists' music together was a delight for Quantic, especially as he had personal connections with many of those who crafted them. The mix bursts with unreleased exclusives and places the art of curation at its core, giving the listeners space to go and dig more of the songs and sonics which resonate the most. Will Holland includes a glistening breadth of new material, including new music from Quantic alongside another of his aliases Sobredosis, creating a mix teeming with vitality.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Beyond raising profiles, the mix encapsulates Quantic’s tempo-changing DJing style which, over the past decade, has built him a strong community of fans. “It’s got a moody start and end, but a big portion is uplifting and joyous,” he says of the DJ-Kicks compilation’s sonic journey, “you’re going down a river and get off in a different place… it’s also a cool way to encapsulate, stylistically, what I’ve been up to as a DJ over the last few decades, while shining a light on people I admire”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This DJ-Kicks is the latest instalment in Quantic’s ever-evolving artistic trajectory, an accompaniment to those moments when the gloaming disappears into darkness. Will Holland’s longstanding dedication to a full range of melodic and percussive expression alongside continued musical collaboration is what makes his edition of DJ-Kicks such a rare beauty.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. JJ Whitefield Feat. Bonnie Behave - The Mind Is A Palace
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. The Heliocentrics - Minimal Engagement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Quantic - Dialect
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Alfa Mist - In My Defence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. JKriv Feat. Gabriel Oliveira - Pifeiro Malandro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Quantic - Twang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Frente Cumbiero - Michilero
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Quantic - Theme From Selva (Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Quantic - Eko Eko
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Quantic - Motivic Retrograde (Live Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Eblis Alvarez, Meridian Brothers - Un Grande Nubarrón Se Alza En El Cielo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. The Maghreban - Covent Garden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13. Anna Morgan - Throw Dat Azz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      14. Ehua - Scintille
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15. Turbo Sonidero - Kumbia ESSJ
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      16. Sobredosis - No Llores Por Mí

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ten years of Invisible Inc! My...how time has flown. It doesn’t seem that long ago since the label was first conceived in a moment of naive enthusiasm by label founder, compiler and DJ GK Machine.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The occasion of the anniversary will be celebrated with a compilation in two phases; Phase 1 being this 2xLP in turquoise and pink design on pink vinyl, with Phase 2 coming later (in pink and turquoise design on turquoise vinyl).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Phase 1 features 17 of GK Machine’s favourite artists.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      On board for the ride are a few familiar faces: Secret Circuit, Sordid Sound System, Higamos Hogamos, Double Geography, Veslemes, Legion Of Green Men, Michal Turtle, Golden Bug, Sun Genam aka Sigward but the majority are making their debut appearance on the label: The Mediators (a trio featuring Andy Eardley of Horizon 222 and Zoviet-France), Girls Chat Room (feat half of Zillas On Acid), modular aficionado and Behind The Sky captain Bluetech, Exist Dance head honcho Tom Chasteen’s Skull Valley project, Dreems (of Multi Culti repute), Swiss producer and guitarist HOVE, Fourth World ambient mastermind Michel Banabila, cosmic beat rider Ravelston and last but not least, veteran avantgarde maestro, multi-instrumentalist and composer David van Tieghem.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mastered by James Savage at Milk Mastering
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Compiled by GK Machine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sleeve layout and design by Gordon Mackinnon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: Strong contenders as poster boys for our infamous 'weird shit' section; Invisible, Inc. celebrate 10 years of twisting our melons with a catch-all snapshot of their roster to date. Frog licking optional!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A1. The Mediators - Broccoli Polaroid
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A2. Veslemes - Hotspot Volcanic Cafe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A3. Girls Chat Room - Animal Mineral Vegetable
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A4. Golden Bug - Magma
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B1. Legion Of Green Men - Tapenglo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B2. Bluetech - Blade Of Dawn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B3. Secret Circuit - Mother Tongue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B4. Skull Valley - Embers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C1. Dreems - Persepection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C2. Sun Genam - Eternal Return
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C3. Michal Turtle & HOVE - Flying Over
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C4. Michel Banabila - Memories Of The Forest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D1. Higamos Hogamos - Greenwich Tunnel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D3. Ravelston - Minding Backwards
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D4. Sordid Sound System - Leather Door
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D5. David Van Tieghem - Lonely Planet (Part 1)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ellen Beth Abdi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ellen Beth Abdi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A sense of musical wisdom, innate discipline and expansive creativity pervades the street-smart electro-soul from Ellen Beth Abdi, as the renowned, prolific collaborator turned towering solo virtuoso announces her self-titled debut album. Popping with synth signatures, swelling with slow-burning background energies and flowing with delicately placed words of potent and personal meaning, the digital single "Sad Chord" give you a taste of what to expect from the LP from Manchester’s very worst kept multi-instrumental, genre-hopping secret.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Counting back almost a decade since her prodigious talents were first discovered and her solo touring and numerous support slots kick-started a journey around national and international venues, all of Abdi’s live experience, including sharing stages with Lady Blackbird, Courtney Pine and Angelique Kidjo, will be poured into dates arranged in celebration of the long-anticipated release of Ellen Beth Abdi.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Silky smooth street soul rich with shimmering arpeggios and throbbing bass, meticulously crafted passages of minimalist electronics and Abdi's athletic, rhythmic vocals. A brilliantly cohesive, musically inventive debut from an artist we'll be hearing lots more of in the future.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Who This World Is Made For
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Thickskinpeel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Tenterhooks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Elsewhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. The Bad Dream
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Sad Chord
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Spellbound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Problem Child
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Kingsway Bouquet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Sweet Twenty-Three

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Stereolab

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Instant Holograms On Metal Film

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Instant Holograms On Metal Film' is the first Stereolab album in 15 years, featuring 13 new studio recordings. Played by Laetitia Sadier, Tim Gane, Andy Ramsay, Joe Watson and Xavi Muñoz, with contributions from Cooper Crain and Rob Frye of Bitchin Bajas, Ben LaMar Gay (composer/jazz multi instrumentalist), Holger Zapf (Cavern of Anti Matter), Marie Merlet (Monade) and Molly Read among others.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: I'm obviously used to seeing Stereolab crop up on the reissue lists, but it's been FIFTEEN YEARS since a new album has hit, leaving 'Instant Holograms On Metal Film' a much needed new entry to their canon. Soaring 50's tropicalia, snappy jazz-adjacent electronics and woozy ghostlike vocals meet snappy disco grooves and rolling basslines. Further evidence, if any were needed that they're still one of the greatest acts to have dabbled in an oscillator.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Mystical Plosives
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Aerial Troubles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Melodie Is A Wound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Immortal Hands
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Vermona F Transistor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Le Coeur Et La Force
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Electrified Teenybop!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Transmuted Matter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Esemplastic Creeping Eruption
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. If You Remember I Forgot How To Dream Pt.1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Flashes From Everywhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Colour Television
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. If You Remember I Forgot How To Dream Pt. 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sault

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Acts Of Faith

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sault's 11th (yes 11th) album 'Acts of Faith' sees the Inflo masterminded project once again showing us that they're the torchbearers in contemporary soul. Originally previewed back in 2023 when Sault performed their first and still only ever gig, 'Acts Of Faith' is an album that is fascinated with belief. Whilst some artists may see this as an opportunity to ruminate upon the subject with an intense and heady degree, Sault takes the subject matter and explores it as a means of celebration. A joyous and life-affirming listen, Sault never ever miss!  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: If you've heard of Sault, then i'm just going to tell you that this is some more of the Sault that do flawless, soaring neo-soul and warmly evocative electronic gospel music, and if you've not then you really need to have a gander. 'Acts Of Faith' is another superb entry from one of the most beloved musical entities around.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 1: I LOOK FOR YOU
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 2: SET YOUR SPIRIT FREE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 3: GOD WILL HELP YOU HEAL
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 4: HEAL
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 5: SOUL CLEAN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 6: THE LESSON IS OVER
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 7: SOMEONE TO LOVE YOU
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 8: SIGNS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ACT 9: PRAY FOR ME

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            These New Puritans

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Crooked Wing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Crooked Wing' is These New Puritans' long-awaited fifth album—their first in six years. Produced by Jack Barnett and Bark Psychosis pioneer Graham Sutton and executive produced by George Barnett, it features an unpredictable lineup of collaborators, from Caroline Polachek to veteran jazz bassist Chris Laurence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The cult duo returns with one of 2025’s boldest and most immersive records, shifting from the brutal to the beautiful. 'Crooked Wing' cements TNP’s status as visionaries—defying genre, rejecting convention, and delivering their most moving, powerful work yet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Languid, gothic soundscapes and theatrical post-industrial noise weave together into pieces that are as athletic as they are impactful. The thoughtful majesty of 'Industrial Love Song (Feat Caroline Polachek)' is a particular highlight for me, trading the synthy momentum for wistful, floating melodicism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Waiting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Bells
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. A Season In Hell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Industrial Love Song (featuring Caroline Polachek)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. I'm Already Here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Wild Fields (I Don’t Want To)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. The Old World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Crooked Wing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Goodnight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Return

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Sparks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              MAD!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Most acts, by their seventh decade in the biz, would have slowed to a crawl, creakily playing their past hits on the heritage circuit and releasing nothing more than the occasional Greatest Hits collection. This is not the case for Sparks, who have triumphantly returned yet again with 'MAD!' (via Transgressive Records), proving their resilience and relevance in a modern world with a fresh record and summer world tour to accompany it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: Bristling with the energy of the club, Sparks' brand new outing continues down their synth-heavy trajectory but this time amps the energy up with a more high-octane set of stomping anthems. Wonderfully wry, presented with humour and a top listen all round.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Do Things My Own Way
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. JanSport Backpack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Hit Me, Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Running Up A Tab At The Hotel For The Fab
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. My Devotion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Don't Dog It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. In Daylight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. I-405
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. A Long Red Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Drowned In A Sea Of Tears
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. A Little Bit Of Light Banter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Lord Have Mercy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Pan Amsterdam

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Confines

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Pan Amsterdam blends experimental hip-hop, jazz, funk, and electronic influences, resulting in shapeshifting, genre-defying tracks. His forthcoming album 'Confines' exemplifies his improvisational style, mixing calculated ideas with spontaneous creativity. He describes his approach as organic, reflecting life’s unpredictable nature, and likens his sound to a fusion of George Clinton and Bootsy Collins.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Confines' explores diverse themes, from racial politics and identity to pop culture references. With a stream-of-consciousness style, Pan Amsterdam raps about everything from cultural observations to food. This mix of humour, social commentary, and introspection is an exploration of the world through a childlike, almost alien perspective and his background in gospel, jazz, hip hop, and even the Grateful Dead shapes this eclectic sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The album title reflects Pan Amsterdam’s refusal to be confined by genre. The music channels influences from hip hop’s golden age, alongside nods to artists like Kool Keith, Busta Rhymes, and MF Doom.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Skittering, syncopated percussion and woozy synth stabs forge their way through churns of bass and reverb, providing the perfect backdrop for those trademark avant hip-hop vocals. Wonderfully weird, endlessly inventive and enjoyable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Day Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Evening Drive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. NYC Town
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. White Ninja
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Venus Fly Trap
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Plus One (ft Iggy Pop)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Meeshy J
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Fashion Week
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Pai Mei
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Sure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Children Of Bear Creek
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Confines 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Sophia Kennedy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Squeeze Me

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sophia Kennedy, the Baltimore-born, Hamburg-based artist, returns with her new album in May. Known for her genre-blending innovation and distinct vocal style, she has collaborated with DJ Koze and earned praise from The Guardian, Iggy Pop, and Resident Advisor.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Following her self-titled debut (2017, Pampa Records), a radiant dance between the glamour of the Great American Songbook, electronic textures, and clubland influences, earning her international acclaim, Kennedy released her second album, 'Monsters' (2021, City Slang), and delved deeper into surrealism and transcendence. Now, on 'Squeeze Me', Kennedy and her long -time musical collaborator and co-writer Mense Reents sketch a more disillusioned commentary on the status quo of the world at large. The complexity of interpersonal relationships, questions of power dynamics, and the quest for self-determination - longstanding themes for Kennedy - run as a cohesive narrative throughout the album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    More minimalist than her previous works, Squeeze Me brims with Kennedy’s gift for catchy melodies with a certain pop appeal and psychedelic hues. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: Beautifully textured stabs of bass and crisp sidechained synth swells, forging a briliantly modern juxtaposition of saturated tape-like production and crisp, meticulous rhythmic programming. Add to that Kennedy's emotive, flowing vocal talents and you have a wonderfully well thought out whole that's as clever as it is fun to listen to.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Nose For A Mountain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Imaginary Friend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Drive The Lorry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Runner
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Rodeo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Feed Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Oakwood 21
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Upstairs Cabaret
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Closing Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Hot Match

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Karman Line Collective

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    To Be

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      To Be is the first album release from Karman Line Collective. Recorded by artist Wolfgang Buttress with Kevin Bales and Tony Foster (Spiritualized, Julian Cope) and Justin Goodyear, To Be is a phenomenal, immersive new soundscape for Buttress’ latest art installation - BEES: A Story of Survival - a multi-sensory experience at World Museum, Liverpool. This exhibition highlights the essential role these ingenious pollinators play within the planet’s ecosystems, as well as the existential threat faced by both bees and humanity alike due to our mistreatment of the planet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Eight years ago, along with thousands of bees, Wolfgang Buttress worked with Bales and Foster as BE to soundtrack his multi award-winning art installation The Hive in Kew Gardens, London. The album ONEcollected that soundscape and was released on Caught by the River’s Rivertones label to much critical acclaim and featured in multiple best album of the year lists, including those of Rough Trade, The Quietus and The Guardian.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The soundscape for BEES: A Story of Survival builds on and evolves the group’s previous work on The Hive and develops it as one of the exhibition’s main narrative devices. Buttress has likened moving through the exhibition to following the contours of a song: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, middle eight, drop, chorus, chorus - much like how the eight installations in the piece meld into and inform each other. The music - along with light, sound, projection and scent - take the visitor on an emotional and sensorial journey into the secret world of bees.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Created over three years of writing and recording, To Be beautifully combines previously unheard recordings of bee communications with deeply enveloping meditative music. These unique bee communication sounds are used as raw musical stems within the composition; some are processed through guitar pedals to augment the music creating an entirely new library of sounds. Throughout the record, the listener will hear bees communicating in various ways, from the vibrations produced by their famous ‘waggle dance,’ to the sounds melittologists refer to as bees’ tooting, quacking and purring.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Over the course of the record, Karman Line Collective take the listener on a reflective journey, making connections to the changing seasons of life and our increasingly fragile relationship with nature. The music flows with it’s own mysterious beauty offering a sense of empathy and connection where the sounds of bee and human are harmoniously integrated..

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      To Be was recorded, mixed and produced by Karman Line Collective (Kev Bales, Wolfgang Buttress, Tony Foster, Justin Goodyear) with help from Camille Christel (words, vocals), Deirdre Bencsik (cello), Robert Howard (guitar), David Harris (trumpet) and Ian Downing (saw).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Crackling, bucolic drones and glistening melodies hidden beneath washes of string and slowly building mountains of reverb and delay. An impeccably built world that's both hugely listenable and evocative, straying just the right amount into fantastical storytelling and earthly, natural majestly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Melittology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Portal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Meadow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Be
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Swarm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Vanishing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Memory
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Symphony 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Morcheeba

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Escape The Chaos

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Trip-hop royalty Morcheeba make a blistering return with a stunning 11th studio album 'Escape The Chaos'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        “This whole record is a process of trying to reconnect with what really matters. whether it’s what in your heart or with the world, putting your feet on grass and feeling the earth beneath you” says Ross Godfrey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        “For me, ‘We Live and Die’ is about my duration in the band and the music world and life in general,” Skye says of the lead single. “The lines become blurred after all this time. In a way, it’s a homage to the thirty years of being in Morcheeba which is 60% of my existence.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Formed in London in 1995 the legendary band have extensively toured the globe, sold over 10 million albums worldwide and left their mark as one of the most influential acts of recent times. Releasing their acclaimed debut album 'Who Can You Trust?' in 1996, the band have gone on to release a string of successful studio albums, including 1998’s platinum selling 'Big Calm', produced an album for Talking Heads’ David Byrne and produced soundtracks for Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        In their 30th year Morcheeba are as relevant as ever and are set to mark the celebration in style.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Thirty years they've been around! I used to be a big fan of the Big Calm era stuff from all those years ago, and it has to be said the same flawless songwriting and perfect melodic ear is perfectly evident here, and plays the perfect partner to Skye Edwards' iconic vocals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Call For Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Elephant Clouds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Peace Of Me (feat. Oscar #Worldpeace)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. We Live And Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Far We Come
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Molten
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Bleeding Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Cooler Heads
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Hold It Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Dead To Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Pareidolia (feat. Amanda Zamolo)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Escape The Chaos

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Robert Forster

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Strawberries

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Picture one of our greatest living singer-songwriters in a kitchen. He is on holidays, he's just had a swim. His wife is out on the beach, and he finds himself faced with a bowl of irresistible strawberries. They're meant to be shared, of course, but their taste is “out of the ordinary”, so he just can't help himself. Minutes later all of the delicious fruit are gone, but there's the germ of a song as the phrase “Someone ate all the strawberries” has just popped into Robert Forster's mind, sounding “so weird, but normal”. Thankfully, he has taken his guitar with him.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As the story goes, his wife Karin Bäumler not only forgave her husband, she actually joined him on a duet of what was to become the title song to his ninth solo album. “What can ordinary be?” is its wistful question, befitting the life's work of Robert Forster who has perfected the art of being outré in a least ostentatious way,from his time in the Go-Betweens to his solo career, now spanning almost three decades, interrupted only by the old band's reformation in 2000 which ended with his songwriting partner Grant McLennan's untimely death in 2006.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As that traumatic blow struck almost two decades ago, let's bring you up to speed: Since then, Robert Forster has maintained a solid career on his own terms through tireless touring, writing (the books Grant & I and The Ten Rules of Rock'n'Roll, a forthcoming novel) and recording. Strawberries follows a recent spate of deluxe reissues of four of his older solo albums as well as the 3rd and final volume of the career-spanning series of G Stands For Go-Betweens boxsets with a much awaited helping of new material. Next to admittedly bigger names such as Bob Dylan or Nick Cave, Robert Forster is the rare case of an artist with a celebrated past whose current work evokes genuine interest among a faithful fan base.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          But back to our scene in the kitchen, to Robert, Karin, a guitar and an empty bowl: As a straight-up personal song, “Strawberries” is a bit of a red herring in the context of this new album that, unusually for Forster, deals almost exclusively in observational character studies or, as the author would have it, “story songs”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “The last album was very personaI,” says Robert, “I didn't write anything for about a year after I'd finished 'She's a Fighter' for the last album. And then I just started to write songs that were something a little bit else. They just came naturally. I didn't really have a theme, it was just sort of lighter, a situation a little bit outside of myself. And I thought that was good. That was a place I could go to.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The first song to point in this new direction was “All of the Time”, starting with the ominous couplet “There's propaganda and there's truth / And there's a feeling that I get when I'm with you”. We never quite learn what sinister plot lurks in the background, but these words combined with the subtle suggestion of a glam boogie groove imply a certain clandestine sexiness not usually associated with the Forster canon. “It was just this sort of language that I normally didn't use,” says the man himself, “It meant I wasn't going into my present situation. It just pushed me out there and made it less confessional. A lot more playful and and a lot more story-orientated as well.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As it turns out, this storyteller who sees the world through the eyes of a film director, has a way with romantic fiction that is as emotionally involving as it is economical and free of all sentimentality, as show- cased on “Breakfast on the Train”, the obvious centrepiece of the album. At almost eight minutes length, it tells the story of a not-so casual romance between the two odd ones out in a bar full of rugby fans who end up spending the night in a hotel, laconically retold with possibly the most perfectly timed use of the word “fuck” ever encountered in a pop song.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Inspired by an actual train journey through Scotland touring the previous album The Candle and the Flame with his musician son Louis, this epic is an indisputable addition to the pantheon of Robert Forster's best ever songs while “Foolish I Know”, a tender tale of unrequited same-sex attraction, has to rank amongst his bravest and most beautiful. Louis Forster, by the way, also makes an impressive appearance on lyrical lead guitar in “Such a Shame”, the moving story of an exhausted young rock star ending on the beautiful line “No one I've met has seen me yet at my best / No”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As on most of the album, the narrator clearly isn't Forster himself, just as he's not the English teacher meeting a French woman in the album's bouncy opener “Tell it Back to Me”. “Your world so different to mine”, Forster sings, “I was corporate, you were folk.” Clearly, this relationship was never going to last, but then again, as Robert observes in the next song, it's “good to cry”. As his slapback echo vocals tuck into the rockabilly vibe of the song, you can hear Forster enjoying the company of his Swedish backing band: Producer Peter Morén (of Peter, Björn and John fame) on guitar, Jonas Thorell on bass and Magnus Olsson on drums, crucially augmented by Lina Langendorf on various woodwind instruments and Anna Åhman on keys.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The idea, writes Forster in his liner notes, was “to arrive in a town with a clutch of songs, to rehearse, record and mix an album with local musicians over a number of weeks, and then leave with the record done.” In this spirit, almost all of Strawberries was rehearsed and arranged to be tracked live, with very few overdubs, at Stockholm's INGRID studios. Forster and Morén, a long-time fan from the times of the Go-Betweens, had met and bonded at an Australian festival they both played in 2016. They had toured together with the core of the Strawberries band (Olsson and Thorell) the year after that, so their musical common ground was well explored years before recordings began.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “It's great working with someone who is truly an auteur,” says Peter Morén, looking back on the intense, focussed four week period working on the album in September/October 2024, “That sense of direction that 'This is what I do, and this is who I am as I perceive it.' He does what he does in the only way he can and changes and evolves in that sphere, but never loses sight of his own personality and strengths.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “I wanted to explode the sound of my records to an extent”, is Robert Forster's somewhat different assessment of the collaboration, “I wanted to just bring in new colours.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Nowhere is this more evident than on the album's monumental closing track “Diamonds”, which starts off as a cross between Lou Reed and Buffalo Springfield, then takes off via Astral Weeks into an (almost) Albert Ayler direction, with Lina Langendorf given free rein on the tenor sax and Forster himself relinquishing his trademark understatement for some unexpected outbursts of falsetto. It might just be a challenge for the more conservative end of Robert Forster's fan community, and that, he says, is “a good thing. I really love it. It's the last song. And you think you know the album, and you think you know Robert Forster. And then this last song comes in that's not like anything I've done, you know, sonically and musically.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          It all sounds much like the musical equivalent of a 67-year-old man standing in front of a bowl of strawberries that taste out of the ordinary who can't help himself but gobble them all up. After all, what can ordinary be?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: Quaint folky vignettes and rocky instrumental breakdowns are about as intense as it gets on the new Robert Forster album, but it's this small-scale homely storytelling and familiar lifelike honesty that makes 'Strawberries' such a relatable endeavour.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A1 Tell It Back To Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A2 Good To Cry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A3 Breakfast On The Train
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A4 Strawberries
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B1 All Of The Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B2 Such A Shame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B3 Foolish I Know
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B4 Diamonds

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          After five years spent largely confined to the United States, Ron Trent is set to return to global touring in 2025. To mark the occasion, he’s partnered with Rush Hour to release "Lift Off", a brand-new album of music recorded at different points over the last decade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Arriving almost 35 years since he wowed the world with his game-changing debut, the "Afterlife EP", "Lift Off" was inspired by Trent’s desire to ‘let the imagination speak for itself’ while exploring the diverse influences that have shaped his unique musical perspective. A departure from his previous album, 2022’s downtempo masterpiece as Warm, "What Do The Stars Say To You", the 10-track set features a mixture of epic instrumentals, inspired collaborations and vocal cuts whose music was written with certain singers in mind.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          While "Lift Off" features music that ripples with Trent’s familiar aural trademarks – rich rhythms, warm chords, impeccable instrumentation, inspired arrangements, and lashings of heady hand percussion – it sees the long-serving producer explore a variety of sounds and tempos, in the process blurring the lines between dance music’s past, present and future. In his words, it’s a vision of what dance music can become, where nods to new wave, alternative and slow jams sit side by side with up-tempo dancefloor workouts rooted in R&B, jazz-funk, house and sunset-dance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Presented on two double vinyl albums, and a single CD release, "Lift Off" contains some of Trent’s most magical and sonically detailed music to date. For proof, check the lilting synth-strings, enveloping chords, samba-soaked percussion, vibrant electronics, elongated organ solos and starry synths sounds of "Woman of Color", the Wally Badarou-inspired "Hot Ice", the alternative Balearic love song "And Fly Away", and the alternative 80s / New Order-influenced "Just Another Love Song", where his own hazy vocals catch the ear.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          From the start of the project, Trent wanted to create music with musical collaborators and hand-picked vocalists in mind. Two regular collaborators make an appearance, with fellow Chicagoan (and Jungle Wonz member) Harry Dennis delivering a delightfully poetic spoken word vocal on the incredible "Her" – a subtly Latin-tinged epic that’s amongst Trent’s most picture-perfect concoctions to date – and fellow Rush Hour artist Lars Bartkuhn adding virtuoso jazz guitar solos to the equally inspired "Street Wave".

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Perhaps more headline-grabbing is the inclusion of legendary disco-boogie vocalist, producer and arranger Leroy Burgess, who accepted Trent’s invitation to write and perform vocals on an instrumental he’d written with him in mind, "Let Me See You Shining". Combining Trent’s usual spacey synths, rolling grooves and ultra-deep musical sensibilities with nods to his guest singer’s synth-heavy boogie and proto-house works of the early to mid 1980s, the track features a typically expressive and soulful lead vocal from the New York great – a genuine musical meeting of minds that’s worth the admission price on its own.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Effortlessly soulful, atmospheric, musically on-point and bursting with vivid aural colours, it offers a neat summary of the sonic delights littered throughout "Lift Off" – a killer collection of sophisticated and forward-thinking music for the head, heart and feet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Seemingly aging like a fine wine; Ron Trent's new project is nothing short of stunning. Expansive, sprawling, carefully plotted dreamscapes; deep soulful dancefloor business, and kaleidoscoping beatdown jams brimming with natural, effortless musicality.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Hot Ice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jazz-funk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Woman Of Color
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sexstrology
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Let Me See You Shining
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Just Another Love Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Juice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          And Fly Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Street Wave
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Her

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Gentle Good

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Elan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Written in an off-grid cottage during a year-long residency in the Cambrian Mountains, The Gentle Good’s newalbum ‘Elan’ is a psychedelic portrait of the Elan Valley in Powys, Wales.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Featuring songs in both Welsh and English, ‘Elan’ explores the landscape, history and politics of this remote area, which was flooded to provide water for Birmingham at the end of the Victorian era.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1) Ten Thousand Acres
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2) Crugyn Ci
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3) Pan O’wn Y Gwanwyn (Dychweliad Bychan)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4) Desert Of Waves
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5) To Be IN Summer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6) Cofiwch Gwm Elan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7) Drygarn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8) Brwcsod
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9) Tachwedd
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10) Stunning Location
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11) Fleet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12) Dark Skies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            13) Elan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Cuneiform Tabs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Age

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Quickly on the heels of their astounding debut, Cuneiform Tabs return with 'Age', an LP that takes a massive leap forward in both melodic sensibilities and inventiveness. Bathed in late night psychedelia, the group's experimental penchant remains, yet this time wrapped around tunes too sweet to be denied. In pulling back a little of the crackle and haze that made their first album so inviting, the Tabs have revealed more of their pop instincts. Happy to let a picked acoustic guitar stand alone like a Vashti Bunyan home recording and sit deep in the looping repetition of a drone sample like a bedroom My Bloody Valentine. The overall effect is of a perfect set of early Animal Collective demos or Syd Barrett attempting a Television Personalities cover at 3am.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The duo of Matt Bleyle and Sterling Mackinnon continue their system of trading songs back and forth across the Atlantic. A furtive correspondence between the Bay Area and the UK building, layering and blurring as they grab whatever instrument is needed until these sonic nuggets are fully formed. While these songs are very much the product of the Tascam and rudimentary software that is integral to the band, this album is truly the embrace of their melodic songwriting talents – not unlike the recent breakthrough of labelmate Cindy Lee.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              With the dream-like strum of 'Ivy', the slow shimmer of 'Orbital Rings' and enchanting madcap swirl of 'Blended Medal', this is hypnagogic pop at its finest. 'Age' is the record Bob Pollard hears in his head every time he heads down to the basement to pick up a guitar. This is the sound of riding in an elevator hearing McCartney singing 'Blackbird' in the distance, only to have it draw closer and closer with each floor as you finally race down the hallway, putting your ear to each door searching for the source. This is Leonard Cohen smoking in the middle of the street outside of a Suicide show. If all of this sounds phenomenal, it is.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Flush In The Cheeks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Crow Speech
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Feiform Tabs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. So Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Orbital Rings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Ivy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Taoist Face Wash
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Blended Medal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Alyosha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Flintstone Meal

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Souleance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Kebab Discotheque

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Souleance's love of oriental and Mediterranean music is well proven.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The duo Soulist and Fulgeance surprise once again with this new EP with Turkish-funk & disco-psychedelic influences. An instrumental EP that blends Sylvester's funk and disco with intoxicating melodies inspired by Barış Manço or Hamid El Shaery. The result is a raw, powerful sound of mixed funk. "Kebab Discotheque" is a tribute to the Oriental music that Souleance has loved since its beginnings, be it Turkish, Moroccan, Armenian or Iranian.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                "Halumi" opens this EP with a guest appearance by the talented Özgür, a promising artist who enhances this first single with his magnificent Anatolian voice for an explosive funk à la Tom Tom Club with heady melodies!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A perfect warm-up for this dance-dinner!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                "Kaymak" pushes the club doors and takes us on an impulsive, uncontrollable dance step! A track as catchy as it is transcendent, but also a road trip in a convertible car on which you see the best moments of your life flash by. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                "Belseance" is a tribute to the beautiful Marseille’s district, where cultures meet and mingle. This track was bound to be bouncy, joyful, groovy and rhythmically exciting. The ingredients? Jazz bass sauce, moog peppers & analog spices.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                "Neşe" is a return to the beat and groove mastered for years by Souleance. A moment of perfect digestion to finally savor the silences between notes, the signature swing of the longstanding duo. A shimmering, laid back track where Fulgeance's basslines remain as seductive as ever, why not add a finely sweetened baklava to the mix?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                And finally, like an invigorating mint tea, "No Dancing" gently slaps you in the face with its smoky disco ambience. With its powerful kicks and fluorescent pink lasers, arp bass and hypnotic Zurna flutes, you’re still listening to Souleance, not at Club Méditerranée, but in their very own discotheque: "Kebab Discotheque"!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                All tracks composed by Souleance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Vocals & Lyrics on “Halumi” by Özgür
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mixed by Fulgeance at Studio Orange
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bass & Synthetizers played by Fulgeance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Artwork by Pierre Brissonnet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mastered by Frank Merrit at The Carvery

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1.Halumi Ft. Özgür 04:12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2.Kaymak 05:27
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3.Belseance 03:49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4.Neşe (Part I) 02:15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5.Neşe (Part II) 04:53
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6.No Dancing 04:54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7.Halumi (Instrumental) 03:54

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ten song showcase LP - 5 vocals, 5 dubs. 5 tracks previously unreleased.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                New showcase LP collecting a couple long requested classics coupled with a trio of rare and previously unreleased heaters from the early '80s Roots Radics era. This new LP now makes a trio of classic albums along with his "What's Wrong With the Youths" and "Chip In" albums for Jah Life and Junjo Lawes. In a beautiful sleeve with the vibes of the time, designed by the great Seen Studio.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: Along with Horace Andy, Wayne Jarrett is one of my favourite roots voices. Haunting, full of feeling and unarguably unique; his ghostly utterances can be heard over some of the hardest roots riddims. For the sufferahs!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A1. One Day In Your Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A2. One Day Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A3. Satta Dread
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A4. Satta Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A5. Greedy Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B1. Greedy Girl Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B2. Judgement Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B4. I Won't Give Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B5. I Won't Give Up Dub

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It has been less than a year since the dreamy 'Words of Love' single, yet Mystic Jungle is back with a new album of free-spirited forays into solar-sonic fantasy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Despite the short time between releases, Dario di Pace’s third LP, 'Sunset Breaker', has been in gestation for a long while and reflects an arduous journey through studio closures and multiple recording locations. It also shows the stylistic variety that results when a set of songs develops over several years. Despite this difficult journey, Mystic Jungle has produced a rich and multi-colored display of sounds and styles, resulting in his most diverse and adventurous musical narrative thus far.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Standout dance tracks like “Secrets” and “Some Lovin'” feature disco beats and body-moving grooves, with searing guitars, sultry saxophones, and layers of loved-up lyrics and call-and-response vocals that add to the magical motion. Meanwhile, “Innervision” and “Twilight” draw inspiration from lovers rock and neon new-wave dub pop, where yearning vocals, ecstatic pixie hooks, and liquid fuzz leads intertwine with fantasy synths and exotic string instruments from faraway lands. On sunbaked, stoner tracks like “The Road” and “Get Me Higher”, Mystic Jungle blends harmonizing passages of 60s psychedelia, radiant summer soul, and low-down zoner jamming.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: Those colourful cats down in Naples have done it again! Injecting our warm beers, shit shorts and sun burnt grids with the distinctly elegant and stylish sounds of Southern Italy. If Mystic Jungle is new to you - be it be known that he penned one of THE Balearic-disco crossover albums (of all time?) with "Deviant Disco", released in 2022. Will it be a return to form? On first listens it certainly could be!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A1. Secrets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A2. Some Lovin’
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A3. Innervision
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A4. Shine For Your Desire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B1. Twilight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B2. In Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B3. The Road
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B4. Get Me Higher
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B5. Sunset Breaker

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Death And Vanilla

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Whistle And I’ll Come To You (Reimagined Score)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Swedish trio Death And Vanilla follow their much-praised re-imagined soundtracks to ‘Vampyr’ (2017) and ‘The Tenant’ (2018) with their interpretation of the soundtrack to cult 1968 TV show ‘Whistle And I’ll Come To You’ via Fire Records.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  At a time when post-ambient electronica and bedevilled folk music are co-habiting, and the public’s interest in Pagan rites and rituals has been sparked by a new generation of fans. The bizarre storyline of Whistle And I’ll Come To You seems even more pertinent… and strangely haunting.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Jonathan Miller-adapted 1968 ghost story was originally part of BBC’s Omnibus series and featured Michael Horden as a fussy professor who discovers an ancient whistle which summons up the spirits. A black and white folkloric tale in the style of The Wicker Man, the original TV programme received rave reviews.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The esoteric live score was recorded at the Hypnos Theatre in Malmö. The 42-minute soundtrack utilises stuttering tape loops on ‘Intro’ before breathing new life into the primitive John Carpenter-like drum machine on ‘Supernatural Breakfast’, while ‘Walk On The Beach 2’ sounds like a hauntological rendition of a Broadcast classic. Indeed, that effect is amplified on ‘Nightmares’, with its swirling wind and other-worldly choral effect, before the feeling of some supernatural presence is suggested on the penultimate cut ‘Evidence Of Spiritualism’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Arrival
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Has It Been Good Here?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Spooky Breakfast
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Walk On The Beach
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Whistle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Supernatural Breakfast
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Walk On The Beach 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Nightmares
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Evidence Of Spiritualism?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. The Apparition

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Borga Revolution! Ghanaian Music In The Digital Age, 1984 - 1999 (Volume 3)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Kalita is excited to present the third volume in their groundbreaking ‘Borga Revolution!’ compilation series, exploring the revolutionary phenomenon of ‘Burger Highlife'. This unique style fused West African melodies with synthesizers, disco, and boogie, a sound that took Ghanaian airwaves by storm in the 1980s and beyond. With previous volumes receiving strong support by tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Antal, Tom Ravenscroft, and Hunee, Volume 3 takes a deeper dive than ever before into the world of Ghanaian digital dance music. This volume features rare, sought-after tracks from artists including Obibini Takyi, Osei Banahene, and Okyerema Asante, as well as Burger Highlife trailblazers George Darko and Lee Dodou. Borga Revolution! Volume 3 offers a curated mix of standout anthems and rediscovered gems, many of which are otherwise nearly impossible to find, making this collection a must-have for fans and collectors alike.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The 1970s and 80s saw Ghanaian musicians begin to incorporate Western sounds like funk and disco into their music, reflecting the changing global musical landscape. However, the country's political instability and economic hardships, marked by military regimes and curfews, forced many artists to leave Ghana in search of better opportunities abroad. In Europe and the U.S., these musicians fused their traditional highlife roots with emerging digital sounds, using cutting-edge technology like the DX7 synthesizer and drum machines to create the genre now known as Burger Highlife. With ‘Borga Revolution!’ Kalita offers a vivid exposition of this musical transformation, using rare interviews, archival photos, and detailed liner notes to bring to life the pioneering spirit of both well-known icons and unsung innovators of Burger Highlife, one of West Africa’s most exciting musical movements.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Obibini Takyi - Aburokyiri Abrabo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Lee Dodou - Mampong Dwa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. King Solomon (Nii Mantse) - Dzen Ye Kokloo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Okyerema Asante - Ateaa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. George Darko - Medo Menuanom (LP Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Osei Banahene - Woanwaremea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Osei-Osarfo Kantaka - Mansa (Special)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. King Solomon (Nii Mantse) - Dzoohee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Classique Vibes - Sankofa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Osei Banahene - Odo Nye Me Sa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Obibini Takyi - Ohia Sei Abrantie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Padmore Oware - Menkowu

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Strobes In Space (Indie Sleaze, Nu Rave & Future Disco 2000-2009)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Picture the scene, The year 2000 has passed and the new millenium is just getting underway - A new scene explodes onto the nation's Indie Dancefloors - some called it Indie Sleaze, Nu Rave, Future Disco or even Electroclash – ‘Strobes in Space’ takes you back to a time when the Indie kids re-discovered the joys of dancing, raving and having fun at Indie clubs. Day-Glo, Light Sticks, Baggy T-Shirts and Hedonism on the Dance Floors - welcome to Strobes in Space!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      When the Indie Dance / Nu Rave scene crashed onto the dancefloors and ignited the youth of the time it seemed like uber cool and incredible new bands were appearing from all corners of the globe almost every day. An explosion of creativity and excitement flooded the clubs and airwaves. From the UK you had bands like Bloc Party, Klaxons, Test Icicles, Playgroup, Simian Mobile Disco. Coming out of NYC you had the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fischerspooner. From France you had Phoenix from Versailles and Black Strobe coming out of Paris. DJ / Producer Tiga from Canada, Digitalism from Hamburg Germany, Cut Copy from Melbourne Australia, and from Belgium Soulwax and Goose, and even spreading to South America with CSS coming out of Sao Paolo, Brazil. It really was a global scene.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Two-Piers Records brings you a snapshot of that scene at the time on their latest compilation ‘Strobes in Space’. Spanning across 3 x LPs, 30 tracks and artists. Hopefully it has captured a slice of the excitement and creativity of the time, and this compilation makes you feel joyful, happy and you just want to get Up, Dance and have Fun!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: Two-Piers, legends of the historical curation, return; paying tribute to that embryonic time, when turntables famously outsold guitars, your boyfriend ditched his guitar for a synthesizer, and the smiley face emblem had a 2nd comnig. Me and my crew shunned nu rave in 2006 (we were hardcore techo heads you see), but looking back through that rose-tinted lens of nostalgia, you can clearly see the inspired and boundary breaking energies taking place. Not only that, first the first time since '92 it really did unite the tribes. Indie kids started necking pills and die hard ravers started going to gigs! A wonderfully fruitful time, spotlighted brilliantly by Two-Piers here.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Vinyl Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A1) New Young Pony Club – Ice Cream
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A2) Bloc Party – Banquet (Phones Disco Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A3) Datarock – Fa-Fa-Fa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A4) LCD Soundsystem – Tribulations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A5) TokTok & Soffy O – Missy Queen’s Gonna Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B1) Justice V Simian – We Are Your Friends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B2) Digitalism – Zdarlight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B3) Soulwax – NY Excuse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B4) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix Radio Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B5) Klaxons – Two Receivers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C1) The Rapture – Sister Saviour (DFA Vocal Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C2) Goose – Black Gloves
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C3) Simian Mobile Disco – Hustler
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C4) Test Icicles – What’s Your Damage (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C5) CSS – Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      C6) We Have Band – Hear It In The Cans
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D1) Fujiya & Miyagi – Knickerbocker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D2) Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D3) Playgroup – Make It Happen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D4) Tiga – You Gonna Want Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D5) Tom Vek – I Ain’t Saying My Goodbyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      D6) Shit Disco – OK

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Bonus Vinyl – Limited Edition Deluxe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      E1) Zongamin – Bongo Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      E2) Black Strobe – Italian Fireflies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      E3) Fischerspooner – Emerge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      E4) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Satan Said Dance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      F1) Phoenix – 1901
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      F2) The Killers – Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Radio Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      F3) Cut Copy – Going Nowhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      F4) !!! – Me And Guiliani Down By The School Yard – A True Story

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2CD Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      CD1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1) New Young Pony Club – Ice Cream
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2) Bloc Party – Banquet (Phones Disco Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3) Datarock – Fa-Fa-Fa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4) LCD Soundsystem – Tribulations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5) TokTok & Soffy O – Missy Queen’s Gonna Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6) Justice V Simian – We Are Your Friends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7) Digitalism – Zdarlight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8) Soulwax – NY Excuse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9) Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix Radio Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10) Klaxons – Two Receivers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11) The Rapture – Sister Saviour (DFA Vocal Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12) Goose – Black Gloves
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13) Simian Mobile Disco – Hustler
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      14) Test Icicles – What’s Your Damage (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15) CSS – Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      CD2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1) We Have Band – Hear It In The Cans
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2) Fujiya & Miyagi – Knickerbocker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3) Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4) Playgroup – Make It Happen (Full Length Version) **
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5) Tiga – You Gonna Want Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6) Tom Vek – I Ain’t Saying My Goodbyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7) Shit Disco – OK
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8) Zongamin – Bongo Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9) Black Strobe – Italian Fireflies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10) Fischerspooner – Emerge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Satan Said Dance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12) Phoenix – 1901
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13) The Killers – Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Radio Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      14) Cut Copy – Going Nowhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15) !!! – Me And Guiliani Down By The School Yard – A True Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ** Exclusive Version To CD Format 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Eccentric Modern Soul

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        WHEN A NIGHT IN SOUNDS LIKE A NIGHT OUT

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A dazzling 11-track journey through the rich, handpicked gems of Numero’s finest. Blending the timeless warmth of classic soul with a fresh, modern twist, 'Eccentric Modern Soul' delivers an expansive soundscape that feels both nostalgic and new

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Mind & Matter - I’m Under Your Spell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Ujima - Maybe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Cosmos Universal Band - Third Eye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. 94 East - If You See Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Crystal’s Image - A Friend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Arabi - Times Three
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Universal Togetherness Band - Dreamality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Third Rail - Just Had To Tell You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Clifton Dyson, Gwen Matthews - I’m Giving Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Wind - Best Thing I Can Do (Vocal)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Wee - Take To The Sky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Billy Nomates

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Metalhorse

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Metalhorse' is Billy Nomates’ third studio release, following 2023’s critically acclaimed 'CACTI' and her self-titled 2020 debut. A concept album revolving around the image of a dilapidated funfair, representing the tumultuousness of life—risk and pleasure, danger and exhilaration.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The 11 new songs here explore blues, folk, and piano-driven arrangements that take Billy Nomates’ stark punk sound in a more pastoral direction. 'Metalhorse' is the first Billy Nomates album to be made in a studio and with a full band, the lineup including bass player Mandy Clarke (KT Tunstall, The Go! Team) and drummer Liam Chapman (Rozi Plain, BMX Bandits), plus a special feature from The Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell on 'Dark Horse Friend'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Metalhorse' is a balancing of extremes. Reckoning with loss, material insecurity, and trying to stay true to yourself against an increasingly unpredictable backdrop of global chaos, the scales could easily have tipped towards darkness. But the more Maries has had to weather, the more precious those smaller moments of happiness have become.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Metalhorse' begs the listener to find their own funfair; there will always be things that feel perilous. At the same time, you have to marvel at the lights while they’re still on. Dancing with those feelings of uncertainty and joy, Metalhorse is awash with both pain and perseverance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Metalhorse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Nothin Worth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Winnin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. The Test
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Override
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Dark Horse Friend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6.Life’s Unfair
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Plans
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Gas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Comedic Timing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Strange Gift
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Moon Explodes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Surprise Chef

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Superb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Australia’s world-renowned cinematic soul outfit Surprise Chef return with new album 'Superb'. A record that represents a change in their creative approach and turns up the heat in their music. Trading in their meticulous writing and recording techniques for a looser and less planned approach with the intentions of bringing more levity to the process, and it comes through in spades. The high caliber musicianship is still front and center, but they push their sound into a more energetic and fun place on this album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Album opener 'Sleep Dreams' is the closest thing to a Surprise Chef tune one would come to expect, but then lead single 'Bully Ball' comes on and you get the picture that they came to kick in the door on this one. The song’s gritty drums thunder through the speakers and get covered with percussion, keys, bass, and guitar chanks that stay in the pocket and bring the funk with them. The band pushes the boundaries of arrangement with tunes like 'Body Slam' that starts off like a sweet soul track then pulls a 180, turning dark and haunting, centering on a sound they created by tucking a timpani into a bathroom two doors down from the mixing board. That same sense of experimentation comes up again on 'Fare Evader' where they pepper another neck breaking rhythm track with synth notes that sound like robot sound effects from a 70s sci-fi film. The fellas turn up the tempo for the dance with tunes like 'Consulate Case' and 'Tag Dag'; the former pulling influence from afro-funk and the latter from jazz-funk.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            They take us deep into the beautiful world of Surprise Chef ballads on 'Websites' and double down on their abilities to make beautiful and ethereal tracks with 'Dreamer’s Disease'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            With their new album 'Superb', their new approach, and plans to tour the world, we are about to see Surprise Chef take the step from the underground’s most beloved to a household name and we are definitely here for it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Sleep Dreams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Bully Ball
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Body Slam
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Consulate Case
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Dangerous
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Websites
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Fare Evader
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Tag Dag
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Plumb Tuckered
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Dreamer’s Disease
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Slippery Dip

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            M(h)aol

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Something Soft

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Something Soft, the second full-length album by Irish post-punk firebrands M(h)aol, is anything but. From the first note of its propulsive opening track to the distorted cries of its last, Something Soft feels antagonistic to the very concept of softness—sonically and thematically—taking an unapologetic approach to intersectional feminism, animal welfare, consumerism, and the struggle to find a place in a world lacking empathy. What M(h)aol offers is catharsis in two forms: the kind you get from being open with others and the kind you get from righteously smashing some shit up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Effectively channeling rage and empathy is an act of resilience, and to make Something Soft, M(h)aol had to become especially resilient. Following their acclaimed debut Attachment Styles, M(h)aol’s lineup changed, settling on the core trio of Constance Keane (drums/vocals, she/her), Jamie Hyland (bass/vocals, she/her), and Sean Nolan (guitar, he/him). That process changed the band’s approach to songwriting and performing, resulting in an unexpected breakthrough where many groups have folded.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Something Soft features a more urgent sound, wound tightly around Hyland and Keane’s rhythm. On songs like “Pursuit” and “Snare,” Keane’s vocals lock in on her drums, as if her words were stirred to life by her playing, issued directly from her body. Set against those respectively anxious and swaggering tracks, her voice occupies the space of an inner monologue—narrating a tense walk home and green room misogyny from a place of droll observance—a universal experience rendered in specific detail.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Like its predecessors Attachment Styles and the Gender Studies EP, Something Soft was recorded by Jamie Hyland. It is the most technically nimble of M(h)aol’s recordings to date, with the band—joined by Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra’s Sarah Deegan on bass—decamping to Dublin’s Ailfionn Studio, where they took advantage of the space and studio equipment to bring more nuance to their sound. The additional sessions and prowess behind the boards were a boon, but for a band used to operating under extreme time constraints, this presented an unexpected challenge: Could M(h)aol keep the sense of immediacy that had marked their music up to that point?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Songs like “DM:AM” quickly dispelled that worry, blooming into life in 20 minutes from a drone Nolan was playing while Hyland set up her recording equipment, racing to capture the song once Keane and Deegan joined in. One of Something Soft’s ghosting anthems, “1800-Call-Me-Back,” began as a joke that the band should write a football chant, but it became far more complex—the delicious balance of chaos and clarity they struck would have been impossible without time. “I Miss My Dog” is less off-the-cuff, but its meditation on grief builds up at a breakneck pace, from feedback to Keane’s drumming and singing to a spectacular conclusion that smothers that grief in bass and guitar—one of M(h)aol’s greatest technical achievements to date.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The polish serves to highlight M(h)aol’s roguish charms, making the intimate feel anthemic, using personal experience to detail the broader systems we live under. For those who’ve come to recognize themselves in M(h)aol’s songs, listening to Something Soft is like jumping into a long-running chat thread, full of fury and humor. For those who haven’t, the door is open—Something Soft’s thrills often turn on a dime towards introspection, as in “Snare” where Keane’s response to the question, “Why not play something soft like piano or violin?” resolves itself to one of her own: “Did you ask him too?” It’s not a lecture or a snide rebuke but something much more deft—an invitation to see the world for what it really is, starting with the listener.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Side A:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pursuit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. I Miss My Dog
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. You Are Temporary, But The Internet Is Forever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. DM:AM
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. E8/N16
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Vin Diesel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Side B:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Clementine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Snare
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. IBS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. 1800-Call-Me-Back
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Coda

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Tune-Yards

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Better Dreaming

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Distraction, depression, and heartbreak reign supreme in 2025. “Making art in this day and age for me is a battle for focus; we’re in an age of interruption,” says Garbus of Tune-Yards’ sixth album 'Better Dreaming'. Proudly waving an anti-fascist, liberation, freak flag, Better Dreaming contains some of Tune-Yards smoothest, funkiest, and most direct pop music to date, and yes, you can dance to it. And when you do dance to it, be prepared to sweat out something that’s been long stuck inside, and pretty deep down.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The songs of 'Better Dreaming' came to Garbus and Brenner with unusual ease. They asked themselves what would happen if they simply let the songs come out, following any trail they wished - first thought, best thought style. There was a strong desire to move, to make music that would enter the ear and immediately loosen up the joints, get the whole body wiggling. After covid-isolation, and time away from touring and live shows, the desire to be moved by music was undeniable. The insane experience of growing an actual human being influenced this as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The rhythms throughout the record carry a certain freshness, with deep pockets full of subtle idiosyncrasies that stem from Tune-Yards’ return to making an album primarily as a duo. All but one of these songs are built around Garbus’ drum looping and rhythm building, as they were on some of the early albums like 'Bird-Brains' and 'W H O K I L L' – no full kit drummer here, and the songs love it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                'Better Dreaming' is ferocious in its invocation of self-love, of collective action, of dance floor liberation, ego-death deliverance, and a future we could all thrive in. When diving into the present darkness of the world, Tune-Yards asks themselves how much literal energy and joy can be conjured and pumped through the music. In its life-affirming art-pop of the apocalypse, 'Better Dreaming' comes true

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Heartbreak
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Swarm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Never Look Back
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Suspended
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Limelight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Get Through
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Better Dreaming
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. How Big Is The Rainbow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. See You There
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Perpetual Motion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Sanctuary

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “We created a holiday inside our heads.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ‘A Deeper Life’, Chaos In The CBD’s debut album over 10 years in the making, is nostalgic for the duo’s nature-filled youth, exploring the magical coastline and lush rainforest of New Zealand. “The title refers to our childhood, which was idyllic,” says Ben. “It was just the sun, the sand, the sea, waterfalls, birds and fish…” The album’s blissful setting is also depicted on the album cover: a painting, by a childhood friend, of the beach where they grew up in Devonport.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ‘A Deeper Life’ whirls that profound love of house music and wide-ranging influences – from Brazilian to R&B, ambient to Italo to deep house and downtempo pop – into a serene, cohesive whole with their signature finesse. The result is an international dance sound that feels unmistakably like Chaos and ebbs and flows from the beach party to the club to the afterhours.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On the album they’ve teamed up with a number of US legends and married their vocals with the UK underground: Josh Milan of house pioneers Blaze brings his soulful vocals to the bossa nova beats of ‘I Wanna Tell Somebody,’ a future jazz-dance anthem. Unheralded Chicago house hero and Larry Heard collaborator Lee Pearson Jr. goes deep over ‘More Time’’s broken beat flex. And on ‘Maintaining My Peace’, the brothers have matched veteran house singer-songwriter Stephanie Cooke with UK grime MC Novelist, on a slinky LDN interpretation of LA hip-hop and g-funk.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Also featured on the album are New Zealand jazz artist Nathan Haines, frequent collaborator Isaac Asaeili and more.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: Rich, expansive, highly musical long player from New Zealand deep house poster boys Chaos In The CBD. With tons of character and a variety of moods and tempos explored throughout, it's one of those albums you know is gonna be on constant rotation throughout the year. Don't wanna miss this one folks...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A1. Down By The Cove
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A2. Mountain Mover Feat. Alex Cosmo Blake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A3. Maintaining My Peace Feat. Novelist & Stephanie Cooke
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A4. Tears Feat. Saucy Lady
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B1. Brain Gymnasium
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B2. I Wanna Tell Somebody Feat. Josh Milan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B3. Ōtaki Feat. Finn Rees
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B4. Love Language Feat. Nathan Haines
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C1. A Deeper Life Feat. Isaac Aesili
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C2. More Time Feat. Lee Pearson Jr. Collective
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C3. Tongariro Crossing Feat. Nathan Haines
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D1. Barefoot On The Tarmac
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D2. Marlboro Sounds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D3. The Eternal Checkout Feat. Cenk Esen

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                100% Wet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                100% Wet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Drum'n'gaze duo 100% WET release their eponymous debut album on Crunchy Frog. Who are they? Rebooting the harddrive of indie rock programming, 100% WET is an experimental duo consisting of the two producers and guitarists Jakob Birch (The Lost Weekend, Lovespeed) and Casper Munns (Himmelrum, Drop, Splitscreen), featuring different vocalists including Eir (SE), Polly (DK) and Hockeysmith (UK).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Blurring the boundaries between rock, electronica, and breakbeat-driven club music, the album is a genre-blend of shoegaze's vast soundscapes, the kinetic energy of drum'n'bass and the hard-hitting detail of hyperpop. "When we met, we both needed to approach music-making from a fresh perspective. We'd been exploring electronic production styles, and this album became our mutual attempt to create drum'n'gaze - a term Casper had coined to describe the missing fusion of shoegaze and drum and bass." say Casper and Jakob.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The album is an exploration of contrasts - melancholy wrapped in euphoria, introspection communicated as explosion. Sonically, the band has worked with negative space in a loud-quiet-loud sense, mirrored thematically and emotionally: The album deals with stark contrasts. On hypergaze single Ether they describe the juxtaposed feelings of being in an altered state of mind - the perception of momentary bliss, while also experiencing everything at a dissociate remove. It is bitter-sweetness experienced in high contrast; golden euphoria tinged with an absolute monochromatic melancholy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Elsewhere, on Over Me, the duo mix a deep longing for life itself with utter heartbreak, both outerpoints sounding like they're soaring above the clouds, anchored by a roar of a chorus and deep subs. Whether on ballads or bangers, so to speak, the album is cohesive but utterly fresh-sounding.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Liam says: Mega, mega, MEGA!! Spaced out shoegaze meets DnB. Sounds like it shouldn't work but it totally does. Channelling the bagginess of Chapterhouse's 'Pearl' but with a more polished sheen at points, then elsewhere there's moments of utter shoegaze pop perfection - massively impressed!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1.Lost Myself
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2.Ether
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3.Looking In From The Outside
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4.Re-Emerging
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5.Over Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6.Two Packs Of Red Apples
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7.Leave It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8.Carat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9.Warmblooded

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  "Koinè" is the new album by Pellegrino & Zodyaco, a record that explores the desire to escape by interpreting it as an act of emancipation, an aimless journey in search of creative freedom. The demonstration that escapism, when it is conscious, can bring us back to the heart of things. Inspired by Éloge de la fuite by Henri Laborit, the album embarks on a journey to discover a 'common language' (Koinè), blending Neapolitan roots with a global and contemporary musical vision. It blends melodic traditions with disco, funk, jazz fusion, and world music, experimenting with vintage instruments, ethnic percussion, and Mediterranean atmospheres. Pellegrino, a pioneer of the new school Neapolitan sound, after 4 years since his last LP “Morphé” (2020) continues the path started with "Zodyaco I" (2018), painting an authentic portrait of modern Naples and celebrating musical contamination as a form of creative euphoria.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: The Naples massive return in flamboyant style as you'd expect! There really is something in the water (or is it the olive oil?!) down in south Italy; and here you have two of the finest currently doing 'IT' in breath-taking form.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Pecché
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mario
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  L’aura
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Palepoli
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Saditè
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  La Malìa Del Sur
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Faccussì
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Sirene

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Loop

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Twelves

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Formed in South London in the mid-1980s by Robert Hampson, Loop blazed a trail with their potent mix of motorik beats and heavy guitar riffs, recording a trio of brilliant albums that set the indie charts alight before imploding in 1990 after the release of album number three, A Gilded Eternity. As critics enthused at the time, Loop were the sound of Suicide jamming with the Stooges aboard a spaceship built by Hawkwind and piloted by CAN. They were post-psychedelic, pre-shoegaze figureheads in a world of anodyne pop jangle and baggy rhythms, and even their closest contemporaries like Spacemen 3 and My Bloody Valentine didn’t plough such a distinctive furrow as theirs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    First time vinyl pressing of these remastered 12”/EP tracks. Originally released in the 80s / 1990, on the Chapter 22 / Head / Situation 2 labels.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16 Dreams 12” (Head) released 1986
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Spinning 7” /12” (Head) released 1987
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Collision 7”/12” (Chapter 22) released 1988
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Black Sun 12” (Chapter 22) released 1988
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arc-Lite 7”/12”/CD5 (Situation 2) released 1989
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Primsma Uber Europa 12” (Beggars) released 1991 (Live Promo only)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Remastered from the original tapes by Kevin Metcalf and then reissued for the first time in 2009 as part of the WORLD IN YOUR EYES 3CD set on Reactor. Now re-mastered for vinyl and re-cut to lacquers by Shawn Joseph /Optimum Mastering and issued as TWELVES. (ref: the 3 x 7” set SEVENS released 2020)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Each side of this 3LP set has one of the 12”s in full, 16 Dreams / Spinning / Collision / Black Sun / Arc-Lite..as well as the promo only LIVE 12” Prisma Uber Europa. The 12” cover of each LP has the relevant sleeve on each side to recreate the original sleeve image, and each 12” side will have labels as close to the original designs as possible.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hear Loop expand their sound from the Stooges / Velvets / garage pyschout of “16 Dreams”, into the “Spinning” era and then develop their motorik fuzzed-out nihilistic pummel through the “Collision” and “Black Sun” EPs to finish this set with the “Arc-Lite” side, possibly Loop at their most visceral. Unable to be pigeon holed like most bands of this time, their live shows also wiped the floor with everyone as evidenced on the “Prisma Uber Europa” 12”. Not reissued on vinyl when first remastered, now its time. PLAY LOUD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side A - 16 Dreams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16 Dreams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Head On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Burning World

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side B - Spinning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Spinning (Parts 1&2)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Brittle Head Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Deep Hit

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side C - Collision
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Collision
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Crawling Heart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Thief Of Fire (Written-By – The Pop Group)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Thief (Motherfucker) (Written-By – The Pop Group)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side D - Black Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Black Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Circle Grave
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Mother Sky (Written-By – Can)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side E - Arc-Lite
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arc-Lite (Sonar)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arc-Lite (Radar)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sunburst
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arc-Lite (Radiated)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side F - Prisma Uber Europa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Afterglow (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Got To Get It Over (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Burning World (Live)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ezra Furman

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Goodbye Small Head

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'Goodbye Small Head' is Furman's tenth album and the follow-up to 'All Of Us Flames' which was released to universal acclaim in August 2022. Written during a maelstrom of overwhelm, the album title is a nuanced homage to the 1999 Sleater-Kinney single 'Get Up'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ezra Furman is a boundary- breaking artist whose fearless creativity and emotional honesty have made her one of the most compelling voices in modern music. Blending punk energy, heartfelt lyricism and genre-defying innovation, Furman's work is both deeply personal and universally resonant. The albums she's released over the past decade demonstrate both her extraordinary talent and artistic evolution. 'Perpetual Motion People' (2015) is a vibrant, genre-hopping explosion of wit and melody, while 'Transangelic Exodus' (2018) pushed boundaries with its dystopian storytelling and atmospheric soundscapes, exploring themes of love, defance, and identity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'Twelve Nudes' (2019) delivered raw, punk-fueled catharsis, channeling anger and resilience into fery anthems, whilst her last album, 'All of Us Flames' (2022), is a cinematic and deeply moving exploration of queer liberation, weaving intimate storytelling with grand, sweeping arrangements. She also found time to record the soundtrack for the Netfix smash hit TV series Sex Education.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ezra Furman's music is a testament to the power of individuality and authenticity, marking her as a truly unique voice in modern music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Grand Mal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Sudden Storm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Jump Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Power Of The Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. You Mustn't Show Weakness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Submission
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Veil Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Slow Burn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. You Hurt Me I Hate You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Strange Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. A World Of Love And Care
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. I Need The Ange

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rufige Kru

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Alpha Omega

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Rufige Kru is the iconic alias of Drum & Bass legend Goldie. One of the most revered names in breakbeat science, Rufige Kru rewired the dancefloor for the time back in 1992 with the hardcore classic 'Darkrider', and the project produced other pivotal hardcore moments like 'Ghosts Of My Life' and 'Terminator' (still considered one of the key moments in the evolution of drum and bass). ‘Alpha Omega’ is the first album released under the moniker since 2009, with the project now featuring longtime collaborator Submotive alongside Goldie.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Matt says: The seminal UK outfit returns in fine form. It's hard to under-talk Goldie's influence on UK culture (not just with his sonics) and for him to be still flexing this hard in 2025 (around 33 years after his first releases) is testament to the longevity and timeless prowess of this UK treasure.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Alpha Omega
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Goldikus (feat. Cleveland Watkiss)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Virgil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Express Your Soul
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Sandcastles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Still The Same (feat. CASISDEAD)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Mercury
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Siamese Ghost
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Secret Handshake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Spirits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. People And Places
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. The Guardianz

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Chiminyo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        NRG 4 (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton & Tilé Gichigi-Liperé)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Chiminyo is a UK-based jazz/electronic artist and the founder of the new label NRG Discs (having previously released on Brownswood, Nightdreamer, Gearbox, and Astigmatic, with artists such as Gary Bartz, Shabaka Hutchings, Maisha, Nubya Garcia, Cykada, Uniri, as well as solo). Chiminyo is a versatile musician who blends the raw energy of live drums and percussion with cutting-edge electronic production.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        His early solo releases showcased his knack for unique approaches to making music, using self-coded software to trigger synths and samples from every cymbal crash and drum hit, eliminating loops and click-tracks. This DIY, tech-driven methodology allowed Chiminyo complete, spontaneous control over his music—all from the stool behind his drum kit—creating a sound that is both daring and innovative.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Chiminyo's latest project, NRG, continues this trend of innovative thinking. Born from discussions around the UK jazz scene, Chiminyo concluded that this musical expression is less about "jazz" and more about the energy (NRG) that fuels it. As a result, NRG has evolved into a semi-regular event where Chiminyo brings together some of London's finest musicians for live, improvised performances that encapsulate the spirit of the scene. These live recordings are then given the magic production treatment by Chiminyo and co-producer Aviv Cohen, transforming them into the masterpieces we get to hear on wax.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The first three NRG LPs were a massive success, generating over 600,000 streams, selling over 800 copies (without distribution support), and receiving airplay on BBC Radio, Jazz FM, NTS, Soho Radio, and many more. High-profile DJs like Gilles Peterson and Jamz Supernova championed the albums, which were also covered in print by The Guardian, Jazzwise, Echoes Magazine, and various online channels. This success led to an invitation to record a live album at Ronnie Scott's, one of London's most iconic jazz venues—an incredible opportunity for any artist.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        NRG 4 brings together some of the best jazz and electronic musicians in London. The album features Marisia Osu (harp), James Akers (tenor saxophone), Daniel Casimir (double bass), Lyle Barton (synthesizers), and Tilé Gichigi-Liperé (live electronics)—an all-star lineup whose members have released multiple records on Concord, Brownswood, Jazz Re:freshed, Astigmatic and more, and have collaborated with artists such as Laura Misch, Nubya Garcia, Blue Lab Beats and Emma-Jean Thackray. Three tracks are graced with features from Jorja Smith's backing vocalist BAELY and Cuban saxophone maestro Regis Molina.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Limited to 400 12" LPs (350 standard, 50 screen-printed limited edition).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Luminescence (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton & Tilé Gichigi-Liperé)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Sonder (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton & Tilé Gichigi-Liperé)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Into The Storm (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton & Tilé Gichigi-Liperé)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Serenity (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton & Tilé Gichigi-Liperé)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Ascendance (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton, Tilé Gichigi-Liperé & Regis Molina)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Chrysalis (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton & Tilé Gichigi-Liperé)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Beam (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton & Tilé Gichigi-Liperé)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Nightfall (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton, Tilé Gichigi-Liperé & BAELY)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Levitate (feat. Marysia Osu, James Akers, Daniel Casimir, Lyle Barton, Tilé Gichigi-Liperé & Regis Molina)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Causa Sui

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        In Flux

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Causa Sui return with the perfect companion to last year's tour de force, ”From The Source”. Whereas that record was a tightly structured piece of work, that condensed many aspects of the band's sound into a concise 45 minute LP, ”In Flux” presents the more loose and impulsive side of Causa Sui. After an introductory suite in classic Causa Sui territory, with deep fuzz riffs and syncopated grooves, things gradually become more outlandish. The following three vinyl sides see the band channeling Hot Rats-style jazz fusion, the oceanic post-rock of late-period Talk Talk, and the impulsive, anarchic experimentalism of Can's ”Tago Mago” into their own beatific brew. On “Spree”, the band abandons guitar entirely, relying on a dual synthesizer on top of drums and bass instead, yet maintains that uniquely Sui-an vibe.The centerpiece in this set, ”Astral Shores”, unfolds over 16 minutes – from gently hypnotic, ritualistic folk, through motoric psychedelia and back again. It's been many years since Causa Sui have sounded this unmoored on a studio record. ”In Flux” is an essential chapter in the band's ever-changing oeuvre. The double 10” format might seem like an odd choice, but splitting the album into four short, distinctive parts makes perfect sense stylistically. Each side has a character all off its own, taking the listener somewhere different.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. The Circus Is Back
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Milkweed's Pod
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Silver In The Gathering Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Moledo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Boogie Lord's Revenge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Spree
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Astral Shores
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (diff Running Order On CD)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Plaeygirl

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            'Plaeygirl' is a powerful sonic exploration of reconciling the exuberance of youth with the stark realities of adulthood, both familiar themes in MØ’s past work. Through this album, MØ channels her journey from playful abandon to introspective self-discovery, embracing both light and darkness with raw honesty. Plæygirl serves as a mantra, a reminder to reclaim joy and spontaneity even amidst life's challenges. It’s an invitation to celebrate imperfections and to let go of past worries, encouraging listeners to find euphoria in their own contradictions. With a backdrop echoing her Nordic origins, MØ presents a deeply personal and authentic reflection on her evolution as an artist. The album weaves together memories, learnings, and emotions into a vibrant collage that highlights the dualities within us all: joy and sorrow, strength and vulnerability. 'Plaeygirl' is about riding the chaos with no regrets, finding beauty in the struggle, and embracing every facet of oneself. It’s a journey of self-love as rebellion and uninhibited freedom, offering both a cathartic release and a jubilant reminder to play again.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Who Said
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. SWEET (ft. Biig Piig)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. Wake Me Up

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Peter Doherty

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Felt Better Alive

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              His first solo album in nine years, 'Felt Better Alive' is Peter Doherty’s most confident solo collection yet - sprinkled with radiant playfulness, almost innocence at times, shot through with Peter Doherty’s signature melodic nous, quirky poetic realism and visual story-telling gifts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Calvados
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Pot Of Gold
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. The Day The Baron Died
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Stade Océan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Out Of Tune Ballon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Felt Better Alive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Ed Belly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Poca Mahoney’s
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Fingee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Prêtre De La Mer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Empty Room

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Water Damage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Instruments

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Water Damage is ten people from one town and one sound from twelve people. For 'Instruments', the plus two are guitarist David Grubbs and saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi, neither of whom blunt the angle or confound the aim. The tempo? Slow and low. Four tracks, averaging twenty minutes each, the pace never above a comfortable walk. The damage creeps, a forest becomes a mountain, and the faithful move forward. The album is named after Fugazi, in a manner, and 'Reel 25' takes after the Shocklee Brothers, in a cry. Stop asking the lord how many drummers this band has and and ask him how much of your mind, babe. Some people say drone and same people say trance and some people say invocation through patterned unity. Some people just say rock and we let them set their clocks back. Lie down and let these holy treads flatten you. Just because Water Damage know what they are doing doesn't mean you have to. Fix your hearts or die!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Reel 28
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Reel 25
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Reel 32
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Reel 27 India (Slight Return)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Grails

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Miracle Music

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Grails – the experimental rock institution who have cultivated a quarter-century career out of crate-plunging cultural curiosities – returns a mere two years after the lauded 'Anches En Maat' with their most personal and emotionally resonant album to date. While the band still revel in rearranging bizarre and obscure sources into something often revelatory and surreal, 'Miracle Music' does so with an ascendant melodic power that feels hallowed.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The 'Miracle Music' lineup includes cofounders Emil Amos (Om, Holy Sons, Lilacs & Champagne) and Alex Hall (Lilacs & Champagne), alongside returning members, AE Paterra (Zombi, Majeure), Jesse Bates, and Ilyas Ahmed. Produced by Amos, Miracle Music reunites the group with recording engineer Jason Powers and his Type Foundry studio in Portland, Oregon, where the earliest Grails records were made more than two decades ago. Replete with acoustic and electric guitars, synths, woodwinds, brass, samples, percussion – and featuring horn arrangements by Kelly Pratt (David Byrne, M. Ward) – Miracle Music unveils an exquisite new horizon for Grails. Creatively tireless as ever, Grails balance the boundary-pushing claustrophobia of early Industrial music with the airy melodies of Classical compositions to craft the heavy mood that is 'Miracle Music'. In a catalog defined by mercurial departures, this is Grails’ most sentimental and high-minded trip yet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Silver Bells
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Primeval Lite I-III
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Earthly Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Homemade Crucifix
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Harmonious Living
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Strange Paradise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Perfect Etercuss
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Visible Darkness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Choir Commencement

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Yuno

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Blest

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Yuno’s full-length debut 'Blest' finds the enigmatic indie-pop visionary transforming the emo-tinged suburban malaise of his 2018 'Moodie' EP into more expansive, widescreen pop drama — suited for big moves and bigger stages. The kaleidoscopic sound he devised as a millennial hermit in his childhood bedroom in Florida has since broadened his horizons, taking him on tour with Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Superorganism, and soundtracking various series for Netflix and HBO. Imbued with elements of dream-pop, rock, trap, and psychedelia, his eclectic songs serve as bids for love and connection, which especially in the fractured era of social media, have resonated with many listeners who find solace in his vulnerability.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Yuno's superpower lies in the way he mines a multitude of genres for their pop potential and surfaces with a tapestry that feels novel and fresh. Take, for instance, 'Blest', the immediate, blissful, and bright title track, which is inspired by Rich Harrison-breakbeats and Neptunes-esque jangle. Or the breezy single, 'True', in which Yuno moderates a lover's quarrel with slick, trap percussion. Amid the breakbeated dream-rock of 'Gimme Ocean', he introduces his guitar solo with a searing emo scream, run through an EarthQuaker Devices pedal. Don't let his sanguine aura or his sherbet pink wardrobe fool you; he can shred as hard as he wants to when he wants to.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    All songs on 'Blest' were written and performed by Yuno, co-produced by Yuno and Frank Corr (Morning Silk), who also contributed keyboards, drums, and guitar throughout the record, with additional production and instrumentation by Patrick Wimberly (Chairlift) at The CRC in Brooklyn, and Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso) at Betty’s in Durham, NC. 'Blest' was mixed by Steve Vealey and mastered by Joe La Porta.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Blest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. We Belong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Massive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Unfair
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Perfect Pear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Fall Apart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Worst Of Times
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. True
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Gimme Ocean
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Blitz!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Miso Extra

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Earcandy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      “This record is a document of music-making as catharsis,” Miso Extra says. “I’m working through my experiences of love, alienation and empowerment while inviting others in to share the process. By the end, I’ve become a whole new Miso.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Across 12 tracks, co-produced by Miso Extra herself and featuring collaborations from DJ Boring, Metronomy, AK Paul, Samo, Tyson and MICHELLE, Miso takes us on a journey of lovelorn vulnerability, growth and self-empowerment, traversing the K-Pop and UK Garage references of the earworming 'POP' to the lovesick lyricism and bass-heavy R&B beats of 'Good Kisses', synth-house swing of 'Certified', and reverb-laden ‘80s melodics of 'Ghostly'. “I wanted tomake a self-aware pop record, full of the songs I’d want to listen to when I was growing up,” she says. “It’s about growing through your mistakes and not being afraid to get things wrong. There are some deep messages in there but it’s surrounded by sweet earcandy – that spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine go down."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Miso also sees her music as forming part of the Misoverse – an anime-inspired space of creative exploration. “I always have to do a lot of code-switching indifferent situations and so I wanted to reflect that in my music,” she says. “The Misoverse is where I can explore all the different musical sides of myself, with all my influences present and me as the hero of the story. It’s umami for the ears – deliciousness to listen to."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      On 'Earcandy', Miso expands her sonic universe to produce the fullest expression of her restlessly roving sound. Decamping to Damon Albarn’s Studio 13 in London over summer 2024, Miso began working with Grammy-winning engineer Riccardo Damian, who has previously collaborated with Mark Ronson, Ezra Collective, Jorja Smith and Sampha. “He was my Mr Miyagi, I learned so much from Riccardo during the whole process,” Miso says. “Plus working in Studio 13 was so inspiring since I’m such a Gorillaz fan and you can channel their energy there, as well as feel the influence of other people who have used the space from Erykah Badu to Paul McCartney.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Taking inspiration from anime favourites like Spirited Away and Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, Miso started writing music to reflect her own coming of age from naivety to self-knowledge. “I’d only ever made loops before but on 'Earcandy' I’m producing beats on tracks like 'Love Train' and 'Don’t Care',” she says.“The story of the record reflects my own journey to becoming more confident and empowered.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Love Train
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. POP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Good Kisses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Certified
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Playboi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Done.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Moshi Moshi (interlude)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Slow Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Ghostly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Don’t Care
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Candy Crushin’
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Earcandy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Röyksopp

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      True Electric

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'True Electric' gathers together 19 studio versions of the music from Röyksopp’s True Electric tour in 2023, featuring previously unreleased track 'The “R”' as well as newly-reworked versions of originals and remixes taken from their acclaimed catalogue. These include the celebrated Robyn collaboration 'Do It Again' featuring Robyn (from the 2014 Röyksopp & Robyn EP 'Do It Again') and 'Running To The Sea' featuring Susanne Sundfør (from the 2014 Röyksopp album 'The Inevitable End'), as well as several tracks from their critically acclaimed 'Profound Mysteries' creative universe that resulted in three albums released throughout 2022.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Speaking about the album, Svein and Torbjørn explain: “'True Electric' consists of recordings and renditions, meant to capture the essence of our live shows bearing the same name. The idea was to put an emphasis on the clubbier aspects of our music, as well as returning to our roots within the realms of electronic music.”


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. The Ladder [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Impossible (ft. Alison Goldfrapp) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. This Time, This Place (ft. Beki Mari) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. The Girl And The Robot (ft. Robyn) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Here She Comes Again (ft. Jamie Irrepressible) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Monument (ft. Robyn) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Oh, Lover (ft. Susanne Sundfør) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Unity (ft. Karen Harding) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. You Don't Have A Clue (ft. Anneli Drecker) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. The "R" [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Breathe (ft. Astrid S) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Running To The Sea (ft. Susanne Sundfør) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. What Else Is There? (ft. Fever Ray)  [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Never Ever (ft. Susanne Sundfør) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Sordid Affair (ft. Man Without Country) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. I Had This Thing (ft. Jamie Irrepressible) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. Feel It (ft. Maurissa Rose) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Do It Again (ft. Robyn) [True Electric]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Like An Old Dog (ft. Pixx) [True Electric]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Throbbing Gristle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This release, previously featured in the TG Berlin box set and available on vinyl for the first time, captures Throbbing Gristle's unforgettable New Year’s Eve performance, part of a specially curated series of live events held at the Volksbühne, Berlin in 2005 and 2006. The setlist included a preview of five tracks from their first album in 27 years, Part Two: The Endless Not—which was released several years later. Fans were also treated to TG’s first encore in 25/26 years, which included iconic songs like ‘Convincing People’, ‘Slug Bait’, and ‘Hamburger Lady—what an encore! Additionally, the performance featured the released track ‘Splitting Sky’ and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Formed in 1975, Throbbing Gristle - Chris Carter, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (1950-2020) and Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson (1955-2010), fully delivered on punk’s failed promise to explore extreme culture as a way of sabotaging systems of control. Their impact on music, culture and the arts has been immeasurable, and still felt today across music, film, theatre, and fine art.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Trumpet Herald (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Convincing People (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Splitting Sky (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Slug Bait (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Rabbit Snare (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Almost A Kiss (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Greasy Poo (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. The Endless Not (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Vow Of Silence (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. PA Destroyer (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Hamburger Lady (Live At The Volksbühne, Berlin, New Year's Eve, 2005)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Pelican

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Flickering Resonance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pelican has always been a band that’s not just from Chicago, but distinctly of Chicago. Formed in 2000 by guitarists Trevor Shelley de Brauw and Laurent Schroeder-Lebec alongside brothers Bryan and Larry Herweg on bass and drums respectively, Pelican’s foundation was built upon the rule-free, genre-agnostic scene synonymous with the Fireside Bowl. “The ‘90s in Chicago was a free-for-all. Everyone was just coming from a place of pure creativity,” says Shelley de Brauw. With Schroeder-Lebec returning to the band following Dallas Thomas’ exit in 2022, this reunified version of Pelican allowed the band to tap back into those influences and build something distinctly new with 'Flickering Resonance'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            While longtime Pelican fans will find an updated version of the band’s ethos—one that’s been constantly evolving since their very first EP—their new partnership with Run For Cover Records emphasizes something that’s always been implicit to the Pelican formula. These songs take as much inspiration from titanic ‘90s post-hardcore, space-rock, and emo as they do traditional metal, showing that though Godflesh and Goatsnake records occupied the shelves of Pelican’s songwriters, so too did Quicksand, Christie Front Drive, and Hum. “A lot of people didn’t hear it,” says Schroeder-Lebec. “I was like, well, I guess the metal world is where we fit. But now, I’m willing to acknowledge all the suits we’re wearing.” On Flickering Resonance, Pelican allowed themselves to look at their music less as a means of hard-earned catharsis and more as an appreciation for the glimmers of joy that occur even in the bleakest landscapes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Gulch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Evergreen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Indelible
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Specific Resonance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Cascading Crescent
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Pining For Ever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Flickering Stillness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Wantering Mind

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Lorne Balfe And Julian Nott

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl - OST

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is a stop-motion animated film released in 2024. It was directed by Nick Park, creator of Wallace & Gromit, and met with critical acclaim. The movie received two BAFTA awards and was also nominated for an Academy Award. The film music was composed by Emmy nominated composer Lorne Balfe (known for his work on The Dark Knight, Iron Man, The Lego Batman Movie and Sherlock Holmes) and by BAFTA-nominated composer Julian Nott (known for his previous work on Wallace & Gromit).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              SIDE A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Good Morning Gromit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Guilty As Charged
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Neat And Tidy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Gnome Improvements
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Norbot Recharge Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Reprogrammed For Revenge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. March Of The Norbots
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. The Gnome Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Up To Gnome Good

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              SIDE B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. The Wallaby Street Mob
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. The Zoo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Rush To The Museum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. The Blue Diamond
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Leaf It To Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. The Fast And The Furnished
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. A Crazed Inventor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Nun In A Tunnel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Plant Pot Pummeling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Wallace & Gromit Theme
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. 8 Bit Cheese

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              AAA Gripper

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              We Invented Work For The Common Good

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                AAA Gripper have seemingly dropped out of nowhere but the story goes back. The idea was conjured in the summer of 2023 at the first Wrong Speed Records festival in the town of Glastonbury. Inspired by a weekend of radical sounds and fine company a decision was made - 'let's try something'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Recording hours and hours of bass and drums in deep Somerset then editing it down to a sharp and concise 32 minutes. From Can's Lost Tapes boxset to No Means No's 0+2=1 via a thousand song structure decisions. Wild guitar strafe and precise hyper vocal added. Nine tight tunes magically appeared. The band raised a glass of tea. The band was born. The 'something' had worked.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                We Invented Work For The Common Good is a deep dive into the world of the working person. How we end up. Why we climb onto the conveyer belt and never get off. The front cover is one of many of the same photo taken every day, on the walk to work, the dark mills looming - KEEP THEM BUSY, THEY WON'T RISE UP.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Music is therapy. They think it's part of the bread and circuses. We know it's armour. We know it's weaponry.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Lower Demons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Wasp Women
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. The Arcade Claw King
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. The Saucer Makers Boy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Let Me See Your Hands
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Angel Washes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Young Paunchy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Hair Vampire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. The Gold Sells Out

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Sherlocks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Everything Must Make Sense!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Over recent years The Sherlocks have become one of the most exciting live bands in the UK. Selling out tours across UK & Europe, the band have also achieved chart success with x3 Top #20 albums. Yorkshire brothers Kiaran & Brandon Crook joined up with band members Alex Proctor & Trent Jackson. With an incredibly passionate, loyal fan base, their fans have followed the band's journey from pubs/clubs to selling out venues out all across the world, as well being asked to tour in arenas/stadiums with the likes ofLiam Gallagher, Kings Of Leon, Kaiser Chief, The Libertines and many more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Everything Must Make Sense
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Man On The Loose
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  How Are You Feeling?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Death Of Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Bones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  28
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Bedlam Town
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tough Times Don't Last
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Better Alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Here Comes The Rain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  After four albums of extra-dimensional exploration, Hooveriii delivered “Manhunter” with the controls set directly for the heart of the cosmic groove. Expertly synthesizing their influences and still managing to bring even more to the party, from spiky post punk to beautiful new age excursions and mammoth 70’s arena rock hooks, “Manhunter” delivers not only their best album yet but an instant classic for all the psych-heads, stoners and dimensionauts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Melody
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Manhunter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Tin Lips
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Tarantula Eye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Question
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. In The Rain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Westside Pavillion Of Dreams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Me King
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Heaven At The Gates
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Awful Planet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Stage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Cul-De-Sac
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. The Fly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  14. Night Walks In Montreaux
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15. Isolation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Break The Glass, Burn The Cage (The Sound Of Indie Punk Rock)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Pavilion are proud to announce a new compilation 'Break the Glass, Burn the Cage (The Sound of Indie Punk Rock)'. This compilation celebrates all that is Indie and Punk. Immerse yourself in cramped and sweaty grassroots venues with these bands’ electrifying guitar riffs, infectious basslines and voices that require being heard. Featuring standout tracks from Lime Garden, SPRINTS, Lambrini Girls, Sunflower Bean, English Teacher, Dream Wife, Panic Shack, Big Joanie and more, this compilation channels the raw energy and rebellious spirit that can only be acquired through caring deeply about the injustices and hatred seen in this world. It is a sonic journey through the angst, passion, fun and freedom found through “sticking it to the Man”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Break the Glass, Burn the Cage (The Sound of Indie Punk Rock)' is announced coinciding with International Women’s Day 2025 as a charity record, and all the tracks on this record have kindly been donated by the bands for free. This means that for every sale, the entirety of the profits will go to our two chosen charities that do their utmost to help women and girls from all backgrounds and ages, covering everything from domestic abuse, bereavement, homelessness and war - Brighton Women's Centre & War Child.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. SPRINTS – Up And Comer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. English Teacher – R&B (Theo Verney Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Lime Garden – Clockwork
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. ĠENN – Reprise (That Girl)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Panic Shack – I Don’t Really Like It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Big Joanie – Taut
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Kynsy – Stereo Games
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Du Blonde - TV Star
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Prima Queen – Ugly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Housewife – I Lied
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Pom Pom Squad – Street Fighter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Jopy – Graveyard Romance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Lambrini Girls – Company Culture
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. Dream Wife – Room 341
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Queen Cult – Be Better
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. Sunflower Bean – Teach Me To Be Bad

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5,4,3,2,1... The Countdown Records Story 1985-88

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Acid Jazz presents a very special compilation marking the 40th Anniversary of group label Countdown Records. Countdown was originally founded by Eddie Piller, Maxine Conroy and Terry Rawlings and distributed by legendary UK independent Stiff Records. The label reflected the burgeoning Mod revival scene of the mid ‘80s, alongside a vibrant New Wave sound, as Ed began to find his way as a label executive. It was a fresh and unique take on Mod that attempted to place the scene’s main acts in the mainstream world. It almost worked too. But despite the brilliance of the signings, it was tripped up by the demise of Stiff, and the corporate domination of the mid-80s charts. Lessons would be learned and applied with Piller’s next label Acid Jazz, where Countdown refugees such as James Taylor, and Mother Earth’s Chris White went on to greater success. This collection tells the label’s story through the best of its musical output, from mainstays such as Makin’ Time, The Prisoners and The Kick, alongside classics and and rarities from their groundbreaking compilations, from which this release in turn takes inspiration.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Pump It Up – Makin’ Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Whenever I’m Gone – The Prisoners
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. I Can’t Let Go – The Kick
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Falling For You – Long Tall Shorty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. I Don’t Need No Doctor – Fast Eddie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Guilty – The All Jacks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. The More That I Teach You – The Prisoners
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Here’s My Number Baby – Makin’ Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Dreams Come True – The Combine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Don’t Ever Change – The Ambassadors
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Stuck On The Edge Of A Blade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Ivor The Engine Driver – The Daggermen

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Pop Psychédélique: Les Extras (An Extra Slice Of French Psychedelic Pop)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Don’t call it a sequel, it isn’t a Part Deux, ‘Pop Psychédélque: Les Extras’ is simply another slice of fine French Psychedelic Pop from Two-Piers, the label that brought you the groundbreaking compilation ‘Pop Psychédélique’ in 2021. L’es Extras’ is the perfect partner for the original and brings you a whole new bunch of quite simply brilliant pieces of French Pop and Psychedelic flavours from the 1960’s right up into the 2000s.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Pressed on Limited Edition Coloured vinyl for Record Store Day 2025 this is an essential purchase for anyone with a love of French Psychedelic Pop, or anyone who just loves great music for that matter.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ‘Pop Psychédélique: Les Extras’ features some of the finest French pop divas of the 1960’s & 1970’s such as Jacqueline Taieb, Brigitte Bardot, Christe Laume, Brigitte Fontaine, alongside artists like Marie Laforêt’s wonderful take on the Rolling Stones ‘Paint it Black’, and the brilliant ‘Les Cactus’ by Jacques Dutronc. Fast forward to the 2010’s and we have tracks from the French Psych scene and lush curiousities from Brigitte, Étienne Daho, The Limiñanas and Ricky Hollywood added into the mix. This Record Store Day Vinyl release includes hard to find tracks on vinyl for the first time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        French Pychedelic Pop, a scene so joyous you can’t help but fall in love…. Les Extras anyone?


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jacquelne Taieb – Le Coeur Au Bout Des Doigts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jacques Dutronc – Les Cactus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dani – La Machine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Brigitte Bardot & Serge Gainsbourg – Bonnie And Clyde
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Christie Laume – Rouge, Rouge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Brigitte Fontaine – Je Suis Inadaptée
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Leonie – Lennon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Marie Laforêt – Marie Douceur – Marie Colère
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Stella – Le Silence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Brigitte Bardot – Je Danse Donc Je Suis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Fabienne Delsol – Vilaines Filles Mauvais Garcons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Bernard Chabert – Helga Selzer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Brigitte – Battez-Vous
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Étienne Daho – Voodoo Voodoo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Limiñanas – Je Ne Suis Pas Très Drogue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ricky Hollywood – Je T’èclate La Gueule

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The percussive new age soundtracks of '80s and early '90s Japanese TV, anime and manga built alternative worlds and pushed boundaries in the process.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        When Japanese composer Yas-Kaz left Tokyo for Bali in the mid 1970s he had little idea of how influential his trip would become. In studying the storied art of gamelan, the jazz and avant-garde percussionist opened a door to a world of sound and rhythm left behind by the West. The music he and his contemporaries made would become known as new age. It also happened to soundtrack the golden era of anime.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Awash with money and with the prerogative to entertain the burgeoning middle classes, anime in the 1980s experienced a creative and commercial boom. Not constricted by generic expectations, production houses such as the now renowned Studio Ghibli were able to experiment liberally with both form and content. And with it came the space for composers to be similarly adventurous.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'TV, Anime & Manga New Age Soundtracks 1984-1993' charts this moment across eight tracks spanning classics of the genre and previously unknown rarities. The collection brings together music that found kinship in electronic and acoustic instrumentation, often combining spiritual or environmental themes with percussive, varied and highly refined syncopations of non-Western musical traditions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Among them is ‘Kaneda’ by Geinoh Yamashirogumi, the shape-shifting group of self-styled musicians, anthropologists and computer scientists that masterminded the soundtrack to game-changing dystopian anime Akira - and with whom the sound, tuning and breakneck speed of Balinese gamelan has become indelibly entwined.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Reflecting the desires of the era to reach beyond Japan’s borders, many of the soundtracks featured were commissioned for narratives set in distant lands or alternative worlds. There’s violinist and composer Norihiro Tsuru’s ‘Farsighted Person’, written for The Heroic Legend of Arslān, set in ancient Persia; Yas-Kaz’s own ‘Hei (Theme of Shikioni)’, for period sci-fi manga & anime series Peacock King - Spirit Warrior; and two tracks - 'Tassili N’Ajjer' and 'Fiesta Del Fuego' - from Yoichiro Yoshikawa’s soundtrack to NHK’s proto-Planet Earth series The Miracle Planet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Such was the variety and quality of the music produced, if there is a guiding principle to the tracks collected here it is a sense of escapism and adventure that came with the confluence of modern electronic instruments and a fascination with percussive traditions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Elsewhere, pioneering children’s TV composer Chumei Watanabe’s ‘Fushigi Song’ (performed by a vocal group Korogi ‘72) offers a trippy and infectious groove with sonic similarities to Don Cherry’s ‘Brown Rice’; little-known jazz-funk library group Columbia Orchestra showcase the best of Tokyo’s session musicians on ‘Hearts Beats - Theme for Andrew Glasgow’; before lawyer-turned-composer Kan Ogasawara closes out the compilation with a dramatic flourish on ‘Gishin Anki’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Following on from Time Capsule’s acclaimed deep-dive into the world of manga & anime synth-pop in 2022, this vinyl only collection is set to broaden and diversify an understanding of how soundtracks shaped the sound of new age music in Japan for a generation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Matt says: Market leaders at this stuff, Time Capsule's latest episode transports us into the world of Anime & Manga; but if these Japanese animation houses are unknown to you fear not! As the sounds contained within are a mystical adventure in their own right.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A1. Korogi ‘73 - Fushigi Song 4:31
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From Space Sheriff Shaider TV Soundtrack (1984)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed & Arranged By Chumei Watanabe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed By Nippon Columbia Co.,Ltd.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A2. Yas-Kaz - Hei (Theme Of Shikioni) 4:40
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From Kujakuoh Kikansai Ongakuhen Anime Soundtrack (1988)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed And Arranged By Yas-Kaz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed By Pony Canyon Inc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A3. Yoichiro Yoshikawa - Tassili N'Ajjer 3:29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From A Dream Of Aku-Aku, A Soundtrack For TV Series The Miracle Planet (1988)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed And Arranged By Yoichiro Yoshikawa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (P) 1987 EMI Music Japan Inc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Published By: NHK Publishing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed Courtesy Of Universal Music Operations Limited

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A4. Norihiro Tsuru - Farsighted Person 4:58
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From The Heroic Legend Of Arslān III, IV Original Manga Soundtrack (1993)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed And Arranged By Norihiro Tsuru
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed By Sony Music Entertainment UK

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B1. Geinoh Yamashirogumi - Theme Of Kaneda 3:11
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From Symphonic Suite Akira (1988)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed And Produced By Shoji Yamashiro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed By Victor Entertainment, Inc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B2. Yoichiro Yoshikawa - Fiesta Del Fuego 3:29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From Cyprus, A Soundtrack For TV Series The Miracle Planet (1988)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed And Arranged By Yoichiro Yoshikawa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (P) 1988 EMI Music Japan Inc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Published By: NHK Publishing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed Courtesy Of Universal Music Operations Limited

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B3. Columbia Orchestra - Heart Beats - Theme For Andrew Glesgow- 3:28
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From Palm - The Sea Shouldn’t Exist Manga Soundtrack (1986)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed And Arranged By Norimasa Yamanaka
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed By Nippon Columbia Co.,Ltd.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B4. Kan Ogasawara - Gishin Anki 5:05
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taken From Yume No Ishibumi Manga Soundtrack (1985)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Composed & Arranged By Kan Ogasawara
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Licensed By Pony Canyon Inc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Isle of Jura teams up with French digger Switch Groove on the next compilation titled ‘Archipelago – Cosmic Fusion Gems from France (1978-1988)’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Switch Groove explains the concept “When I seriously began to search for and collect records, I was mostly interested in sounds from african-american, afro-latin and UK contemporary scenes. Sounds from distant territories, faraway from my native Massif Central, a highland region in the middle of France. The grass is always greener, I guess however, as I was digging in fleamarkets in the early sunday morning light, as well as spending regular sessions in second hands record shops, I began to discover hidden treasures, underground gems and side-projects of an unknown French musical repertoire.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        French music is often reduced to its most famous musical forms, characters and signatures : French songwriting and voices, 60s yéyé, prog rock concept albums and soundtrack explorations, 80’s indie rock scene or more recently electronic French touch. All these sounds have a common feature : a geographical link, forged on mainland French territory, following the contour of the so-called Hexagone, the border that shapes the grounds for an homogeneous cultural expression. But beyond this showcase lie more complex, hybrid and global French productions. From French Caribbean Antilles to Parisian suburbs - especially during the ‘Sono Mondiale’ era -, in French areas outside urban cultural centers, musicians have created fusion and cosmic musical expressions. As the mid-seventies meant a greater freedom to make and record music, a wider use of electronic instruments like synthesizers and drum machines helped to deliver some magical projects you could only find lost in the middle of cheap records during a sunny record digging session. I selected these tracks, in an attempt to shape an ARCHIPELAGO that highlights significative contributions of African diasporas and ultramarine territories into French musical borders. It is the map of a land I have gradually drawn, thanks to deep listening of amazing cosmic and fusion tunes. I hope you enjoy the journey.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Matt says: Another winning set from Isle Of Jura who shine a light on would-be cosmic classics from rich pastures of France.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Patrick Bernard - Interieurs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Cecilia Angeles - Climax Our First Day Of Love Its A Love Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Carla Music Orchestra - A Meet With Bond
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Remy Boussengui - Coco Lando
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Archipelago Soundscapes Part 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Francisco Et Son Orchestre - Cafe Rete
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Francis Bebey - Crocodile Crocodile Crocodile
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Michel Lorentz - Zantye An Metro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Egide Sadey - High Emotion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Princess Erika - Trop De Bla Bla Dub Version
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Archipelago Soundscapes Part 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Euphoric ‘gospel electronica’ underpins cautionary tales from rock and roll’s breakfast buffetas Das Koolies return with news of a second album with new single, Som Bom Magnífico.Extending the melodious and mad, three-decade story of Super Furry Animals projects by adding another bombastic and beautiful chapter, Huw Bunford, Cian Ciarán, Daf Ieuan and Guto Pryce reconvene to announce the release of their second album, Pando, and four, new UK Tour dates for May 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Meeting every pummelling motorway mile with the beat of their psychedelic-soul-house blend since the release of their debut, Official UK Breakers Album Chart No.1 album, DK.01, in late 2023, Das Koolies’ energetic return to festival fields, intimate venues and service station shopping has affected no distraction from their mission. Committing to more time on the road at the same time as sharing rich spoils from the studio, Das Koolies include Newport, Nottingham, London and Manchester in their live plans.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Determinedly exploring capability and ambition, the band’s continued, restorative return to wired and wonderful, man-and-machine-based music, following years of psych-folk-rockexperimentation as four Furries, hasn’t meant forgetting the past. Som Bom Magnífico’s tour story, combining wistful and weary memory, rests the band’s case.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Taking on the lead lyrical and vocal role, Daf Ieuan, says: “Hindsight and rose-tintedglasses. It’s a song about a time when it was normal to order a veggie breakfast in hotels as a concession to a healthier life style, then following up by requesting to see the ‘Breakfast Wine Menu’. As Lou Reed sang: "Wine in the morning!". Everyone should live like that for a while. Could be for a couple of days or a couple of decades. We’ve never laughed so much, but never again.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Where the band’s debut crash-landed as a 17-track double album, a varied and visceral eruption of passions revived from forgotten studio hard-drives and both ad hoc and uninhibited late-night writing sessions, Som Bom Magnífico’s smooth, soul-pop landing suggests serene waters lie ahead, cooling concurrent, superheated electronic terrain. Condensing a flood of head stretching ideas into a single album, Pando’s release is confirmed for Fri 9 May 2025 on Strangetown Records in association with Amplify Music.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Umschalter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Som Bom Magnifico
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Spider City
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Music Machine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Responde A La Pregunta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Enjoy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Yeah!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Someone Call An Ambulance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Ogov Gôkh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. White Star
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Thoughtless
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Undegun

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Bonus Dinked Edition 7”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A. Pando
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B. La Tôle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Arcade Fire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Pink Elephant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Composed of 10 new tracks and clocking in at 42 minutes, 'Pink Elephant' is produced by Win Butler, Régine Chassagne and Daniel Lanois.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          When experienced in its entirety, 'Pink Elephant' invites the listener on a sonic odyssey – a quest for life – that exists within the perception of the individual, a meditation on both darkness and light, the beauty within. The layers of this condensed epic unfold to reveal new dimensions with each successive listen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Open Your Heart Or Die Trying
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Pink Elephant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Year Of The Snake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Circle Of Trust
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Alien Nation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Beyond Salvation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Ride Or Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. I Love Her Shadow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. She Cries Diamond Rain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Stuck In My Head

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tall Tales

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Following Pritchard’s remixes for Radiohead, the pair struck upon an otherworldly synergy with the track ‘Beautiful People’, a centrepiece of Mark’s 2016 solo album 'Under The Sun'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Now presenting a whole album, 'Tall Tales' showcases Pritchard’s mastery of archaic machines that he had previously unearthed in synthesizer archives, guiding the music down unexpected and experimental paths. Yorke meanwhile delivers a haunting and expansive vocal performance, evoking Radiohead’s OK Computer-era digital FX while delving into dark, introspective storytelling.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Also central to the project, visual collaborator Jonathan Zawada’s artistry enhances the project with his hyperreal environments that blur the line between the organic and digital, juxtaposing uneasy landscapes of natural beauty with the brutal aesthetics of a dystopian world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Through Yorke’s lyrics, Pritchard’s atemporal compositions and Zawada’s visuals, 'Tall Tales' questions where our insatiable appetite for ‘progress’ might have landed us. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. A Fake In A Faker’s World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Ice Shelf
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Bugging Out Again
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Back In The Game
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. The White Cliffs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. The Spirit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Gangsters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. This Conversation Is Missing Your Voice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Tall Tales
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Happy Days
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. The Men Who Dance In Stag’s Heads
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. Wandering Genie

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Fall

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Singles Live - Vol. One 1978-81

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Following the successful ‘Slates’ Live! and ‘Grotesque’ Live! releases, Popstock Records is proud to present Singles Live Vol One 1978–81 released via Bella Union. The album documents a particularly important era in The Fall’s history - it begins with the group that recorded the debut album Live At The Witch Trials and ends with the line-up that made Hex Enduction Hour. In between we get a number of interesting variations on these two seminal iterations. As listeners will hear, what is beyond doubt is that whoever took to the stage on any given night The Fall were always witheringly powerful. The versions of the songs presented here are a wonderful addition the group’s canon.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              "I have seen the madness in my area" sings Mr Smith on track 4 of this record. That sentence sums up a lot of The Fall's appeal to me: they looked at The North, the place I was brought up in, and saw something alien and inexplicable in it. Not "Gritty Northern Realism" but rather "Snotty Northern Sur-realism". A welcome alternative to all that Hovis advert, brass-band, "Ee by gum", "Last of the Summer Wine" schtick you normally got whenever The North was mentioned in the mass media. According to The Fall, people in the North of England also had dreams and sometimes saw "monsters glowing on the roof" of the local disco and had to deal with City Hobgoblins on a daily basis. This was great news. Incredibly great news for an 18 year-old who had just left school and was on Social Security and was trying to make it in a band, which was quite difficult because the rest of said band had been forced to go to university by their parents. Plus, The North was (pardon my French) completely fucked by 1981: its industries closed down by the Thatcher government, leaving the entire population in a severe state of shock. We needed something new to believe in. A band to believe in.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              "We are Northern White Crap that talks back" was another inspirational quote at this time (you can hear it in the introduction to "Psykick Dance Hall" on this record). Because that was what I was aspiring to do: I was attempting to find a voice. Attempting to find out who I could be. Tough job.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Fall had always been helpful to me in matters like these: Pulp's first mention in the local press, whilst I was still at school, had likened us to "a cross between ABBA and The Fall" (best review ever!), which was encouraging, to say the least. Then I went with my sister to see them at The Leadmill which led to an argument between us as to whether what we had just witnessed was "really" music or not. Never mind that question -- what about all the rest? Are you allowed to be that repetitive? Do all the instruments have to be in tune? Is the singer allowed to hang his jacket on the mic stand if he gets too hot? Yes, no, yes. The Fall provided possibilities. Showed possible escape routes. They said, "Anyone can do this -- as long as you do it your own way". That meant you had to make your own rules and find your own subjects to write songs about amongst the rubble of the newly post-industrial North. Get to work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              This record brings back those days of inspiration and exhilaration. I know these songs by heart even though I never bought a Fall single back then; John Peel always played The Fall releases so I taped them off the radio. Sorry. I'm sure you're familiar with them too. But to hear them live, in the heat of the moment, really brings back the spirit of The Fall. The giddiness and excitement. The palpable hunger to find something new to sing about and believe in. This music never gets old.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Fall are still the perfect antidote to the "madness in our area". Long may they reign.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Jarvis Cocker, December 2024


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. It’s The New Thing (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Various Times (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Rowche Rumble (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. In My Area (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Fiery Jack (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. 2nd Dark Age (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Psykick Dancehall #2(Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. How I Wrote Elastic Man (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. City Hobgoblins (Live)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mclusky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The World Is Still Here And So Are We

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The heralded UK band’s first album since 2004 and first for Ipecac Recordings.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Having formed in the late nineteen-nineties and releasing music, if that is what it was, from 2000-2004, Mclusky disbanded soon afterwards in a slow motion farce of not enough drama to get much press off the back of it. Now they are back fuelled initially by spite but now enjoying it too much not to do it, and playing to crowds in the UK, US and Australia which are much bigger - and more hygienically inclined - than in their so-called heyday. So far nobody has complained, except for one guy in Leeds (and he was clearly on ketamine). They are writing a new album - entitled 'the world is still here and so are we' due for release in may 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Unpopular Parts Of A Pig
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Cops And Coppers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Way Of The Exploding Dickhead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. The Battle Of Los Angelsey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. People Person
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. The Competent Horse Thief
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Kafka-esque Novelist Franz Kafka
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. The Digger You Deep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Autofocus On The Prime Directive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Not All Steeplejacks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Chekhov's Guns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Juan-party System
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. Hate The Polis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The seminal double bass and turntable duo of Peter Parker and Sneaky return after 20 years (!!) with an album of brand new, evergreen material. Now a trio (with AV wizard Chris Drury added to the project), "G" finds them in an adventurous yet fun loving spirit.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Intricate, bowed double pass passages collide with quirky spoken word snippets (taken from the most unlikeliest of sources) and a kind of pastoral, elegant opening salvo of tracks. There's subtle elements of turntable trickery during this languid and lavish introduction - the odd scratched kick drum or transformered vocal sample) - but to be honest much of the album delves into almost modern classical utterances as much as their experimental chop-n-splice instrumental hip-hop that made them famous touring with the likes of DJ Shadow, Rae & Christian, Mr. Scruff and even Muse!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Queue track five, "Check Yo Spice Rack", which is quintessentially a Fingathing joint through and through, Tumbling breakbeats, a quirky vocal sample scratched to oblivion and Sneaky's double bass plucked with a forceful determination while a whole manner of strange sfx circle of the recesses of the mix. From a brief sojourn into Reichian realms - the bass repetition of "Force Manure" (with some hilarious allotment-centric snips), before concluding the album with four more typically Fingathing joints - big chunky drums, double bass that'll rattle yer ribcage and intriguing sound design elements.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It's a bold yet totally sincere and unforced return to the studio from the group who I have to say, after 20 years, have lost none of their appeal and influence. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: A momentous return for these local legends who after 20 years seem to have lost none of their expertise and innovation. Always ones to test the boundaries of what's expected, I can't really think of another act that even compares to Fingathing's unique approach. Thankfully "G" carries on where they left off, keeping their legacy intact and another sterling addition to their discography.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1.Hello Me Old Friends 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2.Yeah You're Right 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3.Dogs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4.Welcome Wizard
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5.Check Yo' Spice Rack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6.Force Manure 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7.The Garden 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8.What We Need 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9.Time Diced Up Something Pitiful 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10.Turn Around Norman

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ayane Shino

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                River The Timbre Of Guitar #2: Rei Harakami

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A collection of ten hypnotic guitar renditions that dive deeply into the traditional compositional musicality that underpins Harakami’s hallucinatory beatscapes before reconsidering them under a fresh, innovative and engaging new light. ‘River: The Timbre of Guitar #2 Rei Harakami’ signals a new level of awareness and understanding of both Rei Harakami’s significance and Ayane Shino’s undeniable talent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                In 1996 Tokyo-based label Sublime Records received a cassette demo from Rei Harakami, a 26-year-old Japanese experimental filmmaker, and musician. Within one year Harakami’s debut LP ‘Unrest’ was released. As the 21st century dawned, Harakami was becoming a critically acclaimed figure, and there was a feeling in Japan that Harakami would be an inevitable successor to such luminaries as Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Sadly Harakami passed away at age 40 in 2011, leaving behind a musical legacy that seemed to deserve more recognition. A fitting tribute now comes from the incredibly gifted classical guitarist Ayane Shino. Continuing her album series ‘The Timbre of Guitar’ (the inaugural release of which was ‘Sakura’ - a cover album of Susumu Yokota's seminal album, released through the Swiss label, Mental Groove Records in 2021), she now presents ‘River: The Timbre of Guitar #2 Rei Harakami’. Ayane has reworked some of Harakami’s standout tracks into an album of tranquil yet complex compositions helping to build a new level of awareness and understanding of Rei Harakami’s significance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                In the years that followed Harakami’s untimely passing, Sublime Records continued to sign and support new artists emerging from Japan’s rich and fertile electronic music scene. This eventually led to a meeting with gifted classical guitarist Ayane Shino in 2020. Although a new name within electronica, Shino’s classical resume is impeccable. She has performed with a range of prestigious orchestras in concert halls and at music festivals across Japan, Europe, and South America while playing classical guitar for numerous animations, movies and television commercials and holding various educational roles. These days, she also hosts the Tokyo Harmonics radio show, which is syndicated through Hyogo prefecture’s Ashiya Radio and TJS Radio in Los Angeles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                During her time completing a masters at Tokyo’s University of the Arts, Shino became fascinated by Brian Eno, Aphex Twin, Oneohtrix Point Never, Steve Reich, and, closer to home, Harakami and Susumu Yokota. ”I found myself in an environment where I was surrounded by fellow students who produced computer music, live electronics, and installations,” she explains. Following her meeting with Sublime, Hideoki Amano, the producer and owner of Musicmine, the parent company of the label, asked Shino if she would be open to transcribing and recording an album of covers of the late, great composer, producer and DJ Susumu Yokota’s music in incorporate into then-upcoming events commemorating the 5th anniversary of his death and reissues of his past works. “Yokota made music with the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer and samplers, not in a way like a conventional instrumentalist, so I was aware it might be more of a challenge for her,” Amano explains. Fittingly, Shino was up for his suggestion, leading to ‘Sakura: The Timbre Of Guitars #1 Susumu Yokota’. Song by song, Sakura highlighted Shino’s free-flowing playing and prowess at translating electronic music into classical guitar shapes.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                After considering Harakami’s background as an instrumentalist, Amano felt revisiting his catalogue should be the next step for Shino. Well-versed in how often classical versions of electronic music tend to fall flat, he asked her to examine Harakami’s songs closely, select the musical phrases suitable for guitar and create arrangements that would sound interesting to music listeners with a deep engagement with ambient, techno and electronica. In Harakami’s discography, Shino discovered “a sense of simplicity, warmth, moisture and a floating sensation.” “I was gripped by his songs, which had an array of sounds that gave me a sense of mystery but also coexisted with a sense of familiarity,” she explained. Moving beyond his official releases, Shino began digging through YouTube to find live recordings, radio appearances and obscure outtakes. Within her mind’s eye, imagining playing his songs on guitar was effortless. On her approach to the album, Ayane explains: “For this album, I succeeded in spinning some exquisite, silk thread like delicate tones, interwoven with human warmth, gentleness and simplicity. And I was also able to rework Rei Harakami's distinctive sound with a floating feel to it and transform it into a very classical guitar sound. I hope many people will be able to receive this group of sounds that I created in this album that I played with all my heart.” A record of limitless innate beauty, ‘River ???? : The Timbre of Guitar #2 Rei Harakami’ is a delicate and thoughtful body of work. A true masterclass in deconstruction and subsequent rebuilding, and an eternal lesson in how the art that we leave behind can outlive us all.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: Beautiful set of shimmering guitar utterances and pastoral ambience. Imagine John Fahey and Bert Jansch decamping to a serene Japanese garden to pluck away the afternoon amongst the flora and you're halfway to uncovering the beauty within this piece.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. The Backstroke
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. First Period
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Long Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Joy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Umi1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Red Curb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Last Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Sayounara
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Umi2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. River

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Nils Frahm

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Night

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Frahm recorded the pieces on 'Night' on the Klavins M450 piano, installed in his studio at the renowned Funkhaus complex in Berlin. It was built by German-Latvian piano maker David Klavins for the first Piano Day in 2015, a celebration that will mark its 10th anniversary this March. At 4.5 meters tall and weighing over a tonne, the model was the largest upright piano in the world at the time. The record is a reminder that, although he has since become celebrated for the complex, intricate arrangements of his most commercially successful multi-instrumental albums, Frahm first made his name with similarly meditative piano compositions on albums like 2009’s 'The Bells', 2011’s 'Felt' and 2012’s 'Screws'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Night' opens at a glacial pace with ‘Wesen’, giving notice of the more subdued nature at the heart of this thirty-minute collection. It conjures images of Frahm, lit only by a candle, huddled over his instrument, playing for the sheer companionship that it offers, while also prompting acknowledgement of his ability to tease affecting melodies from minimal means. ‘Monuments Again’ is more immediately accessible, its subtly jazzy nature disguising a gentle melancholy, with Frahm’s fingers dancing over the keyboard with increasing intensity until, at its conclusion, he reiterates its central theme.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Despite its name, ‘Kanten’ – ‘Angles’ in English – is a more traditional affair, a timeless piece of solo chamber music devoted early on to the piano’s lower keys, lending it not so much a sense of menace as a measure of foreboding, at least until Frahm’s right hand takes up the quietly uplifting, melodic initiative. The eight-minute long ‘Listening Over’ also feels initially like a more formal affair, distinguished as much by quiet trills as enviable patience, Frahm often hesitating carefully over its notes, ultimately evoking a sense of relief without the normally attendant tension.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  If, however, there’s been a certain air of darkness up to this point, 'Night' closes with ‘Canton’, its delicious airiness perhaps the record’s equivalent of a glimpse of dawn, its tender melody like the day’s first sunbeams peeking over the horizon. It’s a perfect conclusion to a typically beguiling collection that, as always, points to a musical character that is immediately, distinctively Frahm’s.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  It also highlights why the German pianist has continued throughout his career to return loyally to the piano as his first love. After all, it’s notable that, even during his recent, expansive live performances, which find him leaping between multiple keyboards, synths, and even a glass harmonica, Frahm has always made space for such works. That’s something documented on the likes of 2013’s 'Spaces', where ‘Said And Done’ is a highlight, and last year’s 'Paris', during which ‘You Name It’ – itself taken from 'Day' – ‘Some’ and ‘Re’ provide a crucial interlude between his more demanding, grandiose works.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Night', like 'Day', confirms that Frahm remains a prolific master of affecting simplicity, tenderness and romance, and as capable as ever of unforgettable, epigrammatic succinctness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. WESEN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. MONUMENTS AGAIN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. KANTEN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. LISTENING OVER
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. CANTON

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Teal’s debut LP, "Original Watercolour", is an album that feels like a canvas come to life. A sonic blend of street-soul, digi-dub, and downtempo. "Original Watercolour" explores the complexities of love, oneness, and intuition — themes that resonate deeply within the context of the history women have shared with what was once known as the 'ladies’ medium.'

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The bi-coastal family trio - Ashleigh and Melissa Ball, better known as the Ball Sisters, alongside producer N1_SOUND - bring a fresh, genre-defying sound to the table with their latest 6-track album. Running just under 30 minutes, this immersive collection weaves together skipping beats, addictive bass lines, three-dimensional flute textures & emotional vocal melodies. This musical portrait is as ethereal as it is powerful, inviting the listener to get lost in its depths while celebrating the beauty of self-expression.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The opening track, “Original Watercolour,” takes you on a psychedelic trip-hop journey. From the first reverberous snare hit, you’re whisked away to a sonic wetland — lush and euphoric. The soft yet poignant soundscapes set the tone for the album, inviting us into a world where the boundaries between earth and music, reality and imagination, automatically seem to blur.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  “Locked In 2 Love” offers a boogie-fueled bassline that pushes Teal into dance-floor territory with soaring flutes and rhythmic intricacies that make it impossible not to move - it’s a track that exemplifies the magic of Teal’s ability to craft both intimate and expansive musical landscapes. And then, there’s the hypnotic flow of “One In The Same,” where stacked vocal harmonies and mantra-esque lyrics transport you to a place that could easily be mistaken for a lost Soulquarians demo. It’s gentle yet unrelenting in its depth.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The second side of the album opens with “Sleep on It,” a track that immediately grabs attention with its dancehall-driven rhythm. Ashleigh Ball's vocals set the stage for a song that’s both introspective and emotionally charged, yet unmistakably rooted in groove. The phased-out bassline creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere. Pulling the listener into a mood of contemplation - matching the restless, sleepless night that Ball describes. As the song progresses, this groove builds in intensity, culminating in an explosive ending that mirrors the emotional release of a long-held frustration.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  "Original Watercolour" is more than just an album - it’s a meditation on the interconnectedness of life and art. “Frog Kingdom,” the longest and only instrumental track creates a contemplative space that builds upon the themes introduced earlier. It feels like a sequel to their earlier work, "Frog Legacy" from their debut "Bluish Green" 12”, expanding on the familiar sound with even more complex layers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Yet the real emotional power of the record lies in its closing track, “Can’t Shake the Feeling”. Simple in structure but profound in impact, this song captures a deep yearning and understanding - that everything, from the ecosystems we inhabit to the relationships we nurture and the art we create, is fundamentally interconnected. As the track crescendos in a falsetto peak, it becomes clear that the album is a reflection of both the world around us and the personal journey each member of the band has embarked upon to get to this point.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Just as the medium of watercolor has been traditionally linked to women artists, Teal carries this legacy into the modern musical landscape, blending the richness of history with a unique forward-thinking perspective. The album feels like both a celebration of the past and a bold declaration of a path forward - one that welcomes anyone ready to join in and shape the future of the art form.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The beauty of Teal’s work is that it feels familiar, while simultaneously offering something new and refreshing. "Original Watercolour" doesn’t just push musical boundaries; it redefines them, offering a lush and textured soundtrack for those willing to listen closely.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In a world that often feels over-saturated, "Original Watercolour" stands as a reminder of the power of simplicity, intuition, and connection. Teal’s debut album invites you to experience something both deeply personal and universally understood. The landscapes they create are vivid, yet soft, grounding yet expansive. With each track, Teal’s music reflects the interconnectedness of all things - a truly unique piece of work in the world of experimental soul and dub adjacent electronic music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rising and falling. We all live in the same pond. Peace to all.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Exotic and mysterious downbeat / soul album that's got an elegant patina and syrupy core. Add to that some keen pop fundamentals and dazzling vocals and you've a bit under-the-radar winner that upon first listens, seems like its got loads of legs. Might end up one of the surprise hits of 2025... (you heard it here first ;) )

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Original Watercolour
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Locked In 2 Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. One In The Same
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Sleep On It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Frog Kingdom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Can't Shake The Feeling 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Sly & The Family Stone

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  SLY LIVES! (Aka The Burden Of Black Genius) - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)' examines the life and legacy of Sly & The Family Stone, the groundbreaking band led by the charismatic and enigmatic Sly Stone. The film captures the band’s rise, reign and subsequent fadeout while shedding light on the unseen burden that comes with success for Black artists in America.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The film features notable guests such as Andre 3000, D’Angelo, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Nile Rogers, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, George Clinton, Ruth Copeland, and Clive Davis. Additional guests include those closet to Sly, including his band members Jerry Martini, Greg Errico, Larry Graham and Cynthia Robinson and family Sylvette Phunne Robinson, Novena Carmel, and Sylvester Stewart Jr., who offer the best insights into Sly’s life by sharing anecdotes from their time together.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Sing A Simple Song (Alternate Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Underdog
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Trip To Your Heart (Alternate Mix) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Dance To The Music (J.PERIOD Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. M'Lady 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Everyday People (J.PERIOD Edit) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Hot Fun In The Summertime (Interlude) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Hot Fun In The Summertime 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Everybody Is A Star (Mono Single Master) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Thank You For Talkin' To Me, Africa (Alternate Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Family Affair (Questlove Rhythm King Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Runnin' Away (Alternate Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. Just Like A Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Babies Makin' Babies (Interlude)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. If You Want Me To Stay (Alternate Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    17. Thankful N' Thoughtful (Alternate Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    18. Family Affair (Wedding Band Interlude)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    19. Can't Strain My Brain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    20. Stand! (Take 1)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    21. Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nature TV

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Unlucky For Some

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Door-to-door heartbreak salesmen Nature TV peddle an elixir of jangle indie & melancholic yacht rock. Having amassed a catalogue of seven EPs – each a branch of perennial, lovelorn dream-pop folded through classy sonic interior decoration & swift compositional turns – debut album 'Unlucky for Some' continues the theme of heartbreak in high-fidelity. Like few others, Nature TV are able to missile misery at your dopamine receptors via compositions so rich they should have trust funds. It’s an almost impossible tightrope walk that only the most agile of songwriters can sustain. The result is their cleanest and leanest collection to date. An LP that hums with meticulous attention to detail yet feels as woozy as taking downers in a hot tub. An indie-jangle party band at the height of their powers, except the party has ended and they’ve been tasked with soundtracking the cleanup. Someone passed out in a patio chair barley clutching a smartphone, cigarette butts mushed into empty cans, a door pulled off its hinges, the pool now semi-septic, rain streaming down the windows, and everyone has work in the morning.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      FFO Real Estate, Ducktails, Glitter Party.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. One Step Forward
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Aways It Goes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Helpless And Hoping
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Simple Dog
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. My Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Lesley
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Travelling Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Lay Low
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Meds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Staying For The Weekend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Late Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Secret Sisters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13. Subtle Treasures

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Le Volume Courbe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Planet Ping Pong

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Le Volume Courbe's 'Planet Ping Pong' is a collection of sonic trips echoing fulgurances of beat poetry. Charlotte is a magician who can weave the directness of punk with the emotions of pop while staying in the realms of edgy experimentation. The bunny comes out of the hat smoking a cigarette and looks you in the eye. The single 'Two-Love' is a collaboration with Noel Gallagher on piano and bass and Lascelles Gordon on percussions. The album also includes a cover by Daniel Johnston 'Mind Contorted' which is presented as a duet with Terry Hall, and also features his son Theodore Hall and Noel Gallagher on guitars.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The originality of Charlotte’s music shares something with outsider art: naïve, primitive, primal, rather than following the standard rules. The new album self-produced and mixed by Brendan Lynch and Charlotte is no exception, It’s a unique and compelling listen laced with surprises, subversions and a refreshing candour which sets it apart from anything else.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Charlotte was born and raised in France and moved to London in 1995. She was first signed to Alan McGee Poptones label in 2001, and her debut 'I Killed My Best Friend' was released in 2005 on Honest Jon’s Records. She has also worked with a number of other bands and musicians including Kevin Shields, Mazzy Star, Noel Gallagher, The Television Personalities, Simon Raymonde, Grimm Grimm, Piano Magic etc.. Her song 'Born to Lie' was featured in Series 2 of Killing Eve and Spotify selected her song 'Rusty' for their “best of the decade 2010-2020” alternative compilation. Cillian Murphy selected the same song for his BBC6 compilation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Fourteen Years
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. The Moon Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Two-Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Rêve Réveiller
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Bag Of Excuses [v3]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. To Know Him Is To Love Him
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Duffy And Mr Seagull [v3]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Mri Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Mind Contorted [v4]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Alone On The Rope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Planet Ping Pong 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Rilo Kiley

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        That’s How We Choose To Remember It

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          For the superfan and the curious alike, this is the band-curated entry point and career-spanning collection of songs from the one and only Rilo Kiley, who defined a generation and continues to influence indie rock to this day.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          After a long absence, Rilo Kiley—Jenny Lewis, Blake Sennett, Jason Boesel, and Pierre “Duke” de Reeder— are back, with arms outstretched.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Over the years, a reunion “felt like a possibility, but it was never the right time,” explains Boesel. “Planning this reunion over these past months has been like reconnecting with family. We haven’t missed a beat,” says De Reeder. “The stakes are only to have a good time, to revel in this nostalgia. Getting to revisit and celebrate the music from that special time of our lives while experiencing it alongside a lot of people that lived it with us back when, and new folks alike.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The new Rilo Kiley album, 'That’s How We Choose to Remember It', is a collection of career-spanning songs that hit its audience with a breath of honest, fresh air. “For some people, Rilo Kiley evokes a formative, emotional time in life, when you were maybe grasping for your place in the universe. We were too,” says Sennett.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          We’ve all got a memory or two with the songs of Rilo Kiley. Maybe belting 'I Never' or requesting 'The Frug' at a show in the early 2000s. This latest collection celebrates the music so deeply held by many of us. Here’s to Rilo Kiley, their reunion, and the next generation of listeners to love this band as much as we do. Long live Rilo Kiley. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Silver Lining
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Portions For Foxes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. With Arms Outstretched
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Dreamworld
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. A Better Son/Daughter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. The Execution Of All Things
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. The Moneymaker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. I Never
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Wires And Waves
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. The Frug
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Does He Love You? 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deradoorian

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ready For Heaven

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Deradoorian (Decisive Pink, Dirty Projectors) returns with ‘Ready for Heaven’, dealing with heaven and earth, damnation and salvation. It is a classic forty-minute set of inquisitive pop songs, blessed with a lightness of touch and a sharp focus that can’t help but charm the listener. It conjures up some last, faint afterglow of the old belief that an electronic, programmed beat can smash itself - and you - into another, more egalitarian consciousness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            It is a remarkable fact that this bold and open-hearted record is made by one person, working alone. Repeatedly reworking the songs until they were complete is a painstaking process that generated an energy and space where Angel Deradoorian could indulge in the arcana of her artform. “I love the production more than the songwriting. [...] In fact, I don’t even feel like a songwriter at times, I feel like someone who is just inspired by so much music. And I want to try it all out! Like Lizzy Mercier Descloux, Mingus, or ESG and Silver Apples, or making weird krautrock and industrial music. I love dub, and Sly and Robbie. I love the productions of those records and the collective energies released by their creators in the studio. It’s just a weird thing to do it by yourself!”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Engaging with past musical glories helps deal with a major theme of this album; the awful nature of the world around us. Deradoorian: “This album is partly about watching humanity erode. It’s about mental struggle, and it’s avowedly anti-capitalist. I mean; would we have all these identity labels we have to live by, if we didn’t live in a capitalist world?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A lot of the lyrical content deals with the struggle to be a human being in the modern world, and the determination to keep on keeping on. But even when a darker mood informs a track, as with ‘Hell Island’ or ‘Digital Gravestone’, there are arrangements that seduce and hooks that ensnare.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            We are dealing with a world where there is too much chaos to cut through and where human connections are burnt dry. ‘Ready for Heaven’ is an avowedly human response to the world we find ourselves in, and Deradoorian uses every ounce of her reserves of wit and knowledge to create a source of comfort and solace for the listener.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Storm In My Brain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Any Other World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. No No Yes Yes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Digital Gravestone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Set Me Free
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Golden Teachers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Purgatory Of Consciousness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Reigning Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Hell Island

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            John Mckay

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sixes And Sevens

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'The Scream', Siouxsie & the Banshees' first album, was released late enough in the punk era to bear some claim as the first post-punk album, with only a minor traces of 'punk' (one lingering early song, "Carcass" comes to mind) and enough hints of what had come even earlier, Andy MacKay-like saxophone flourishes - to feel utterly new. Not to mention the effort producer Steve Lillywhite must have put into the album, his first fully-credited major label production.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Siouxsie was clearly the focus of the band, with her unique vocal style and lyrics, but the real star, we've always known, was John McKay, who wrote most of the album's music (as well as singles like 'Hong Kong Garden'), creating a wholly new guitar sound - harsh and brittle, yet melodically intoxicating . . . best articulated by a somewhat confounded Steve Albini years later ". . . only now people are trying to copy it, and even now nobody understands how that guitar player got all that pointless noise to stick together as songs". McKay's influence lives on; many of the most influential guitarists of the past four decades credit him as a major influence - Geordie from Killing Joke, Jim Reid of The Jesus And Mary Chain, U2's The Edge, Thurston Moore, Johnny Marr and even the two guitarists - The Cure's Robert Smith and Magazine's John McGeoch - who followed him in The Banshees.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              McKay's burgeoning status as the anti-guitar hero was halted when he and Banshees drummer Kenny Morris - at odds with Siouxsie and bassist Steve Severin - fled the band just after the start of a tour supporting the group's second album, 'Join Hands'. It was a weekly music paper scandal, later the subject of a BBC documentary, and Siouxsie's vitriol working its way into the lyrics of a later Banshees b-side, 'Drop Dead / Celebration'. Aside from a solitary single on Marc Riley's In Tape label nearly a decade later, no music was heard from McKay again. So it comes as a major surprise to learn of a pile of excellent recordings made in the years just after he left The Banshees, unheard by all but a very few, some of which feature drummer Kenny Morris, plus Mick Allen from Rema Rema, Matthew Seligman of the Soft Boys and longer-term collaborator Graham Dowdall and John's wife Linda . . . the latter three of whom now all sadly deceased.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Sixes And Sevens' is an historic lost album. Brazenly genius and bearing fair claim as the lost treasure of the post-punk era, the album collects eleven studio tracks, carefully mastered from original tapes. It's a masterpiece which best speaks for itself. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Zen And The Art Of Nonsense
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Fun On The Floor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. The Blessed West
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Taken For Granted
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Looks Can Kill
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Sacred Measure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Flare
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Black Five
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Vigilante
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Zor Gabor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Tightrope

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Xmal Deutschland

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Gift (The 4AD Years)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The extraordinary impact Xmal Deutschland had upon British audiences in the early Eighties is difficult to convey forty years on. A spell was cast by the staccato rhythms, unmediated channels and mysterious (to us) language of their music, and by the vision and strength of the women involved. Their breakthrough support slot with Cocteau Twins and first two albums with 4AD dazzled and dug deep, speaking in tones and temperatures unlike any band before or since. “And at some point, it seemed to people we just...disappeared”, muses singer Anja Huwe. “So this myth of Xmal Deutschland just got bigger and bigger over the years…”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                'Gift', which will fascinate newcomers just as it feeds the faithful, is brimming with presence. And if the word “gift” in German slyly relates to a kind of poison, nobody said this music was all sweetness and light. Even if its radiance resonates, four decades later. Xmal Deutschland’s 4AD years were a bold and bewitching boomerang. The magic’s back. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                LP Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                LP1 - Fetisch:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Qual
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Geheimnis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Young Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. In Der Nacht
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Orient
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Hand In Hand
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Kaempfen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Danthem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Boomerang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Stummes Kind

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                LP2 - Tocsin:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Mondlicht
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Eiland
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Reigen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Tag Für Tag
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Augen-blick
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Begrab Mein Herz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Nachtschatten
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Xmas In Australia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Derwisch

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                LP3 - Incubus Succubus II & Qual:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Incubus Succubus II
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Vito
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Qual - 12” Remix
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Zeit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Sehnsucht

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                CD Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Qual
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Geheimnis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Young Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. In Der Nacht
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Orient
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Hand In Hand
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Kaempfen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Danthem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Boomerang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Stummes Kind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Qual
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Sehnsucht
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. Zeit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                14. Mondlicht
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                15. Eiland
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                16. Reigen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                17. Tag Für Tag
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18. Augen-blick
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                19. Begrab Mein Herz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                20. Nachtschatten
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                21. Xmas In Australia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                22. Derwisch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                23. Incubus Succubus II
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                24. Vito

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Loscil

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Lake Fire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Loscil (aka Scott Morgan) returns to kranky with 'Lake Fire', a nine-track offering of ash-laden sonics that mine the tension within the cycle of destruction and rejuvenation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Lake Fire' is the result of a disjointed creative process. Originally conceived as a suite for electronics and ensemble, most of the original compositions were deserted, save for 'Ash Clouds', featuring James Meager on double bass. The remaining tracks were reshaped and remixed, built anew out of the remnants of the abandoned work. The result is a phoenix, an album burnt to the ground only to be reassembled out of its cinders. Fragments of the original lurk beneath a densely overpainted canvas of sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Infused into the resulting rearrangements are impressions from a road trip into the mountains marking a personal half-century milestone, surrounded by the ominous proximity of wildfires and dense smoke; celebrating life while the world burns. The album’s title comes from the striking irony that forest fires are often named after regional lakes - perhaps subconsciously referencing ancient lore. The cover photos were taken from this same trip, while sitting in a rowboat staring into the grey abyss of an opposing mountainside outside of Revelstoke, BC, obfuscated by smoke from a nearby lake fire.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Arrhythmia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Bell Flame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Candling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Silos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Spark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Ash Clouds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Flutter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Doux
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Lake Fire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Jazzanova

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In Between Revisited: Jazzanova Live

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Celebrate 20 years of Jazzanova’s groundbreaking debut album 'In Between' with this stunning live reinterpretation. Recorded at Little Big Beat Studios, the Jazzanova Live Band breathes fresh energy into timeless tracks like 'That Night', 'No Use', and 'Days To Come'. This performance seamlessly blends the album’s sample-based origins with the vibrancy of live music. A must-have for fans of jazz, soul, and electronic fusion.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “In Between became a defining moment—not just for Jazzanova, but for a burgeoning sound that fused jazz, soul, electronic, and broken beat, ” the collective reflects. “Two decades later, we’ve revisited this milestone with the Jazzanova Live Band, a group that has been touring the world for 15 years, captivating audiences with its dynamic blend of precision and improvisation.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    When 'In Between' was released in 2002, it reflected the influences that had shaped the group since the mid-1990s—a seamless blend of jazz, soul, broken beat, and electronic music, brought to life by producers Stefan Leisering and Axel Reinemer, alongside DJs Alex Barck, Claas Brieler, and Jürgen von Knoblauch. Created as a studio concept, it was never intended to be performed live. That changed in 2008 with the formation of the Jazzanova Live Band, coinciding with their second studio album, 'Of All The Things'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In September 2024, this vision came to life. At the renowned Little Big Beat Studios in Liechtenstein, the Jazzanova Live Band performed In Between for the very first time in an intimate studio session in front of an audience. Captured on three analog multi-track tape machines and accompanied by a full video recording, this session reimagines the album with a fresh energy, combining samples and live instrumentation seamlessly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'In Between Revisited: Jazzanova Live' celebrates a milestone as the collective breathes fresh life into their legacy, proving that great music transcends time and evolves with every listen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. L.O.V.E. And You & I (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. No Use (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. The One-Tet / Fade Out (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Mwela, Mwela (Here I Am) (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Place In Between / Cyclic (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Another New Day (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Days To Come (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. That Night (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Dance The Dance (Little Big Beat Studio Live Session)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hedvig Mollestad Trio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bees In The Bonnet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Coming four years after the previous trio album Ding Dong. You’re Dead, it´s the longest period ever between Hedvig albums. That, however, is no indication she´s been idle, quite the contrary, actually. There´s been five commissioned works, two of which have resulted in albums in her own name. 2023 saw the debut release from power-impro-trio Hedvig Mollestad Weejuns with Ståle Storløkken (keyboards) and Ole Mofjell (drums). The same year she was Artist In Residence at the Moldejazz festival, with vital guest appearances from the likes of Nels Cline, Trevor Dunn and Colin Stetson. Hedvig also found time to write new music for a screening of the silent movie Limité (Brazil 1931). After these busy years, she felt a strong urge to get back to the core, which has always been the trio that started it all back in 2011 with the powerful debut album Shoot!. Starting work on new music before last summer, she later in the year hooked up with Ellen on several occasions to collect loose ends and put it all together before drummer Ivar was brought into the fold to complete the process. There was plenty of excitement going into the studio, and with a lot of the music being quite complicated with lots of small variations and long structures, the studio sessions were extremely focused and concentrated. Hedvig stresses that the main objective of the trio is to always have fun whether in the studio or on stage, and to share that joy with the listener. Listening to Bees In The Bonnet it shines through how much the trio had been missing making new music together, with glowing evidence of their skills both as writers and players.For years, a young Mollestad obsessed over music and little else. The daughter of a jazz musician, she soon lost herself in his record collection, studying classic works by Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Joe Pass and Jim Hall before discovering riff-raging titans like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as well as Mahavishnu Orchestra in her early 20s. This would eventually lead to the formation of Hedvig Mollestad Trio after she received the “Jazz Talent Of The Year” award at Moldejazz in 2009. Their relentless recording and touring schedule (hundreds of concerts all over the world) have earned the guitarist a stream of accolades, including two Norwegian Grammies and DownBeat magazine naming her one of the 25 artists who “could shape jazz for decades” in 2020

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1/See See Bop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2/Golden Griffin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3/Itta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4/Bob’s Your Giddy Aunt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5/Lamament
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6/Apocalypse Slow

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Unwed Sailor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cruel Entertainment

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        For their tenth LP in a career spanning more than two decades, Tulsa’s Unwed Sailor deliver their heaviest riffs, loudest squalls, and most deeply textured arrangements yet. 'Cruel Entertainment' is a catalogue of contrasts – dissonance and harmony, hardcore crunch and post-rock grandeur, complexity and catchiness – that adds a vibrant new dimension to the second phase of their discography, spanning thus far from 2019’s landmark 'Heavy Age' up to the “vivid, starry-eyed psychedelia” (AllMusic) of 2024’s 'Underwater Over There'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Opener and lead single, 'Rock Candy', roars in with a gale of feedback, pounding drums, and nimble bass, until a latticework of howling guitars ushers us into a more goth-tinged space. It’s a characteristically intricate, energetic composition that flows with remarkable ease between its parts, and wastes not a moment of its three minutes. 'Monster Collecting' brings a rare combination of melancholic and driving energy, reminiscent of avowed heroes New Order, but ups the ante with a tight, fastpaced rhythm section and litany of guitar lines, until opening up into a cascade of reverberating textures and tenuous sweetness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        According to Ford, the title 'Cruel Entertainment' refers to “the hardships of being an artist and musician in the crowded, imbalanced world of social media and streaming,” where the completion of a new work demands that the creator also be a promoter, content strategist, and agent, among many other intensifying challenges. Pointedly drawing inspiration from noisier, rowdier bands – including Fugazi, Quicksand, and Cherubs – here they seek a much-needed catharsis in the ongoing fight to keep the creative soul intact.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Second side standout, 'Monty Donahue', typifies this form of release, as massive, mid-tempo percussion leads a fluid low end theme – inspired by the dual bass assault of Dianogah – and Swatzell’s chords burst into shimmering nebulas across a labyrinthine arrangement that’s equally loud and beautiful. Title track, 'Cruel Entertainment', is a mosaic of sound for which Ford’s bass provides the mortar: taut drums list between the channels, washes of guitar stretch to the horizon, and metallic heaviness punctuates the drift. There is a confident immensity here, proving that, although Unwed Sailor have witnessed a wild amount of changes in the music industry, their knack for creating complex, vital, and masterfully produced work remains untouched.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Rock Candy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Slab City
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Monster Collecting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Soft Copy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Love Zoo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. BODYMOD
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Monty Donahue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Sad Help
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Cruel Entertainment

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Kooks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Never / Know

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Known for a sound which defined indie in the 2000s, The Kooks return with their new album 'Never/Know’ following their No. 1 UK Album 'Konk', additional 3 UK Top 10 Albums, 3 UK Top 10 Singles, 2 BRIT nominations and an MTV Best UK Act Award. Their 2006 debut album sold over 2 million copies, reaching quadruple platinum status in the UK.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Helmed by the two original members of the band – lead singer Luke Pritchard and guitarist Hugh Harris – the duo have never stopped evolving, transitioning from indie rock to synthpop and krautrock influences, growing their 3.5 Million global audience to what it is today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The 11-track offering, self-produced by Pritchard, was born out of a mission to reconnect with The Kooks’ original creative drive. Speaking about the album’s impetus, Pritchard said “It’s not about going back to the first album’s sound, but to the roots of our influences and asking, ‘What is the identity of this band?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The whole thing was to just forget that the past had happened,” he says. But to truly move forward, they had to reflect: “What kind of music do we want to make, and how do we make it feel natural?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Never/Know' puts on show some of Pritchard’s most simple, yet expressive lyrics to-date. The songs are filled with witty one-liners and endearing nicknames for his children and loved ones, which resonate on the surface, yet carry a deeper, more personal significance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sonically, an intoxicating cover of Paul McCartney and Wings’ ‘Arrow Through Me’ is the clearest indication of the band’s influence, while the album’s closer, the moody ‘Talk About It’ puts on show an appreciation for classic soul. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Never Know
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Sunny Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. All Over The World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. If They Could Only Know
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. China Town
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Compass Will Fracture
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Tough At The Top
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Arrow Through Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Echo Chamber
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Let You Go
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Talk About It

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Klamp

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Totaal Techniek

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Human Worth are proud to present the killer new album from Klamp, now featuring members of Idles, Sex Swing, Tall Ships, Manatees, Do Me Bad Things, Pulled Apart By Horses, Petbrick and Mugstar, with a portion of all proceeds donated to charity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Klamp is a formidable musical collective with members scattered across the UK and the Netherlands. Since their raw and antagonistic 2020 release "Hate You" on God Unknown Records, Klamp has undergone a significant transformation. The 2025 incarnation of the band presents a vastly evolved force. Their latest album, "Totaal Techniek," released on Brighton based charitable Human Worth, is a testament to their artistic growth and exploration. The album traverses a broad range of genres, seamlessly blending elements of Krautrock, Breakcore, Industrial, and Post Punk. Each track is a new journey, characterized by an innovative sound and intricate musical textures.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A key aspect of KLAMP's evolution has been their ever-expanding roster of collaborators. The original lineup of Jason Stoll (Sex Swing / Mugstar / JAAW), Lee Vincent (Pulled Apart by Horses) and Greg Wynne (Manatees) have been joined by Adam Devonshire (Idles), Matthew Parker (Tall Ships), Rachael Morrison and Wayne Adams (Petbrick / Big Lad) along with other collaborators, helping to develop the sound into a new space both beautiful and bleak, harsh and euphoric – sometimes all at once. This openness to collaboration has infused their music with fresh ideas and new energy, ensuring that no two performances or recordings are ever the same. Their live shows are particularly notable for their intensity and unpredictability, offering audiences a mind-bending lesson in musical exploration and emotional depth.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            KLAMP's music is a haven for fans of eclectic and avant-garde sounds. Listeners who appreciate the sonic intensity and experimentation of Swans, the sharp, angular rhythms of Parquet Courts, the post-punk edge of The Fall, and the genre-defying beats of DJ Screw will find much to love. Similarly, those drawn to the lush soundscapes of My Bloody Valentine, the industrial grit of Einstürzende Neubauten, and the atmospheric depth of Low will resonate with KLAMP's work. The cinematic influences of John Carpenter and David Lynch, combined with the raw power of Nine Inch Nails and Sonic Youth, the electronic pulse of Front 242, the minimalist punk of Wire, and the epic crescendos of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, all find a place within KLAMP's diverse musical universe.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            In essence, Klamp is not just a band but a continually evolving collective that pushes the boundaries of music. Their journey from a three-piece to an innovative seven-piece ensemble, making them one of the most exciting and unpredictable acts on the scene today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. The First Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Zpine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Wet Leather
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Leprozenkapel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. The Crying Towel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Evil Pipe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Adult Proper
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Totaal Techniek

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            All Soundtracks Great And Small 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Chichester Hospital Radio presents Volume 2 of 'All Soundtracks Great and Small' - a 2CD set of music largely sourced from production music libraries, whose recordings have been used for decades as themes and incidental music on film, television and radio transmissions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The first CD features a selection of television themes past and present, the second CD begins with music tracks used to accompany the BBC's Pages from Ceefax transmissions followed by themes and incidental music from BBC2's Trade Test Colour Films of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which were broadcast during the day to promote the new colour television service in-between Test Card transmissions during what was billed in the Radio Times as a Closedown period.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The CD includes music composed by Vladimir Cosma, Johnny Scott, Keith Mansfield, Jack Trombey, Les Reed, Alexandra Harwood, Debbie Wiseman, Brian Bennett, Syd Dale and Alan Hawkshaw.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              CD1 Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. BBC1 News 1970's Opening Theme - The Peter Hope Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. The Adventures Of Don Quick Theme - The Pandora Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. America's Major League Baseball Theme - The European Sound Stage Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. A Horseman Riding By Theme - The New Festival Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Ensemble Theme - The London Studio Players
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Cuckoo In The Nest Theme - The All Electric Steam Radio Band
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Seeing And Doing Theme - Paul Hart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Junior Showtime Theme - The International Studio Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Tarrant On TV Theme - The European Sound Stage Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. For The Record Theme - The Pandora Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. World Cup Fanfare 1974 - Orchester Werner Drexler
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. Whose Baby? Theme - Richard Myhill Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              13. Compact Theme - Roger Roger And His Champs-Elysees Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              14. It's Maths Theme - John Leach
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              15. Hot Line Theme - Les Reed Combo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              16. Rugby Special Theme - Brian Bennett Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              17. Miss Jones And Son Theme - Roger Webb Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              18. Training Dogs The Woodhouse Way Theme - Sam Fonteyn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              19. Whicker's World 1980's Theme - Graham De Wilde
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20. Did You See...? Theme - Francis Monkman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              21. Punch Line Theme - Ole Jensen And His Music
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              22. How We Used To Live Theme - De Wolfe Ensemble
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              23. Playground - The Bruton Players
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              24. All Creatures Great And Small Theme (Channel 5) - Alexandra Harwood
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              25. Love Your Weekend (Walk On The Wild Side Theme) - Oliver Ledbury
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              26. Woman's Hour 1970 Theme - The New Elizabethans
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              27. Beryl's Lot Theme - Orchestre Paul Piot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              28. The Big Match Theme - The European Sound Stage Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              29. Children's Hospital Theme - Debbie Wiseman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              30. Guinness Test Card Advert Music - The Norman Candler Magic Strings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              31. The Trygon Factor Theme - Peter Thomas Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              32. Maths Counts Theme - The Bruton Players
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              33. The Telephone At Work Theme - The London Studio Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              34. Dave Allen At Large Theme - The European Sound Stage Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              35. Winner Takes All Theme - Jim Lawless
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              36. Mathscore Theme - The Regency Players
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              37. The Fenn Street Gang Theme (Ragamuffin) - The Pandora Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              38. BBC1 News 1970's Closing Theme - The Peter Hope Orchestra

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              CD2 Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Jumpin' Jupiter - The Frank Chacksfield Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. The Very First Smile - Syd Dale And His Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Lucky In Love - Kapono Beamer With The Sonoton Film Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Le Coup Du Parapluie Theme - Vladimir Cosma And His Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Who's To Blame - The Frank Chacksfield Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Coast To Coast - Rhodos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Rio By Moonlight - Gerhard Daum Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. L'As Des As Theme - Vladimir Cosma And His Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Remember - Kookie Freeman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Young People - The Guy Gollasch Combo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. It's My Turn Today - The Philharmonic Pop Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. Rosella - The Frank Chacksfield Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              13. Andalusian Dance - Nick Ingman Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              14. Hop Bop - Andre Ceccarelli Et Bernard Arcadio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              15. Romance For Julia - The George Hermann Orchestra And Chorus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              16. Breezy - Marco Ribaldi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              17. Septieme Ciel - Vladimir Cosma And His Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              18. Highland Playground Theme - Jack Wolfe And His Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              19. Tough Guys - The International Studio Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20. The Grass Growers Theme - The Crawford Dance Orchestra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              21. Silent Service - Reg Tilsley And The London Big Sound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              22. Virevoltant - The Jazz Trio Paris
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              23. The Dairy Industry Closing Theme 1 - Jean-Claude Petit Et Son Orchestre
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              24. The Dairy Industry Closing Theme 2 - Jean-Claude Petit Et Son Orchestre
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              25. Snofari Theme - The International Studio Group
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              26. Belle Etoile - The Scottmen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              27. The Eyelash - The Johnny Hawksworth Group

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Planet Mu 30

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Planet Mu continues to carve its own unique and exciting path, proving that electronic music remains some of the most intriguing and challenging work today, always slightly outside the relentless churn of the dance music industry. It's a fleet-footed label whose artists look towards the future; yet echoes of Planet Mu’s past—ranging from jungle, dubstep and glitchy hip-hop to banging techno, electronica and breakcore—still resonate through its new generation of talent.The compilation features fresh material from familiar names like Venetian Snares, Luke Vibert, Ital Tek and FaltyDL as well as Mike Paradinas himself as µ-Ziq, which sit alongside the 160bpm footwork artists that Planet Mu has successfully nurtured, including Jlin, Traxman, DJ Manny, RP Boo, Jana Rush and Elmoe. On the other hand, newer artists like Nondi_, Rian Treanor, Xylitol, Saint Abdullah and Eomac, DJ Girl and Speaker Music have recently contributed some of the label’s most exciting music. The compilation also teases unreleased music from fresh additions to the roster, including Nik Colk Void, Rev, BAE BAE, Ship Sket, Slikback, and James Krivchenia. It’s an exciting time to be listening to Planet Mu in 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Jlin - B12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Venetian Snares – Drums
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Traxman - Ace Boogie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Nondi_ - Worrygirl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. FaltyDL - Usually I'm Cautious
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Rev - Mind Game
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. BAE BAE - Living In The Memory
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Ship Sket – Dysentery
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Slikback – Foli
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. µ-Ziq - Imperial Crescent VIP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. RP Boo - No Return 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. DJ Manny - Smooth Jungle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. Saint Abdullah & Eomac - Victorian All-Rounder (ft. Laura LAIR)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                14. Nik Colk Void - A Tough Design (Demo)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                15. Elmoe - Battle Zone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                16. Meemo Comma - Stillness Of Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                17. Herva - Kuna
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18. Xylitol – Nevada
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                19. Ital Tek - Heat Seeker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                20. Speaker Music - Sonological Hubris
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                21. Jana Rush - Cruisin' On Lake Shore Drive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                22. DJ Girl - Bonito Applebum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                23. Luke Vibert - Bullet Drop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                24. James Krivchenia - Quantum Flirt (ft. Sam Wilkes)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                25. Rian Treanor - Another Future Is Impossible

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Blondshell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                If You Asked For A Picture

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'If You Asked For A Picture', the 2nd album from Sabrina Teitelbaum, aka Blondshell, is a no-skips, triumphant record that captures the unresolved process of figuring out who you are, too wise to suggest that it has a definitive answer. The album brims with an urgency, ambition, and devastating potency hinted at on 2023’s self-titled debut–the specificity, self-examination, and nonchalant humor of which turned her into one of the most lauded new artists in recent memory.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Soaring, anthemic indie rock that's beautifully balanced, toeing the line between cathartic grunge-adjacent riffblasting and brittle, chorused 12-string guitar all beneath Sabrina Teitelbaum's dreamy but powerful vocal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Thumbtack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. T&A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Arms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. What’s Fair
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Two Times
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Even Of A Fire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. 23’s A Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Change
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Toy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. He Wants Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Model Rockets

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Car Seat Headrest

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Scholars

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Set at the fictional college campus Parnassus University, the songs on 'The Scholars' are populated with students and staff whose travails illuminate a loose narrative of life, death, and rebirth. Inspired by an apocryphal poem by "Archbishop Guillermo Guadalupe del Toledo," and featuring character designs from Toledo’s friend, the cartoonist Cate Wurtz, the first half of the album focuses on the deep yearning and spiritual crisis of the titular Scholars. They range from the tortured and doubt-filled young playwright Beolco to Devereaux, a person born to religious conservatives who finds themselves desperate for higher guidance. The second part features a series of epics detailing the clash between the defenders of the classic texts “and the young person who doesn't care about the canon, who is going to tear all of that up, basically,” Toledo says. “And so within this one campus, there becomes a war.” From Shakespeare to Mozart to classical opera, Toledo pulled from the classics when devising the lyrics and story arc of 'The Scholars', while the music draws, carefully, from classic rock story song cycles such as The Who’s Tommy and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. “One thing that can be a struggle with rock operas is that the individual songs kind of get sacrificed for the flow of the plot,” Toledo notes. “I didn't want to sacrifice that to make a very fluid narrative. And so this is sort of a middle ground where each song can be a character and it's like each one is coming out on center stage and they have their song and dance.” Self-produced by Toledo and recorded, for a change, mostly in analog, The Scholars is “definitely the most bottom up of any project that we've done,” says Ives, who was urged by Toledo to take ownership of the guitar work and sound design for the album. “I've started nerding out a lot more in the last couple of years about designing sounds more deliberately, rather than just using your lucky gear and hoping for the best. It was really rewarding, being able to sculpt things a lot more specifically, and being able to layer things in more of a dense way and have more of an active design role in how things come across more than any previous album.”


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    While 'The Scholars' has some of the most expansive Car Seat Headrest songs to date, including the nearly 19-minute long ‘Planet Desperation’, and opener ‘CCF (I’m Gonna Stay With You)’, they know how to make each part of the journey compelling, filling the runtimes with unexpected turns and enervating hooks. And moments like the jaunty ‘The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That Man)’ show they haven’t lost their ability to write a short-and-sweet single that chimes like classic ‘60s folk pop, updated for the present. Having gone through their trials, Car Seat Headrest are now ready for the next chapter in their career. It will astonish both longtime supporters and new fans. While Car Seat Headrest started as Toledo's solo project, it is now fully a band. “What we've been doing more of in recent years is just taking the pulses of each other. We’ve really been leaning into that sort of cocoon that started off with the pandemic years and just turned into this special space that we were creating all on our own,” says Toledo. “I was coming out of it as a solo project and it always just felt like it was in pieces. There's the album we're working on, and then there's a live show that we're doing, and then there's everything in between. And it didn't really feel to me like things got in sync in an inner feeling way until this record, with that internal communal energy. And it's become that band feeling for me in a much more realized way. That's been a big journey.” It is a journey that listeners will want to embark on again and again as they absorb and discover the rich depths and clanging resonances of 'The Scholars'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: There are few artists in the ol' shoppe that are as consistently requested as Car Seat Headrest, so i'm sure you'll be delighted to hear their new one is a wonderfully flowing selection of proggy wooze and deliciously conceptual psychedelic indie. It's going to be a biggie, this.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. CCF (I'm Gonna Stay With You)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Devereaux
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Lady Gay Approximately
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. The Catastrophe (Good Luck With That, Man)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Equals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Gethsemane
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Reality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Planet Desperation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. True/False Lover

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Jenny Hval

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Iris Silver Mist

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Norwegian musician, artist and novelist Jenny Hval latest album, 'Iris Silver Mist' is named after a fragrance made by the nose Maurice Roucel for the French perfume house Serge Lutens. It’s described as smelling more like steel than silver. It is cold and prickly, soft and shimmering, like stepping outside on an early, misty morning, your body still warm from sleep. A perfume, with its heart notes and scented accords, shares its language with music. Both travel through air, simultaneously invisible and distinct.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rather than begin with music, 'Iris Silver Mist' began with the absence of it. As the pandemic led to no live music, the smell of cigarettes, soap, and the sweat from warm stage lights and shared bathrooms was replaced by unphysical, algorithmic listening at home. Suddenly, and for the first time since she was a teenager, Hval found herself growing interested in perfumes. Smelling, reading, collecting, writing—she immersed herself with scent while her music was put on hold. It took her a year to understand what was happening, until she did: she was seeking another way of sensing physical intimacy. Where music had turned into a void, she filled it with fragrance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Throughout 'Iris Silver Mist', perfume continues to turn into smoke, mist, and music. On lead single, ‘To Be A Rose’, Hval half-speaks, half-sings to the beat of a drum machine: “A rose is a rose is a rose is a cigarette." Roses and cigarettes are romantic forms of wishful thinking, transporting you someplace else. Of the track, Hval says: “’To Be A Rose’ was written as a restless pop structure. It has a chorus, with chords and a melody, but each chorus sounds slightly different, like we are experiencing the melody from different seasons, decades or even different bodies. The clichéd rose metaphor in the song is equally restless. It can change shape into a cigarette and then evaporate to smoke. My mother and I (two restless humans) are both present in the song: ‘I was singing in my room, she smoked on the balcony/Long inhales and long exhales performed in choreography.’ If about anything, ‘To Be A Rose’ is about how one thing becomes another thing, how we all come from somewhere and someone, and how this is stranger and more powerful than we think.” 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Hval returns for a brand new album of outsider pop and minimalist electronica for indie superpower, 4AD. If the superb single, 'To Be A Rose' is anything to go by, we're in for more of Hval's trademark cracked melodicism and cathartic gothic folk. A wonderfully exciting return for one of the most singular forces in modern music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Lay Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. To Be A Rose
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. I Want To Start At The Beginning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. All Night Long
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Heiner Muller
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. You Died
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Spirit Mist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. I Don’t Know What Free Is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. The Artist Is Absent
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Huffing My Arm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. The Gift
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. A Ballad
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13. I Want The End To Sound Like This

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Childish Gambino

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Bando Stone And The New World

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        It is with a certain sadness for his fans across mediums that Donald Glover has declared 'Bando Stone and the New World' the last Childish Gambino album. The ostensible soundtrack to a feature-length movie of the same name, the hour-long project includes snippets of dialogue that hint at the film’s apocalyptic subject matter. The fact that the soundtrack is preceding the actual film is part of Glover’s strategy: He wants listeners to work to figure out what they’re listening to. “The soundtrack forces the audience to participate in a way that I don't feel like most things force you to participate,” he says. “It forces you to have an imagination. I already see people being like, 'This is very cinematic, this must be the part that... This feels like a credit sequence.' A lot of stuff feels flat because it's not asking you to participate. Art used to be you had to participate on some level and have some sort of thought process on it. You can't just be like, 'Oh, this is mid.'” Even without the benefit of the full visuals, these 17 tracks make for a satisfying swan song that synthesizes what came before with fresher ideas gleaned from the threshold of finality.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Despite how you feel, It seems a natural choice for Glover to focus on his huge acting talent rather than his equally huge music talent, it's surprising that he's managed to keep both afloat at this level for so long. A brilliant musician, performer and songwriter presenting his last album under this moniker is obviously something to mourn, but it's superbly nuanced and supremely beautiful. PLUS, it's been presented before the film it's the soundtrack of, so it stands alone! genius.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Lithonia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Survive Feat. Chlöe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Steps Beach
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Talk My Shit Feat. Amaarae & Flo Milli
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Got To Be
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Real Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. In The Night Feat. Jorja Smith & Amaarae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Yoshinoya
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Can You Feel Me Feat. Legend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. No Excuses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Cruisin' Feat. Yeat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. We Are God
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Running Around Feat. Fousheé
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Dadvocate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Happy Survival Feat. Khruangbin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. A Place Where Love Goes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Sextile

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Yes, Please.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Some bands find their groove and stick to it; others reinvent themselves constantly. Sextile belongs to the latter camp, embracing the thrill of an ever-changing roadmap. The LA duo of Melissa Scaduto and Brady Keehncraft music with a lust for life, drawing inspiration from no wave to hardstyle. Their latest album, 'yes, please.' pushes their sound into bold new territory, fusing anarchic electro fire with raw personal recollections—and enough beefed-up bass to bust a speaker or two.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'yes, please.' is an album of contrasts: a vulnerable record that bares its soul as much as it revels in excess, showing just how far you can push your sound when you shake off your inhibitions. Together, the pair betray a confidence that never wavers, making a bold splash on the speedy intro with a rave siren cut from a ‘00s New York house party or sweaty Brooklyn warehouse. By the same token, the spirit of electroclash stalks the building, flashing its ID on the cowbell-peppered thunder-bolts of 'Freak Eyes' and 'Rearrange', and turning in a scuzzy dancefloor bomb with 'Women Respond to Bass'. High on endorphins, 'Push Ups'—which features vocals from Jehnny Beth—is pure muscle music, fortified by hoover bass and fleshed out by synths that hammer as hard as lumps of hail on a glass roof. But behind the slogans, sass, and monster dance energy lies an intimacy that can only be found from opening up about painful, life-altering events. 'Hospital' and 'Soggy Newports' reflect harrowing experiences in a New York state-run facility after a near-fatal accident. 'Resist' tackles abortion rights, while 'Penny Rose' explores US education, AI, and future generations. Scaduto’s elastic vocals shine throughout, from the razor-sharp synths of 'S is For' to the trance-pop heights of 'Kids', featuring Izzy Glaudini from Automatic

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'yes, please.' is an action-packed dance record stuffed with wild, heady roof-raisers but is in the same breath a testament to living, and never looking back. In opening themselves up to a new “freeing” way of making music, Sextile have whipped up their most creative offering to date. Then again, you just know they still have so much more to give


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: Scathing, visceral dance music that's both full of momentum and jewelled with bursts of off-piste experimental weirdness. Bold, brilliant rave madness from the musically elastic Sextile.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Women Respond To Bass
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Freak Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Penny Rose
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Push Ups
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Kids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. 99 Bongos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. S Is For
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Rearrange
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Resist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Kiss
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Hospital
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. Soggy Newports

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Samantha Crain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Gumshoe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            When multiple car wrecks rendered Samantha Crain injured and bed-ridden for a year and a half -- an experience that was explored within her last full length album 'A Small Death' in 2020 -- followed by the pandemic immediately afterward, the Oklahoman singer-songwriter fnally slowed down.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Having lived within something of a nomadic, solitary existence for as long as she can remember, she's sprinted from city to city on tour while leaving love, consequences and tough conversations behind for the past two decades. Coming off the road has given her more time to refect, more time to connect with the people in her life, and more time to let her curiosity blossom -- as revealing and challenging as it has been.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The experience has been a crash course in humanism, as she continues to question what it means to be a friend, a partner, a piece of a community. It's explored throughout the entirety of 'Gumshoe' -- her seventh studio album and first in half a decade, with an apt title that evokes the sense of mystery-solving she's welcomed these last several years of staying put in Oklahoma.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            As a loner for almost her entire life, Samantha's recently come face-to-face with major life events, social interactions, and consequences that she was never exposed to before. The questions of being human that offer clarity, as much as they do a fog of uncertainty with what comes next. How will things play out? Who am I when I'm not onstage? How will I pay my bills? What am I willing to do for my family?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            From helping her partner navigate their struggle with addiction, to working several odd jobs (a hair salon, a wildcare rescue, a resource center for unhoused people, and a liquor store doing booze deliveries), to discovering how to love and be loved -- 'Gumshoe' finds Samantha piecing together the puzzle of how we find perspective, groundedness, responsibility, and coexistence in a world with other people. And while that puzzle might be unsolvable, it's at least worth the try.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Lysergic, otherworldly Americana and outsider folk clash beautifully in Samantha Crain's intricate and heartfelt 'Gumshoe'. Though there are hints of 00's rock and airy psychedelia woven through the fabric of the experience, it moves quickly enough to defy all classification but slowly enough for you to really get sunk in. Ace.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Dragonfly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Neptune Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Dart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Ridin' Out The Storm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Gumshoe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Fool's Paradise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. B-Attitudes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Trap Door
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Melatonin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Boilermaker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Old Hallicrafter Radio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pink Floyd

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pink Floyd At Pompeii - MCMLXXII

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII', the groundbreaking 1972 film directed by Adrian Maben. Digitally re-mastered from the original 35mm footage, with enhanced audio newly mixed by Steven Wilson. Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, this unique film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert with additional rare behind-the-scenes footage of the band beginning work on The Dark Side of the Moon at Abbey Road Studios. The accompanying album release will see the performance presented on vinyl for the first time. The 2025 remix by Steven Wilson is newly available on 2xCD, 2xLP, Bluray and DVD.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: I will never fall out of love with Pink Floyd, and this sees them at their youthful, experimental best. Wonderfully rich, bursting with moments of psychedelic perfection and unsurprisingly, goes incredibly well with mushrooms. Probably.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              LP & CD Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pompeii Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Echoes - Part 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Careful With That Axe, Eugene
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. A Saucerful Of Secrets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Suna
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. One Of These Days
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Mademoiselle Nobs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Echoes - Part 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Careful With That Axe, Eugene - Alternate Take
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. A Saucerful Of Secrets - Unedited

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Blu-ray & DVD Tracklist:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Feature Film
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pompeii Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Echoes Part 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. On The Run
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Careful With That Axe Eugene
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. A Saucerful Of Secrets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Us And Them
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. One Of These Days
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Mademoiselle Nobs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Brain Damage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Echoes Part 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Concert

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Pompeii Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Echoes Part 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Careful With That Axe, Eugene
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. A Saucerful Of Secrets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. One Of These Days
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Echoes Part 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Sally Potter

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Anatomy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Director Sally Potter is set to release her new album, Anatomy, later this year,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                marking an exciting chapter in her multifaceted career

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Known for her groundbreaking work in both flm and music, Potter has long been
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                celebrated for her innovative approach to storytelling, as seen in flms like Orlando (1992), a visually stunning adaptation of Virginia Woolf's novel, and The Tango Lesson (1997) where her passion for music and dance seamlessly blends with her cinematic style.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: An eclectic selection of highly theatrical pieces (which makes sense given her background) that are both intensely emotive and beautifully evocative. There are jazzy flourishes and widescreen washes of classical piano and strings, as well as Potter's nigh-spoken vocals but in the end 'Anatomy' is a unique prospect from a true multi-disciplinary artist.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Anatomy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Coming Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Words
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. My Earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Carmageddon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Walk Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Time To Go
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Come Back
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Honey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Oh Daughter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Elegy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. The Fall

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Lael Neale

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Altogether Stranger

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lael Neale’s minimalist drone pop draws inspiration from the Transcendentalists, the alienation of modern life, and a rich array of musical influences—ranging from Dionne Warwick and John Lennon to primitive American gospel and Spacemen 3. Her expansive new record, 'Altogether Stranger' was written and recorded in the early morning quiet of Los Angeles. Clocking in at just 32 minutes, the 9-song LP covers an unexpected breadth of musical and lyrical terrain—from garage rock nursery rhymes and creation myths to Motorik dance dirges and solitary Omnichord meditations.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A brilliant lyricist, Neale has a unique ability to uncover the extraordinary within the mundane, tackling themes of polarity that recur throughout her work—country vs. city, humanity vs. technology, isolation vs. society. This album is her third collaboration with producer Guy Blakeslee who helps expand the tonal palette while staying true to Neale’s commitment to the raw immediacy and hand-made intimacy of home recording. 'Altogether Stranger' - a stunning album filled with dreamlike reverie, Neale’s crystalline voice, and echoes of the Velvet Underground - was conceived after four years of oscillating between rural solitude and urban chaos. It finds Neale perched at the piano in a hilltop bungalow, looking down on a rare curve of Sunset Blvd. Here, in this daily ritual of writing, singing, and painting—what David Lynch referred to as “the Art Life”—she creates the space for her most adventurous work to date.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Born and raised in Virginia’s idyllic countryside, Neale brought the high-lonesome sound of her home state with her when she moved to California to pursue music. After years of writing songs on guitar and playing small venues in Los Angeles, she discovered the Omnichord in 2019, which sparked a new creative direction. This led to her 2021 Sub Pop debut album, 'Acquainted With Night'. That album’s 2023 follow-up, 'Star Eaters Delight', deepened the collaboration with Blakeslee, infusing minimalist soundscapes with a heightened electric energy. The album found a devoted audience, and Neale’s subsequent tour included sold-out shows in Los Angeles, New York City, London, and Paris, multiple trips across Europe, and a West Coast run supporting kindred spirit Weyes Blood. This marked yet another return to Los Angeles. Indeed, Los Angeles is not just the backdrop of 'Altogether Stranger' but a lead character. The album’s accompanying film - created with Neale's faithful Sony Handycam - builds on her ongoing series of videos, telling the story of Neale as an alien in a suit of mirrors stranded on Earth. Wandering through modern-day LA, she finds both absurdity and beauty in our fragile, untenable way of life. Over the long year it took to write Altogether Stranger, Neale vacillated between childlike optimism and existential melancholy. While she may not have been able to reconcile these opposing states, Altogether Stranger represents an ambitious breakthrough for this singular, self-sufficient artist.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Brittle, otherworldly pop music that has echoes of modern indie but drifts and crackles like a long forgotten tape reel from the 50's. Neale's vocals have echoes of the staggered unease of Syd Barrett's solo work but imbued with a meticulous thematic and structural approach.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Wild Waters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. All Good Things Will Come To Pass
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Down On The Freeway
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Sleep Through The Long Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Come On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Tell Me How To Be Here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. New Ages
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. All Is Never Lost
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. There From Here

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Big Crown Vaults Vol. 4

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

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

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

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    One of clubland’s most unmistakable and loved duos, Steffi & Virginia present a new album of upfront house music, “Patterns of Vibration”. Eight gracefully-driven songs stretch out from the hazy fog of the dancefloor to the sun-drenched future decades of house, offering a glimpse into the rich heritage and distinct forward momentum of the two artists.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “Patterns of Vibration” was put together over a three month period of intensive work and play. The pair immersed themselves in the daily ritual of putting down ideas at their Candy Mountain studio in the Portuguese countryside. At the same time Steffi’s 50th birthday celebrations fuelled their creative fires, reconnecting with old friends and tapping into a deep love for those ecstatic moments of freedom and unity, soundtracked by house music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    With the spirit of the fierce night streaming through on every track, this album marks a bright new chapter in the duo’s story - channelling that special potion of emotional vibrations found when music, dance, friends and lovers meet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Thanks to countless hours behind the decks at their Berghain / Panorama Bar residencies and global touring, the album glistens with an ageless urgency and a straight-to-club core. That driving, early morning pulse is mirrored by a deft skill for conjuring arresting electronic hymns; transmitting their passion and collective years together on the road, in clubs, in the studio, and at home.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    From the moody tribalism of lead single “Nightflight”, to the chord-led heaven of “Stab Stealer”, or the tracky “7 In The Morning”, Steffi & Virginia’s partnership is alive with the essential throb of a movement that continues to blossom as it enters its 4th decade.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Virginia’s jubilant vocal hooks are front and centre on every track, enriched with Steffi’s precision analogue bump. Punchy and direct kick drums carry jacking snares and interwoven synth stabs. Perfectly placed basslines massage the low-end, leaving plenty of space for Virginia’s vivescent vocals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A homogenous sonic code is woven throughout, as Virginia’s voice provides not only the soaring leading lines but also the ‘ornaments and tentacles’ of each track, with percussive details and micro-elements melting into the grooves of every cut.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Steffi & Virginia’s house music is the stuff of folklore. “Patterns of Vibration” weaves a narrative through a record crate full of emotions, a forever-chorus calling out through the night, till the earthy glow of the new dawn.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Right up my strasse this. Futureproof, techy and soulful club tackle that tickles the subs and touches the tweeters in all the right places.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Touching-u
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Under This World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7 In The Morning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nightflight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    O-release
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Walk With Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Stab Stealer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4-hit

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Art Longo, multi-instrumentalist and composer, has just released your next favourite album. Dwelling in the self-selected confines of a humble home recording studio for years, cooking up psychotropical pop hits heavily influenced by the late eighties music culture and dub.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The album, "Echowah Island", in its entirety manifests a soundscape drenched in orange sunsets and cool breezes. The production, smothered in spring reverbs, space echo delays and wah wah, always grounded by the satisfying chugging rhythms of various old drum machines.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It is a creative endeavour and prosperous collaboration alongside Claudia Jonas, whose airy mysterious voice brings to mind the classic French femme fatale singers of the sixties. Her lyrics, almost kaleidoscopic in nature paints a nostalgic, rose-tinted dreamworld but never fails to challenge the listeners imagination and sense of reality.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Dub, psyche and funk are given a French pop twist. The results are utterly charming and compelling. A album that's destined for repeat plays throughout the hazy summer days.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Echowah Island
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Quantum Ceviche
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hirondelle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Magma
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Shark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Kaleidoscope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Psych!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Radio Soda

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    On the outskirts of the Parisian sprawl, we drift through the evening hush, our steps tracing the edges of a world half-lit.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The air crackles - charged, restless. Somewhere, we hear the city hums, a distant, roaring tide.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    And there is this stranger, curious, starry-eyed, looking at us.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    We stop, tilt our heads together, a faint smile :

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    « I scream, you scream ! Everyday is a new *silence*
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It was all paradoxical
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fullness in the crisis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Silence is priceless »

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    RIYL: James Ferraro, Maria Minerva, vintage Not Not Fun, Dean Blunt, Ariel Pink etc. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Helen Island continue to plot their own singular path to destination weird. Tropical wave & ethereal shoegaze converge to create a unique musical lifeform that's strangely alluring.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Me Who
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hot Zone Regular Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fame Gang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ghost Guns
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Invincibl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Forever Starts Today
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Indivisibl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I Know 3 45
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Stalker Guardian Angel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Get Rid Of Yourself
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Its Going Better
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Capital Collectiv
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Feeling The Sun Its Lit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Missing Flowers I Think
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Restless Lovers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Gore Lore

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ‘Zeitgeist’, the debut LP from celebrated Italian electronic music producer Dukwa, begins with a timeless dancefloor equation; swung drums, a clattering cobwell and flickering hi-hats lurch forward into a serious bassline. Within seconds, dancers are flung into the house anthem ‘You Don’t Want It’ that’s equally raw and charismatic, sensual and powerful. For the next forty-five minutes of rhythm, melody and studio trickery, ‘Zeitgeist’ continues to bend time, eras and bodies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Having released EPs on respected labels including Numbers, Gudu and Diynamic Records, invariably with the support of Jackmaster, Peggy Gou and Solomun, Dukwa folds into the Slacker85 philosophy with ease, laying down a statement of intent that’s squarely for the dancers. Indebted to a youth digging in Florence’s record stores, embracing the peerless Italian rave scene, as well as his recent appearances at Circoloco and Kappa Future, ‘Zeitgeist’ subverts it’s knowing title to dance between styles with an urgency you can feel in your heels.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Before long, Dukwa is smoothly oscillating between acid overdrive and weightless house on ‘Catch All’, while the balance between softness and severity is refined even further on ‘Show Me’, showcasing the record’s first euphoric breakdown, a heads down, hands up moment that sacrifices none of his organic flow. Ably mastering many corners of his record box, ‘Avec Moi’ makes a confident left turn into tunneling trance, interspersed with a sensual french vocal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ‘All You Need’ provides the record’s beating heart, Dukwa’s overarching philosophy front and center around layers of synthesised groove, build and release: “The world is full of fighting, ignorance and greed, but right here on the dancefloor - the rhythm’s all you need”. Meanwhile, ‘My Turn’ channels more cinematic instincts, zoning in on an elegant piano riff in order to unravel a quietly epic deep house trip.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    As ‘Zeitgeist’ heads toward its conclusion, Dukwa effortlessly squeezes the most emotive juice from his well-oiled studio. ‘Sad Eyes’ possesses the emotional punch of many vintage end-of-night anthems, still driving yet touched with a wistful ecstasy. Finally, for closing passage ‘Stck1’, Dukwa truly lets the machines sing, capturing a brief symphony of harmonising modulations that dip into weirdo electronica, without ever skipping his signature beats.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Tasty fresh house music from Dukwa who keeps the entrance fee low but the quality high with eight urgent tracks for Seth Troxler's label.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A1. You Don't Want It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A2. Catch All
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A3. Show Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A4. Avec Toi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B1. All You Need
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B2. My Turn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B3. Sad Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B4. STCK1 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Tom Phillips / Gavin Bryars / Fred Orton

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Irma An Opera By Tom Phillips

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In February and March of 1977, for Brian Eno’s Obscure Records, I made a version of ‘Irma’. The following notes on the piece arise out of that involvement and try to show how the piece can be made into a performance state.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ‘Irma’ is a curious score – it is printed on a single sheet 50cms x 50cms. The notation consists of fragments from Tom’s continuing treatment of the Victorian novel by W. H. Mallock, which he calls A Humument, and utilises those short verbal fragments that refer to either ‘‘libretto’’, ‘‘decor and mise-en-scène’’ or ‘‘sounds’’. These 3 categories are arranged in separate sections on the square sheet with, at the bottom, a line of stave notation. At first sight it looks like a piece of indeterminate music – clearly there has to be some preparatory work done before it is performable and no-one would venture to perform directly from the score - but if it is approached in this spirit, like realising a piece by John Cage or Morton Feldman written during the 1950’s, the sounding results are either largely of a documentary interest, or rely entirely on the gifted performer to make into a coherent sounding whole. True, one could say the same thing for a piece by Cage, such as ‘Variations I’, but there the performer is given a number of precise parameters of sound within which he should work, whereas ‘Irma’ needs to be re-composed rather than realised.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    If the distinction between ‘‘composing’’ and ‘‘realising’’ is overlooked, and if only the materials present in the notation are used, then the result is likely to be impoverished and it is clear that, looked at in isolation as a self-contained work, the score is notationally very thin. So one either produces an impoverished piece of sounding music, or one takes the responsibility to look further. Tom does not say explicitly that one must go beyond Irma into the rest of his work, but he does say that one has to go outside the piece. On the score he writes: ‘‘Perhaps to treat the indications here given as if they were the only surviving fragments of an ancient opera, or fragments of eye and ear witnesses’ accounts of such, and given no knowledge of performance tradition of the time, to reconstruct a hypothetical whole which would accommodate them economically, would be an appropriate basis of approach to a production.’’ So, try to put it back together and try to fill in all the gaps between these fragments. This approach, which, incidentally coincides with an interest in such procedures within my own work, seems to be the most suitable. If the ‘‘composer’’ uses the sorts of methods that Tom evidently uses in producing pictures, in making A Humument (of which Irma is a part), and if he uses the notations of Irma as clues to lead him into whatever area seems likely to yield rich results, then a much more satisfactory outcome is likely – satisfactory both in terms of the quality of the sounding material and in terms of consistency with the rest of Tom’s oeuvre.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Hard to pick a favourite from all this week's Dialogo releases. Absolutely bonkers avant minimalism / jazz / music concrete set.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.Introduction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2.Overture & Aria
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3.Aria - I Tell You That's Irma Herself
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. First (Interlude)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.Aria - Irma You Will Be Mine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2.Second (interlude)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3.Love Is Help Mate (Chorus)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4.Postlude

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Surgeon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Shell~Wave

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Two years after releasing the acclaimed Crash Recoil, Anthony Child aka Surgeon returns to Tresor with new LP, Shell~Wave. Retaining the minimal equipment list and studio-version-of-live-show-sets approach of the previous album in order to focus on the work itself, Shell~Wave is a deeply personal document of both where Surgeon is and has been, converging three decades of experience with a continued curiosity in the untested.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      “To make this project, I had to dig really deep in terms of what my relationship was to techno; I’ve been involved with it for a really long time and there’s a lot about it I feel dislocated from, so I had to really think hard about what techno is to me. I often get asked “what is techno to you?” but I can’t answer that with words; this album is the answer.” From the complex, twisting track Infinite Eye to the caustic Soul Fire, the eight tracks that make up the body of the album are single-take explorations of the vast, hard yet minimal techno Child is synonymous with.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Neatly dividing the record in two, the emotional centre of the record comes in the form of Dying, a vibrating, beatless piece that with a mantra-like vocal loop steeped in reverberating effects. Further echoes of dub production appear throughout the record as tracks like Divine Shadow, and Empty Cloud have an almost ever-present mist of reverberation, driven by the appearance of a new delay unit in the equipment list; while much of the philosophy of Crash Recoil’s creation is present, the process and the instruments have changed as Child again switches up his approach to studio work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This insistence on trying novel techniques doesn’t preclude returning to old ones, as this use of modern digital machines with live, hands-on takes that are as inspired by 60s producer Joe Meek and 70s reggae as they are by this year’s synthesiser expos. “For me, it’s an interesting experience returning to old techniques again after 30 years. [I’m] always exploring and finding myself back at the beginning. Connecting the present with the past.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This philosophy of ‘time travel’ is inherent to the music itself as the synchronised loops repeat while the delay and effects branch out, forming unique eddies; distinct quantum moments within the circular whole; the future leaking through the spaces between the sounds. All of the concepts on the album are perfectly communicated through the painting by Taiwanese artist Jazz Szu-Ying Chen which suggests the movement of water, sound waves, and the chitinous shells of sea creatures.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. / A1 Serpent Void 05:42
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. / A2 Soul Fire 06:06
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. / B1 Divine Shadow 05:36
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. / B2 Forgotten Gods 06:12
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. / B3 Dying 03:05
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. / C1 Infinite Eye 06:26
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. / C2 Triple Threat 06:35
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. / D1 Empty Cloud 04:29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. / D2 Fall 04:57

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rainy Miller

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Joseph, What Have You Done?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Rainy Miller is at the forefront of UK electronic music and loosely spinning around the axis of storied Salford club The White Hotel.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Having established himself at the forefront of the new sound of the UK, spearheading the boundary-less scene of alternative music, and gaining continued critical acclaim over the past few years, Rainy Miller presents his most personal project, the culmination of five years of work. The release follows on from his breakout album 'Desquamation' (2022) and follow up, collaborative full-length 'A Grisaille Wedding' (2023).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Initially inspired by the 2003 documentary ‘Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus’, an exploration of the intersection between Christianity and country music in the American South, Rainy became entrenched in the parallel similarities between the stories in the film to the stark realities of his own surroundings, the North of England.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Internalizing these connections, and reflecting on his own lived experiences, Rainy created ‘Joseph’ in an aesthetic he coins the Northern Gothic, a quasi anthropological British pastiche of the American Southern Gothic realm of the early 20th century.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Visually, the project references the forgotten notion of storytelling and the feeling of community that is prevalent amongst everyday life in the post-industrial North of England. In its bleak and often antiquated surroundings, Rainy explores the inherited pragmatism and resilience of its inhabitants, interjecting his own struggles and conciliations.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Mud In My Mouth. (Predetermined Definitions)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Toddbrook Dam, 2019.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. An Obsidian Lake Spews Out Of Me.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Vengeance.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Marked, 2020.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. An Angel! This Way Comes,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Then Casts Shadows, From Afar (A6 - Pendleton).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Please, Don't Walk Away Too Fast.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Chrome, Hallowed Be.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. To Grieve A Man, Is To Grieve A Man Twice.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Mary Magdalene, As A Home.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. The Fable / The Release.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Joseph, What Have You Done?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Esther Rose

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Want

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Esther Rose was on a long solo drive when she started writing the opening title track of 'Want', her stunning fifth album. At first, the words seemed almost like a joke, something to keep herself amused as the miles passed. “I want a puppy, but I don't want a mess. I want to know where I’m going without GPS,” she sang from behind the wheel. Soon, the idea snowballed into a list of desires that spanned existential, spiritual, and mundane; romantic to platonic to familial; at once wildly ambitious yet piercingly relatable; all set to a catchy melody that blends her pop instincts with country storytelling and the raw immediacy of a basement punk show. In other words, she was on her way to another classic Esther Rose song. This precise blend has made the Santa Fe-based artist one of her generation’s most beloved songwriters: someone whose live shows are known to conclude in mass tears and group hugs. Still, something was different this time. “For me, these songs felt like revelations,” she explains, comparing the 11-song record to a memoir, alive with kinetic storytelling and personal insight. In its newly direct and stirringly nuanced writing, you’ll hear about rock bottom encounters, shifting relationships with substances, evolving perspectives on adult partnership, and, as evidenced by those early lines in “Want,” a few jokes along the way. Vivid and bracing, Want places you in the passenger seat while each of these feelings arrive.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Want
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Tailspin (ft. Video Age)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Had To
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Ketamine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Rescue You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Scars (ft. Dean Johnson)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Messenger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. New Bad
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. The Clown
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Color Wheel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Want Pt. 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          My Wall

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Over

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The album features eight tracks of the most beautifully wretched sounds and heaviest riffs spread across a 38-minutes. Alternating betweeen dismal, down-tuned drudge and caucophonous blasts of chaos, OVER promises to be one of the most imaginative heavy albums of the year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            OVER is the first release from My Wall since returning from their Japanese tour. It’s followup to the band’s debut album Mine (2020) and the 12” EP “The Event/Abuse (2021).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            "The album is a fucking killer—punishingly heavy, but also a really unique and authentic style. I thoroughly enjoyed becoming familiar with it" - James Plotkin (Plotkinworks, O.L.D., Khanate).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Kraftwerk

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Klingklang Live 1974

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Rare and collectable recordings from 1974 & 1973 - digitally remastered. Classic broadcast recording from 1974, recorded at Großer Sendesaal Des Hessischen Rundfunk Hr1,Frankfurt, West Germany. Plus a bonus track recorded in 1973 for German TV. Features Tanzmusik, Kling Klang, Atem & Kometenmelodie 1 & 2 which would feature on the band's Autobahn album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Klingklang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Ruckzuck
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Atem/Tongebirge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Tanzmusik
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Kohoutek/Kometenmelodie I & II
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Tanzmusik

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Taking inspiration from hawala, a system of informal money transfers made to certain countries impacted by a lack of currency or unstable contexts. Megarbane spins this concept on its head, reimagining it as an artistic exchange spanning cultures, generations, and geographies. This spirit of creative movement is embodied in the album's amalgamative nature, featuring contributions from an international lineup of artists, including London-based jazz vocalist Sahra Gure, Italian-Tunisian singer LNDFK, Neapolitan pianist Dario Bassolino, Berlin beatmaker and violinist FloFilz, and an 18-piece orchestral arrangement by Swedish composer Sven Wunder. Recorded across multiple locations, from Beirut to Brooklyn, Stockholm to a rural French commune, the album's sonic journey mirrors its thematic premise.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Musically, the track list of Hawalat travels through a varied journey of textures and temperaments. The album's opener, Hanadi, is a percussive, Somali-inspired groove with wordless vocals and soaring saxophone lines. Tracks like Al Dollarji and Al Bahriye encapsulate Megarbane's signature Mediterranean sound, while Helia, performed with the Stockholm Studio Orchestra, showcases his cinematic sensibilities. Jana, an homage to the late Malian kora master Toumani Diabaté, sees Megarbane transform his guitar into a kora-like instrument, staying true to his commitment to experimentation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Following Marzipan (2023), which took a look inwards at the heart of Lebanon, Hawalat expands further outwards, exploring themes of diaspora, exile, and artistic migration. "As much as Marzipan was a portrait of Lebanon from the inside, Hawalat picks up where it left off," Megarbane explains. The album avoids nostalgic recreations of the past, instead situating itself comfortably in the present with a sound that is both timeless and contemporary.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Known for his prolific output—having released over 100 projects under various monikers—Megarbane continues to defy categorisation, crafting what he calls "Lebrary music": a borderless, Mediterranean-rooted fusion of library music, Afrobeat, hip-hop, and jazz. His ethos of spontaneity extends to his live performances, where he and his band reinterpret songs anew with each show. In 2024, he toured extensively, often sharing the stage with fellow Habibi Funk collaborator Rogér Fakhr, with more performances planned for 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Hanadi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Dreams Of An Insomniac
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Al Dollarji
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Les Vents Dominants
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Al Bahriye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Miramar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. The Invisible Cut
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Helia (feat. Sven Wunder)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. East Of What
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. La Calypso 02:41
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Hawalat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. Sfiha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              13. La Virgule Suspendue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              14. Preamble To The Conclusion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              15. Chou Ostak
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              16. What Happened Next
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              17. Jana

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Moundabout

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Goat Skull Table

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Rocket Recordings’ new Black Hole Series is a place where the unorthodox, otherworldly and esoteric can flourish, and there could be no more fitting first release for it than the most powerful metaphysical travelogue yet from Moundabout. Journeying still further into and beyond the landscapes from which this duo have unearthed inspiration, ‘Goat Skull Table’ is a transmission to give flight to spectral visions and include trance-states in abundance.The vibrations and manifestations of the duo of Paddy Shine(GNOD) and Phil Langero (Los Langeros, Damp Howl, Bisect) has always resonated within a very specific sense of place, transcending linear narratives and astral planes in a quest to unite timeless spirits with inner space. This third release for Rocket Recordings sees them colluding with the landscape of their surroundings, transcending linear narratives and astral planes in a quest to unite timeless spirits with inner space.The title track marks a focal point here; a Shamanic rite on which Langero’s charismatically charged mantras collude with an audial landscape somewhere on the map between the abstract spell-casting of Nurse With Wound and the druidic gnosticism of Julian Cope. This is Moundabout at their darkest and most ritualistic. Elsewhere, the hypnotic repetition of the twin ten-minute extrapolations ‘Blood On My Blanket’ and ‘Wagon’, and the potent incantatory chants of ‘Am I Not’ and ‘Brave New World’ glow with a rugged and charged dynamism redolent of the Swedish Psychedelia of Träd, Gräs & Stenar, uniting a minimal aesthetic with maximal impact. Dauntless, feverish, and reaching new heights of primal intensity ’Goat Skull Table’ is a formidable field guide to the earthen and other.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1 - Goat Skull Table
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2 - Brave New World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3 - Am I Not
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4 - Blood On My Blanket
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5 – Wagon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Litronix

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                One A Day Keeps The Doctor Away

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In 1942, The US Pentecostal Church Development Department made a robot preacher to replace human preachers who were abroad in the war. All was going well until its program was bought out by a pharmaceutical company through regular software updates. They started to add sales pitches to its speech program.After the war, the human preachers returned and the ‘Litronix’ program was closed down In late 1945. The ‘Litronix’ was driven out to the Nevada desert and buried in an unknown location.Fast forward 80 years, whilst digging the new foundations of a hotel, the ‘Litronix’ was discovered still awake and fully functioning. On its awakening, the ‘Litronix’ started to walk in the direction of Los Angeles. Over the past few years, living in LA, its religious and pharmaceutical programs have evolved into a more spiritual and holistic approach. Its external hard drive has downloaded more than 4500 documents on the subject of hypnosis. Government agencies and many new American business oligarchs have approached the ‘Litronix’ with job offers. The ‘Litronix’ refused.The ‘Litronix’ model also started to record jingles and songs on its internal recording system.This album ‘One a Day Keeps The Doctor Away’ is an edited version of the 200 hours of recorded material

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Stepping Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Vitamin X
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Get Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Vitamin IN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Choke The Smoke
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Vitamin O
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Bus Stop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Vitamin R
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Electric Panoramic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Vitamin TI
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Think
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Vitamin L
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. Power

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  China Crisis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  China Greatness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A beautifully packaged compilation of China Crisis' greatest hits and favourite tracks - The chosen songs have been arranged by Jack Hymers and recorded and mixed in a cinematic style by 3 time Grammy Award winning engineer Mark Phythian - Featuring Wishful Thinking, Arizona Sky, Christian, King In A Catholic Style, Black Man Ray, It's Never Too Late and many more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    LP 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Animals In Jungles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Wishful Thinking
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arizona Sky
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It's Everything
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Christian
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    King In A Catholic Style
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Papua
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It's Never To Late
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    When The Piper Calls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Black Man Ray
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    You Did Cut Me

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    LP2 (Deluxe Vinyl And CD Only)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It's Never Too Late (For You And Me Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Wishful Thinking (Brecon Beacons Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Papua (Pacific Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It's Everything (Everything Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    King (Reprise Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Christian (WW1 Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arizona (Sequential Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Black Man (Way Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Understudy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Propagandhi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    At Peace

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Known for their incisive political commentary and genre-blurring soundscapes, the band continues to challenge both the status quo and their own musical boundaries. 'At Peace' promises a fusion of their signature punk ethos with progressive elements, delivering a sonic assault that's as thought-provoking as it is relentless. As the follow-up to 2017's 'Victory Lap', this album is poised to reaffirm Propagandhi's place at the forefront of politically charged punk rock.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Guiding Lights
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. At Peace
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Cat Guy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. No Longer Young
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Rented P.A.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Stargazing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. God Of Avarice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Prismatic Spray (The Tinder Date)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Benito's Earlier Work
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Vampires Are Real
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Fire Season
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Day By Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13. Something Needs To Die But Maybe It's Not You

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Louis Philippe & The Night Mail

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Road To The Sea

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Louis Philippe and The Night Mail return with a new captivating record where the songs are once again faultless. Carrying on the journey away from the classic towards the unexpected with new synths and hand claps adding a sense of the abrupt and, with voices calling from the wings, a sense of play and a lack of fear.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Beyond the regular tales routinely retold, there's a secret, parallel narrative of pop history. One written by the true enthusiasts and eclectics, in which a perennial favourite like Pet Sounds didn't just inspire endless claims of exceptionality but a long trail of harmonic riches leading all the way to the 21st century. In this alternative universe Philippe Auclair aka Louis Philippe, Anglo-French singer-songwriter extraordinaire, has been an admired fixture for the past four decades, from his beginnings as protagonist and house producer at Mike Alway's fabled él Records label through his forays into the Shibuya sound and collaborations with the likes of Bertrand Burgalat, XTC's Dave Gregory, High Llamas' Sean O'Hagan and Young Marble Giants' Stuart Moxham right up to his more recent adventures with The Night Mail.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. The Road To Somewhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Pictures Of Anna
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Where Did We Go Wrong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. La Maison Sans Toit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Those Days Of Summer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. All At Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Le Baiser
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Wine And Roses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Watching Your Sun Go Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. A Friend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Song For Paddy (Wings Of Desire)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. To The Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Always
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Ville Lumière

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        M Ross Perkins

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        What's The Matter, M Ross?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'What’s the Matter, M Ross?', the third installment from the idiosyncratic M Ross Perkins, finds our boy on an inward journey, exploring the transcendental and existential with his most lyrically confessional album to date. It’s a record that serves notice that multi-instrumentalist Perkins belongs amongst the singer/songwriter zeitgeist that has swooned over MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee while serving as a conduit to optimism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Composed, performed, and recorded completely by Perkins in his Dayton, OHstudio, 'What’s the Matter…' is both the most stripped down and expansive within his tryptic of albums. The headphone symphonies move with a deliberate, composed sophistication while the lyrics explore fresh territory, turning the camera away from the “butterscotch revue” and pointing it into a mirror. "The touch stones of psych pop remain: flourishes of Nilsson are still here, but so are Gram Parsons and Jonathan Richman. If you want to assign geography to What’s the Matter, M Ross?, the album is equal parts Laurel Canyon and Big Pink, more Woodstock the town than the festival. Perkins is a self-contained (late-period) Teenage Fanclub with George Harrison’s spiritual sense of inner wanderlust.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Hey Man/Hey Self
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Saccade I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Gone (In The Morning)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Crying In My Sleep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Spiritual Kick
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Saccade II
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. I Feel So Dumb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. I Don't Wanna Be So High
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Saccade III
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Baby, My Bad
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. A Date For One
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. That's Fine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. Bouquet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          14. Saccade IV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          15. Quite Right Kindly

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Paco Cathcart

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Down On Them

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Native New Yorker, Paco Cathcart is an important progenitor of the NYC underground that birthed the likes of Water From Your Eyes, Palberta and Lily Konigsberg. Down On Them is Paco’s first record by their own name after 100+ releases un- der the name The Cradle. 'Down On Them' is about Paco’s NYC homeland and living in these strange and often dark times. The record features some of the NYC’s best players.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            RIYL: Neil Young, Stephen Malkmus, The Cradle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Your Reflection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Bottleneck Blues
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Cry On Command
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Oh, Joy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Ella Vive Sola
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. TM Joint
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Gender Neutral
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Can’t Recall My Dreams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Something Moving
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Pale Grey Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Just Love You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. Invasive Species

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Brown Acid: The Twentieth Trip

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Here you are in 2025 about to take the Twentieth Trip! The ten vintage early local hard rock eruptions here will swarm around you like fear and loathing bats, zapping you from unexpected angles, beyond-a-reasonable-doubt proof that the inevitable collapse of the American Psychedelic ’60s Utopian Dream into hard guitar low ball self absorbed human nature endures. These killer tracks may be a half century in the rear-view mirror now but...since We Can’t Work It Out… we gotta mess it up! A vibe that resonates timelessly, real life ripped out of the haze by real people, fresh and unfiltered right out of the gate. Getting it while they can. These are no mere historic sound recordings, they are life itself! If you’re looking for trouble, you just found it!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Afterflash – Cookbook
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Polvo – Have You Ever Been There? (Has Estado Ahí)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Hot Candy – Darkened Passage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Banana Bros – Suck You In
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. The Jordan Brothers – Thank You For The Ride
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Osage Lute – Watch Em Shine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Sandy Torano And The Nimo Spliff – A Year Ago Today
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Lazy Day – Don’t Dance In My Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Flavor – Hot And Tot Woman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Frozen Sun – Jamm Pt. 1

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Roots Rocking Zimbabwe - The Modern Sound Of Harare Townships 1975-1980

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The 25 songs presented in 'Roots Rocking Zimbabwe - The Modern Sound of Harare' Townships 1975-1980' showcase the birth of the modern music industry in Zimbabwe and the explosion of creativity bands of the 1970s and 80s endlessly delivered.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It was a time of wild experimentation before established genres had crystallised. Rock, rumba, soul and traditional grooves all collide beautifully in this collection, which also includes never before released tracks by Thomas Mapfumo, Oliver Mtukudzi and many other Zimbabwean artists!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Chiiko Chinotinetsa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Amai A Kwatu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Soweto Mujibha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Soul Scene
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Anoshereketa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Nyaya Dzinonetsa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Hangaiwa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. The Towering Inferno
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Joburg Bound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Nyamutamba Naziwere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Engelina
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Funky Reggae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. Introduction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                14. Yarira
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                15. Baby Please
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                16. Chistiuiti
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                17. Kwakaenda
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18. No Delay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                19. Kumalila Ngwenya
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                20. Shanga Yangu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                21. Give It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                22. Musikana
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                23. Taj Mahal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                24. Viva Zimbabwe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                25. Porter

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Viagra Boys

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Viagr Aboys

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Viagr Aboys' is the fourth studio album from Viagra Boys.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Featuring single 'Man Made of Meat', the LP sees Viagra Boys turn inwards, leaving the acid-laced, conspiracy-addled societal commentary of previous LP 'Cave World' behind to journey into the acid-laced, conspiracy-addled landscape within. Absurd, intense and surprisingly tender, 'Viagr Aboys' shuts out the noise to find that the important part of being alive in the big, stupid world is figuring out that the world inside of you that is equally big and stupid.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Scathing, soaring garage riffs and distorted vocal swathes, as is the order of the day for Viagra Boys. This time the psychedelic quotient is amped up to 11, with woozy riffs and weird scuzzy stoner grooves coated with a veneer of heady, lysergic oddity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Man Made Of Meat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. The Bog Body
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Uno II
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Pyramid Of Health
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Dirty Boyz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Medicine For Horses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Waterboy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Store Policy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. You N33d Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Best In Show Pt. IV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. River King

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Moonlandingz

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  No Rocket Required

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Moonlandingz have returned, seven long years after their debut. When they first emerged from Valhalla Dale they were a semi-fictional band bringing us sticky squelchy pop songs to offer solace and punishment in the months following the Brexit vote and Trump’s first victory. Adrian Flanagan, Dean Honer and Lias Saoudi aka The Moonlandingz conspired with Yoko Ono, Rebecca Taylor, Phil Oakey and the Cowboy from The Village People to make one of the great albums of 2017, and we needed it. Interplanetary Class Classics was a dose of unreality equal to the unhinged times we were stumbling into.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Moonlandingz have finally returned – not when we wanted them but now that we need them – galloping in on their four horses, bareback and howling, with their eagerly awaited forthcoming album No Rocket Required.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    No Rocket Required delivers brassy squawks, motorik convulsions and sinister soothing vocals from a righteous line-up of guest singers and ranters: Nadine Shah, Iggy Pop, Jessica Winter and Ewen Bremner. Plus, of course, there’s The Moonlandingz’ own front man, Johnny Rocket aka Lias Saoudi, who has the wobbly-horny voice of R Whites’ secret lemonade drinker on Give Me More and then becomes basically Kris Kristofferson of the Pennines in the middle of epic Krack Drought Suite, imparting gnomic sawdust saloon wisdom from a barstool in Huddersfield. Mostly though he’s the man we know from Fat White Family with gravelly crooning (to especially great effect in Roustabout, his duet with Nadine Shah) and camp Working Men’s Club lead singer, Syd Minsky-Sargeant.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    What to do, as we potter and fret, as we watch bodies, homes and lives destroyed every day while our elected leaders, so forensic and so sensible, use their weasel words, shrug their coward shoulders and saunter off to raise our bus fares. Dancing of course and togetherness, looking out for each other, and that’s not enough. What kind of fight are we bringing? We will always need to organise, to fight, to collaborate, to connect and to dance dance dance. And that is what The Moonlandingz do.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: More theatrical, athletic psychedelia from The Moonlandingz here, chanelling the spirit of 50's lounge jazz and woozy electronica into a camp and magnificently evocative whole. Brilliantly weird, but unsurprisingly brilliant.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1 Some People's Music
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2 The Sign Of A Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3 Roustabout
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4 The Insects Have Been Shat On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5 It's Where I'm From
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6 All Out Of Pop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7 Yama Yama
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8 Give Me More
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9 Stink Foot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10 The Krack Drought Suite (Pts 1-3)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Self Esteem

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A Complicated Woman

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Though Rebecca Lucy Taylor's third album swims with the same spirited dancefloor pop synth groove and dramatic, crescentic vocal flourishes it seems like the highs hinted at on the hugely impactful and critically lauded 'Prioritise Pleasure' have been surpassed and Self Esteem's sound has been cemented in the process. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The beautiful, uplifting strength of 'If Not Now, It's Soon' for example or the group gospel-adjacent vocals on the uplifting anthem 'Focus Is Power' beautifully illustrate the duality of the project, that there are indeed serious themes at play (the cover echoing The Handmaids Tale being no small indication), but with the serious social themes beautifully lightened by melodic and instrumental jubilance liberally scattered throughout the album. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      That's not to say there aren't more playful pieces on the album too, with filthy bangers like the bet-my-mum-walks-in-when-i'm-playing-this grind of '69' or the brilliant 'In Plan Sight' featuring Moonchild Sanelly. A superb, spirited return for one of the greatest pop stars around today. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Soaring electronics, smooth synth lines and rattling bass booms underpin RLT's finely crafted album of effortless synth pop, dancefloor grit and uplifting, socially conscious lyrics. Another perfectly manicured outing from one of our favourite musicians.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1 I Do And I Don't Care 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2 Focus Is Power 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3 Mother 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4 The Curse 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5 Logic, Bitch! (Ft. Sue Tompkins) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6 Cheers To Me 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7 If Not Now, It's Soon 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8 In Plain Sight By Self Esteem & Moonchild Sanelly 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9 Lies (Ft. Nadine Shah)  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10 69 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11 What Now 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12 The Deep Blue Okay 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Emma-Jean Thackray

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Weirdo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Emma-Jean Thackray, the visionary producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, releases her highly anticipated second album, 'Weirdo' on April 25th via Gilles Peterson’s celebrated label, Brownswood Recordings / Parlophone Records. Known for defying musical boundaries, Thackray's latest work is a deeply personal and utterly original exploration of selfhood, grief, and gratitude.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Drawing on an eclectic mix of influences—grunge, pop, soul, p-funk, and jazz -  'Weirdo' is a triumphant celebration of survival and individuality. Written, performed, recorded, mixed, produced and arranged entirely by Thackray in her South London flat, the album stands as a testament to her extraordinary musicianship and fearless self-expression.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: A wildly varied, driving monolith of jazzy breaks and grooves, with throbbing distorted bass and Thackray's powerful, wandering vocal. Part jazz, part funk, part soul but *all* great. Another sign that Thackray is one of the most exciting UK musical talents around.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Something Wrong With Your Mind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Weirdo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Stay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Let Me Sleep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Please Leave Me Alone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Save Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Maybe Nowhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. What Is The Point
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Black Hole (feat. Reggie Watts)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. In Your Mind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Tofu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Fried Rice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Where’d You Go
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Wanna Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Starting At The Wall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. I Don’t Recognise My Hands
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. It’s Okay (feat. Kassa Overall)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Remedy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Thank You For The Day

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Cloth

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Pink Silence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Cloth let go on ‘Pink Silence’, a bold reinvention that retains their enchanting pull.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Scottish twins Rachael and Paul Swinton sounded like few around them when they released their 2019 self-titled debut. Their appeal lived in tense guitar parts and Rachael’s signature close vocal. In the time since, they have worked to perfect that sound. The 2023 follow-up ‘Secret Measure’ expanded it in every direction, with more layers, more interplay, and gutsier writing. The record received critical acclaim from publications including The Guardian, Pitchfork, CLASH and Uncut, and was shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award in 2023. Cloth have also been championed by 6 Music DJs Mary Anne Hobbs, Guy Garvey, Tom Robinson, and Matt Everitt, and played exciting live sessions for Marc Riley & Gideon Coe (6 Music), Roddy Hart (BBC Radio Scotland) and John Kennedy (Radio X).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Now, three records in, they embrace letting go of expectation. ‘Pink Silence’ is unafraid to go big in the quest to make something lasting. With Owen Pallett, Adrian Utley (Portishead), and Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai) contributing, this mission is supported by some of their musical heroes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “It was a conscious decision to go bigger, more muscular and less subtle,” says Paul. “There was a willingness to push ourselves as far as we could go in terms of how cinematic we could make things.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The central prompt to ‘let go’ was given to Rachael by the band’s producer Ali Chant (Yard Act, Perfume Genius, PJ Harvey) when she asked him if he noticed any common threads when artists create their best work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “He said ‘the artist always lets go’, and he didn't really expand on it”, Rachael says. “So I took this phrase away and just ruminated on it for ages, viewing letting go as something that could be helpful. I started applying it to different things, like the writing, not trying to get caught up in that feeling of ‘is this good enough? Do I need to work on this again?’ It was more instinctual.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          With ‘Pink Silence’, the band entered the studio to make the ten strongest songs they possibly could, and they left a stronger band.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: I love Cloth. Their 2023 album, Secret Measure was my personal album of the year in 2023 and remains a favourite to this day. Obviously I was delighted then to hear they had a new one coming for favourite label, Rock Action but also delighted to hear that it's equally brilliant, angular post-rock indie business to that stunning debut. If anything it's even more tuneful and cathartic and inventive. Brilliant.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Pink Silence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Polaroid
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Stuck
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Golden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. The Cottage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. It’s A Lot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. I Don’t Think So
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Stones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Burn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Write It Down

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Swedish artist Martinou crafts deeply immersive electronic music, seamlessly balancing weight and delicacy. His productions oscillate between hypnotic intensity and introspective warmth, always evoking a visceral response on the dancefloor.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          After releasing on acclaimed labels like Nous’klaer, Turbo Recordings, and Mule Musiq, the Malmö-based producer now makes his long-awaited debut on Stockholm’s Studio Barnhus. His “Linked” LP showcases six meticulously layered compositions, where intricate rhythms intertwine with luminous melodies – ethereal synths drifting in and out of the grooves, shaping an atmosphere that’s both expansive and deeply personal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          With “Linked”, Martinou further refines his signature approach, crafting music that feels at once free-flowing and deliberate. It’s a record that invites deep listening yet remains primed for the floor – a testament to the Malmö maestro's knack for blurring the lines between club functionality and sonic storytelling.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Textured and immersive, landing somewhere between Four Tet, Hivern and Floating Points. Effortless grooves that flow naturally and with a quiet confidence. Highly mellifluous audio artefacts and intriguing rhythms. A magical piece.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A 33 RPM 1. You Took Me In / 2. Blur
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B 45 RPM 1. Somewhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C 33 RPM 1. Between Here And Home / 2. Light (from Within)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D 45 RPM 1. This Is Not The End

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Maria Somerville

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Luster

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By the time Irish musician Maria Somerville started writing 'Luster', her landmark label debut for 4AD, she had lived away from her native Connemara for quite some time. Having grown up amongst the wild, mountainous terrain of Galway’s rural west coast, she later relocated to Dublin, where she patiently developed an atmospheric dream pop signature inspired by the landscape of her youth – a spellbinding sound world of gusting ambient electronics, ethereal guitar strums, sparse percussion, and hushed lyrical vignettes. In 2019, this culminated in 'All My People', a self-released LP steeped in reverb, nostalgia and a yearning for home that won praise from discerning press and listeners alike.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            It was upon returning to Connemara, in a house near where she was raised overlooking one of the country’s largest lakes, Lough Corrib, that work commenced on the songs that would eventually become 'Luster', an album that illuminates Somerville’s music anew, pushing it forward in both sound and spirit. Where 'All My People' conveyed memories and melancholic longing with misty slowcore balladry, these 12 tracks show us an artist who’s more assured in the path her life has taken, and the person she’s become in the process. As she sings in ‘Trip’ – “I can see more clearly than I could before. I know now wat's true for me.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Invigorated by her surroundings and emboldened by her community, Somerville found a renewed sense of creative energy upon returning to home soil. It provided “fertile ground” for free-flowing recording sessions in her small living room studio, where she stitched together demos that were then fleshed out with friends and collaborators, and later mixed by the renowned New York-based engineer Gabriel Schuman. Contributors included producers J. Colleran, Brendan Jenkinson and Diego Herrera (aka Suzanne Kraft), as well as Lankum’s Ian Lynch, whose uilleann pipe drones you can hear in ‘Violet’, and Margie Jean Lewis, whose violin bows reverberate through the ambient haze of ‘Flutter’. Sessions with musicians Henry Earnest and Finn Carraher McDonald (aka Nashpaints) helped “tie it all together”, while contributions from friends Roisin Berkley and Olan Monk enshrined the companionship they’ve shared since Somerville returned to Connemara.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Hazy, dreamy folk-flavoured rock music that's as reminiscent of the 80's and 90's as it is right up to date. Beautifully produced and wonderfully immersive, a perfectly manicured mix between shimmering shoegaze, classic songwriting and ambient. Lovely stuff.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Réalt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Projections
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Garden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Corrib
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Halo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Spring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Stonefly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Flutter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Trip
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Violet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. October Moon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7” Tracklisting:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Untitled
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Spring (II)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            We go through life. We shed our skins. We become ourselves.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            This line from Patti Smith was going round and round Felix Manuel’s head as he gradually constructed "Under Tangled Silence", his first album in six years and a record of a literal creative rebirth. Felix originally began it in earnest in 2020 Covid lockdown, but a catastrophic hard-drive meltdown destroyed almost all his work and sent him close to psychic collapse himself. However, ultimately this pushed him to rebuild from scratch and in so doing to confront and reassess every part of his musical and psychological processes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The result is utterly extraordinary. Felix was a child prodigy as an instrumentalist and his advanced musicality has always been prominent in his music, but here he has put himself front and centre as pianist, harpist and more. And this sense of exposure as a performer interweaves with an unflinching emotional openness too. Where sometimes electronic production as advanced as this can use intellect and techniques as shields from soul-baring, this is the sound of someone who can boldly convey plenty of emotion and feeling in his productions. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            But this doesn’t mean there’s a move away from the soundsystems and dancefloors where Felix made his name as a uniquely innovative DJ. Even just in the opening track “A Tune for Us”, minimalist piano ripples and jazz drumming flow into the breaks of vintage jungle – and as the structure of the LP unfolds, a deep ambient meditation like “Hold” can sit very naturally in between the futurist dancehall of “L’Ancienne” and the high-definition acid house mind movie of “Galaxy in Silence”. In fact, as with the hands-on musicianship, that gutsy big-speaker electronic impact is delivered with more certainty, more expertise, more personal flourishes than ever. And all of those elements are more integrated than ever too: the sound of a total musical personality emerging afresh is truly something to behold. An already remarkable talent has been refreshed, reborn and is making the music of his life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Matt says: Long serving UK vet makes a welcome return. A reinvention of sorts, it sees Felix tread intrepidly into new sonic pastures, all the while maintaining that strong sense of musicality and sound system prowess that's marked much of this prolific producer's back catalogue. A triumph for many reasons (not least for motivating himself back into gear following a disastrous hard drive meltdown!).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A1. A Tune For Us
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A2. Waxcap
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A3. Unweaving
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B1. L'Ancienne
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B2. Hold
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B3. Galaxy In Silence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B4. Reprise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            C1. Three Foxes Chasing Each Other
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            C2. Let Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            D1. Out Of Dust
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            D2. Sycamore 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            JakoJako

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Tết 41

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Tết 41' is the latest record by modular synthesist and Berghain resident JakoJako (Sibel Koçer), marking her album debut for Mute.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Recorded during a trip to Vietnam and bookended by field recordings from Tết Lunar New Year celebrations, the album is illuminated by references to Koçer’s heritage. The melodic palette breaks away from traditional Western scales, drawing instead from the tonal intricacies of the Vietnamese language, inspired by overheard conversations. The album and track titles further honour the vibrant Tết festivities, shrines, and landmarks she encountered during her travels.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              This album is, in many ways, a distillation of ideas she has been exploring for years. Tapping into a deep understanding of machine-based music, crafted with a minimalist setup consisting of a Eurorack and Waldorf Iridium Core, 'Tết 41' reflects on notions of rebirth, and the pursuit of a sonic core. From this simplicity emerge some of her most expansive, unworldly compositions to date. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Shimmering, paddling arps and swirling FM synth blips coming together into a beautifully smooth but undeniably textural selection of blissful modular synth soundscapes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Xin Chào
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Kumquat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Lì Xì
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Hoa đào
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Ghi-Ta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Đà Nẵng
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Dragon Bridge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Chim Sẻ
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Gió
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Cảm ơn

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              "Four Seasons in Kyoto" marks the final chapter of The Kyoto Connection’s Ambient Japanese trilogy, following "Postcards" (2018) and "The Flower, The Bird and The Mountain" (2022). Like its predecessors, this album pays homage to the pioneering ambient and environmental music movements of 1980s and 1990s Japan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The album unfolds as the imagined soundtrack to life in a quiet rural village, where nature and tradition shape the rhythm of everyday existence. Across 14 evocative compositions, The Kyoto Connection captures the essence of Japan’s ever-changing seasons, weaving together delicate melodies and immersive soundscapes. With contributions from friends and fans in Japan, "Four Seasons in Kyoto" is both a tribute and a transportive listening experience from producer Facundo Arena, the composer and producer behind The Kyoto Connection.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              With "Four Seasons in Kyoto", Facundo Arena continues his deep exploration of Japanese ambient and environmental music, blending his long-standing admiration for Kyoto’s cultural heritage with a sound that feels both nostalgic and timeless. While "Postcards" was an instinctive homage and "The Flower, The Bird and The Mountain" drew from real Kyoto field recordings, this final chapter in the trilogy leans further into the imagined, an intimate portrait of an unseen yet deeply felt Japan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Recorded using a mix of vintage synths, delicate acoustic instrumentation, and subtle electronic textures, "Four Seasons in Kyoto" refines The Kyoto Connection’s signature approach. Organic soundscapes and drifting melodies mirror the slow change of seasons, evoking the impermanence central to Japanese aesthetics. The result is a record that seamlessly bridges the natural and the synthetic, memory and imagination, a fitting conclusion to a journey that began with an algorithmic discovery and blossomed into a rich sonic world of its own.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Matt says: Enchanted garden ambience with a heavy nod to the Japanese greats that precede it. The Kyoto Connection emit a sincere and pure tone out of their base in Argentina.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ihojin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A Drop Of Dew
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Four Seasons In Kyoto
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mindscape
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Shore
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Playground
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Yurei
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Kyoto Sound Logo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Dedication
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mindscape Ii
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Seiko
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Solitud
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ryokan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Love Letter

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Natural Information Society & Bitchin Bajas

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Totality

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                'Totality'! It can only be good news. The second convergence of Natural Information Society and Bitchin Bajas, years removed from the first, misses no steps and posits low-key revolutions in gravity for everyone instead. LPs divide inevitably into two halves; here, the first side could be typed ‘space’ and the second side ‘time’. With loads of totally principled playing in the communal feel, both sides blur the edges warmly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Totality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Nothing Does Not Show
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Always 9 Seconds Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Clock No Clock

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Sunflower Bean

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mortal Primetime

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Beloved NYC rock band Sunflower Bean return reinvigorated with 'Mortal Primetime', the most hard-fought and vulnerable album of their career. In the three years since their last LP 'Headful of Sugar', the members of Sunflower Bean - Julia Cumming, Nick Kivlen, and Olive Faber -drifted from one another as they pursued new projects and confronted personal challenges, tragedies and transformations. But 'Mortal Primetime' – the band’s fourth album, but first self-produced – finds Sunflower Bean with a renewed sense of purpose after nearly losing everything they built together. With mixing by Caesar Edmunds (The Killers, Wet Leg) and engineering by Sarah Tudzin (Illuminati Hotties, Boygenius), Sunflower Bean were inspired by alternative rock, dreamy psychedelia, and arena-sized ambition to create a sound that’s undeniably theirs on 'Mortal Primetime'; a record that celebrates their history while hurtling toward the future.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Sunflower Bean has never fit neatly into a scene, and 'Mortal Primetime' will remind listeners why. They draw from a wide swath of influences most bands wouldn’t dare namecheck together in a sentence, and that daringness has made them undefinable. “Sometimes I think of this record as Belle and Sebastian meets Alice in Chains,” Cumming says. “In the past, we’ve been told to tone down who we are, and this album is our refusal to be anything but ourselves,” Faber says ,“It’s the purest expression of who we are.” Recording vocals for the album’s power-pop opener and lead single 'Champagne Taste', Cumming channelled Iggy Pop circa The Idiot, whilst later, on 'Look What You’ve Done to Me', her staggering range conjures the unsettling madness and whimsy of Kate Bush. And on 'Nothing Romantic', soaring power cords harken back to arena-ready hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s by Heart, Pat Benatar, or Joan Jett.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  These songs are the most honest of Sunflower Bean’s career – unvarnished, exposed - and by embracing discordance and uncertainty, they have created the bravest album of an already storied career. When Sunflower Bean set out to make music together as teenagers, they knew they wanted to go the distance, to create something that could stand up to the unforgiving passage of time. However fleeting this existence is, with 'Mortal Primetime', Sunflower Bean offers up another monument that will withstand the weathering of time.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Champagne Taste
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Nothing Romantic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Waiting For The Rain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Look What You've Done To Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. I Knew Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Take Out Your Insides
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. There's A Part I Can't Get Back
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Please Rewind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Shooting Star
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Sunshine

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Bonus 12":
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. No Bills In Heaven
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Raggedy Anne
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. Lady Daydream
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  14. Crashing Highs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15. Watch You Walk Away

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Prima Queen

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Prize

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Candid, involving and full of character, Prima Queen’s music has become a world unto itself. The songs of Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden play like a love letter to the radical power of friendship; to the fans who have reveled in the band’s bitingly charismatic storytelling. Listening to their glorious debut LP 'The Prize', you want to crawl up inside all of its effusive, empathic melodies and bathe in the warmth of the enviable bond at the record’s core.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Described, accurately, by McFadden as an album that “screams empowerment and strength,” 'The Prize' uses the pair’s fateful connection as a North Star for their shared journey towards growth. Tapping into the shimmering pop sensibilities of HAIM and Jenny Lewis, an openness of spirit defines these 12 tracks, partly inspired by the euphoria Prima Queen experienced on stage over the past year while touring with Olivia Dean, Dream Wife and Swim Deep. It’s here where the band establish themselves as astute, refreshingly frank songwriters, articulating supersized feelings with grace and wit.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Clickbait (Intro)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Mexico
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. The Prize
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Oats (Ain’t Gonna Beg)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Ugly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Flying Ant Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Meryl Streep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Spaceship
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Fool
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Woman And Child
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Sunshine Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. More Credit

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Molchat Doma

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Live At Panorama Hotel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Molchat Domaare releasing their first official live album, performed and recorded at the iconic Hotel Panorama, the striking architectural monument featured on the cover of their breakthrough album 'Etazhi'.Celebrated for channeling a distinct Soviet-era darkwave aesthetic, Molchat Doma bring their haunting sound to life with three fan-favourite tracks: 'Toska' and 'Sudno' from the viral phenomenon 'Etazhi', and 'Chernye Cvety' from their critically acclaimed 2024 album 'Belaya Polosa'. Lauded for their ability to blend melancholy synths with infectious rhythms, this release captures the raw energy of their live performances—showcasing Egor’s chillingly emotive vocals alongside subtle, live reinterpretations of their signature synth and guitar arrangements.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Toska
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Chernye Cvety
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Sudno (Boris Ryzhy)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      William Tyler

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Time Indefinite

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        After crucial stints in Silver Jews and Lambchop, William Tyler emerged with a string of inquisitive albums that paired his country rearing and classical enthusiasm with his ardor for experimentation and field recordings. His productive enclave of instrumental music has not only ushered in new sounds, but also critical new voices. No other solo American guitarist this century has impacted that fecund scene quite like him. And on the brilliant, bracing 'Time Indefinite', Tyler’s first solo album in five years, he steps at last into the widening gyre he helped create. The guitar is the starting point for an album that will make you reconsider not only Tyler but also the possibilities of an entire field. A vortex of noise and harmony, ghosts and dreams, anguish and hope, it is not just a great guitar record. It is a stunning record by a great guitarist, a masterpiece of our collectively anxious time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        In early 2020, as the world teetered at the edge of unrests still unimagined, Tyler left LA for Nashville, where he’d lived most of his life. Most of his gear and all of his records stayed, awaiting a presumed rapid return. It, of course, wasn’t. So as Tyler dealt with the depression, nerves, and questions of those endlessly tense times, he began recording ideas with his phone and a cassette deck, resigning himself to the distortion inherent in those devices. Tyler was talking with Kieran Hebden about making a record together, and some of these bits felt like test cases. As that collaboration crept in other directions Tyler magpied other sounds. He asked longtime friend, producer Jake Davis, to help stitch them together, opting to embrace the hiss and wobble and to unintentionally make a record that reflected those times and these—uneasy, damaged, honest.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A seesaw of struggle and survival defines these songs, a map of anguish and belief and the trails that link them. “This is a mental illness record,” Tyler will tell you without shame, as open in life and speech as he is on tape. “It’s music about losing your mind but not wanting to, about trying to come back.” He doesn’t need to tell you that; you can feel it, possibly recognize it from your own experience.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Tyler’s albums have been nests of non-musical influences, as he has pivoted between spirituality and philosophy and summoned the landscapes of the greater American imagination. Time Indefinite is no different, especially in the way it conjures the deeply personal films of Ross McElwee. In the mid-’80s, he began to make a movie about Sherman’s march through the South, but it spiraled into a tangled history about family, loss, and what we do when our best instincts surrender to the worst things we can imagine. The record is a nod to this idea, of time’s relentless push and our place in, beneath, and beside it. It is no great revelation that the lives we lead shape the work we make, whether or not we intend that to be the case. In these songs, you can hear Tyler wrestle with incoming demons out loud—addiction, middle age, loneliness, neurosis. All of our struggles are different, but we are united in having them. This is the soundtrack that Tyler’s create.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Cabin Six
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Concern
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Star Of Hope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Howling At The Second Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. A Dream, A Flood
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Anima Hotel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Electric Lake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Hardest Land To Harvest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Held

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Pale White

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Big Sad

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This is the northeast calling, with songs of stillness, reflection, renewal, defiance, hope, classic melodies and, at certain perfectly judged moments, furniture-shifting riffs. With a powerful album shaped by pandemic-era loss (of momentum, and of a band member), and by the wins brought by what singer/songwriter/guitarist Adam Hope describes as a “weight lifted off my shoulders”. With a fresh, front-footed, fired-up approach that owes everything to a band returning to their roots in Wallsend and Newcastle – and, for the first time, making their music entirely on their own independent terms: self-produced and self-confident.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'The Big Sad': an album born from the ashes of dark times, but representing a beacon of light for the future. An album of honesty and purity, one that our current fanbase sonically may not be expecting. The sound of a band that got tired of slamming on the fuzz pedal to tick the ‘rock’ box and dares to try something new, dares to shock, dares to be great.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Lost In The Moment
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. The Big Sad
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Woolly Thunder
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. I’m Sorry (This Time)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. January, Please
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Preparing For The Big Sad
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. There’s An Echo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Real Again
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Trapped In The Vacuum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Interlude
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Nostradamus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. My Abacus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. The Big Sad

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deerhoof

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Noble And Godlike In Ruin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Though Deerhoof long ago established itself as one of the greatest rock groups ever to stride the earth—and if you think that’s hyperbole, you haven’t spent enough time listening to Deerhoof—the furiously inventive quartet treats each of their new albums as an opportunity for creative rebirth. And yet somehow, they’re also profoundly reliable, a strange but true descriptor for a band so creatively restless. You never know what a new Deerhoof album might sound like, except that it will always sound like Deerhoof.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            They are defined by such paradoxes, as 'Noble and Godlike in Ruin' reaffirms. Their latest album is either a portrait of a world descending into monstrous hate, dehumanization, and dollar signs, or a haunting self-portrait of band-as-monster: an intelligent, sensitive, hybrid creature, singing tirelessly of love, but increasingly alienated from that world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The music is joyful and foreboding, cybernetic and deeply human, all at once. Strings that evoke avant-garde chamber music and classic horror-film soundtracks bounce off guitar and bass lines that chug on impervious to the creeping dread. The drums are sometimes filtered to sound almost electronic, but no computer could come up with rhythms so funky and dynamic, with each minute variation from one snare hit to the next conveying worlds of possibility. Fronting it all is Satomi Matsuzaki’s inimitable alto. A voice of solitude, whose plainspoken calm can seem strangely outside of the band’s maelstrom, even as she contributes to it with her jaggedly precise bass parts. As a first-generation immigrant to the US, she’s never tried to disguise her Japanese accent, or her deadpan, karaoke-esque delivery. On 'Noble and Godlike in Ruin', her sense of remove feels alternately like an expression of loneliness and like a cool provocation to systems of oppression and control. “Kindness is all I needed from you,” she sings on the epic album closer 'Immigrant Songs'. “But you think we’re in your house.” Not long after, the song detonates, its tightly wound art-pop giving way to several minutes of howling noise.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Though the subject matter may be bleak—how could it not be?—the songs carry an implicit note of defiant optimism in their refusal to bow to convention or received wisdom. There’s that famous Dylan Thomas line about raging against the dying of the light: 'Noble and Godlike in Ruin' feels a little like that. The world may be going down, but Deerhoof is going down swinging.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Overrated Species Anyhow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Sparrow Sparrow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Kingtoe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Return Of The Return Of The Fire Trick Star
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. A Body Of Mirrors
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Ha, Ha Ha Ha, Haaa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Disobedience
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Who Do You Root For?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Under Rats (featuring Saul Williams)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Immigrant Songs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Jimi Tenor & Cold Diamond & Mink

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            July Blue Skies

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Embark on a funky synth-drenched journey as the cosmic count Jimi Tenor reunites with Timmion Records’ soul architects Cold Diamond & Mink for yet another album. When placed side by side with the fellows’ recent effort 'Is There Love In Outer Space?', 'July Blue Skies' glides on a slightly more raw and mystical plane.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Crafted over fiery sessions between Tenor and Cold Diamond & Mink, this vinyl release offers six soul-grasping tracks ranging from mellow groove to soundtrack funk. The album’s opening title song kicks off with an extended analog synth intro which eventually develops into a sweet romantic invocation, painting a sonic canvas reminiscent of a boundless summer sky. The most vocal tune of this quite instrumental set of songs 'Sky Train Baby' propels the listener on a locomotive ride through the star systems while 'Venus of Barsoon' with its drum breaks and fuzz sounds blast you straight into sci fi movie funk territory.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The album’s B-side opens with 'Ikuchi', where Tenor’s always trusted flute and tenor sax take the spotlight over the slinky library beats. Closing the album we discover two single releases, the sublime 'Summer Of Synesthesia' and the demonic 'Tsicroxe' both completely worthy to hear sequenced inside this album as well. This album might be just the Spring jam that you needed in your life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. July Blue Skies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Sky Train Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Venus Of Barsoon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Ikuchi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Summer Of Synesthesia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Tsicroxe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Footshooter is the moniker of Barney Whittaker, a south London-based producer and DJ. His production style takes in influences from broken beat, jazz, house and more, working with rappers, poets and vocalists to create a soulful sound referencing the past while being firmly future-facing in its approach. His records as Footshooter and SAUL have earned airplay and support on BBC Radio 1 & 1xtra, BBC 6 Music, NTS Radio, Jazz FM and Rinse FM, from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Bradley Zero, Errol (Touching Bass), Alex Nut (Eglo Records) Shy One, Virgil Abloh, Zakia, Jyoti, Nabihah Iqbal, Bonobo, Jamz Supernova, Maryanne Hobbs, Mr Scruff and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              His musically diverse live band sets and DJ sets over the past seven years have taken him to Boiler Room London, Tate Modern, Alexandra Palace, The Jazz Cafe and the Barbican Centre, as well as performances at Brainchild, We Out Here and Love Supreme Festivals. A Balamii Radio resident for the past 5 years with his monthly show 'Sonic Fruits', Footshooter's DJ sets are as versatile and wide ranging as his production credits, spanning the finest soulful house, broken beat, UK Rap, soul, jazz and beyond.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Cycles (feat. James Mollison)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Obelisk (feat. Natty Wylah & Brother Portrait)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Reverie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Boomerang (feat. Native & Wilf Petherbridge)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Surrey Canal Road (feat. James Mollison)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Folding (feat. Allysha Joy)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Here To Learn (feat. Andre Espeut)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Sermon (feat. Sara El Harrak)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Parc De Belleville (feat. Wilf Petherbridge)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. What You Saw (feat. MA.MOYO & Mahon)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Sex Pistols

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Live In The U.S.A 1978 - San Francisco

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                40 plus years on the Sex Pistols’ output from their original creative period together, forged amidst times of poor leadership and economic turmoil, continues to resonate in ways most could never have imagined. Not least those Stateside who witnessed the performances that make up this release.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A document of the last days of the band left to run adrift by absent management on a label that didn’t really understand, in a country that arguably felt more threatened than it did excited by the prospect of the group. Vital, primal and compelling are all words that can be used to describe the audio here. Until their return as a live entity in 1996, everything that followed their short, fateful tour of America in January 1978 was simply a parody of what had been. With concerts finally released in full and correctly sequenced for the very first time – Live In the USA 1978 takes us back to the moment the creative force that was Sex Pistols imploded.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On January 14th 1978 the Sex Pistols ended their fateful US tour at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco. The set list included ‘God Save The Queen’, ‘Pretty Vacant’, ‘Holidays In The Sun’ and ‘Anarchy In The UK’. The raw production captures the essence of a live experience, giving listeners a powerful snapshot of a significant moment in punk history. Limited edition blue vinyl.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. God Save The Queen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. I Wanna Be Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Seventeen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. New York
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. EMI
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Belsen Was A Gas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Bodies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Holidays In The Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Liar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. No Feelings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Problems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Pretty Vacant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. Anarchy In The UK
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                14. No Fun

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Jensen McRae

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I Don't Know How But They Found Me!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  From the very beginning, fans have fallen in love with Jensen McRae for the sharp, evocative and clear-eyed songwriting. McRae songwriting is vulnerable, yes, but it’s also powerful for not holding back. Now, 'I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!' delivers McRae’s evolution from a promising young artist to a bona fide songwriter and star. "The most profound choices of my life,” says McRae, “have often felt like things I did before I was ready to do, and I had to grow into them.” 'I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!' is about what follows when you have withstood what you thought might crush you. It’s about meeting your limits and learning what you’re capable of. “I connected with the idea that I could've easily collapsed beneath the weight of what happened to me, but I didn't. I didn't even know it,” she says, “but I was bulletproof the whole time."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Born and raised in LA, Jensen McRae has studied and made music for most of her life. She attended Grammy Camp in high school and graduated from USC’s Thornton School of Music with a degree in Popular Music. McRae’s debut album, 'Are You Happy Now?', was written mostly when she was just 21, and was the first step in developing her now-devoted fanbase. 'Are You Happy Now?' navigates identity from its deepest foundations – life as a young, bi-racial Black and Jewish woman – to its most personal musings – do I trust you, do I trust myself. McRae’s trust in herself has borne out on multiple occasions, most recently and maybe most famously in the form of 'Massachusetts'. McRae posted a solo verse and chorus, little more than a piece of a demo, and it caught fire online. Covers, duets, and an avalanche of new fans followed, and McRae capped the moment with a finished version and a summerlong tour supporting Noah Kahan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'I Don’t Know How but They Found Me!' takes McRae’s now-considerable powers and hardwires them for mass appeal. Stealth single 'Savannah' is one for the yearners. The pulsing, country-adjacent song immediately brings the best of Phoebe Bridgers to mind, with McRae singing in an acrobatic whisper over a feather light acoustic guitar. By the time 'Savannah' hits its crescendo, it’s crystal clear McRae is an artist with her own singular power, as piano layers with guitar and McRae delivers a series of scathing indictments with grit and conviction: "You swore you'd raise our kids to end up just like you / well you're a false prophet / and that's a goddamn promise." Meanwhile 'Let Me Be Wrong' is a bona fide anthem, a “buoyant ode to rejecting perfectionism.” Built once again on a simple vocal and acoustic guitar, 'Let Me Be Wrong' builds step over step in its defiance; guitars layer, drums pick up the pace, and McRae makes space for everyone’s mistakes. When McRae growls “fuck those girls got everything” it’s a punch of both power and vulnerability, begging to be shouted in unison the biggest possible crowd.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The unusual title of her second album is taken from a line in McRae's favorite film, Back to the Future. A key protagonist survives a hail of bullets, and the image resonated with McRae because, she said, she often feels a connection to some future self guiding her decisions, especially in times of crisis. It also inspired the album’s cover, as McRae stands in a custom fireman’s coat with the job’s official marks and symbols stitched alongside abundant ones of herown. The effect caught her off-guard; “I was surprised how emotional it made me to be in the fire coat,” she says, “forced to stand still, stand powerfully. I could feel myself becoming a symbol of my own hero’s journey." If Are You Happy Now? was her coming of age, 'I Don't Know How But They Found Me!' is Jensen McRae all grown up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. The Rearranger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. I Can Change Him
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Savannah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Daffodils
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Let Me Be Wrong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Novelty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. I Don't Do Drugs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Tuesday
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Mother Wound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Praying For Your Downfall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Massachusetts

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rebekka Karijord

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Bell Tower

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    From early on in her artistic journey, composer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Rebekka Karijord, has been fascinated by the human voice.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Known for her sweeping film scores (like for the Hulu Greta Thunberg documentary I Am Greta) as well as her work with artist Jessica Dessner and The National's Bryce and Aaron Dessner in the group Complete Mountain Almanac, she brings a unique musical perspective and skillset to every one of her projects. The Bell Tower, her seventh solo album, is one of her most ambitious records to date.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Bell Tower is many things at once: it's an ode to our planet in peril; it's a missive from a mother to her children; it's a meditation on humanity and our place within the natural world. On top of that, it's also an experiment, something that evolved from a tiny idea into an all- encompassing work that touches upon 19th- century poetry, environmental activism, and the cross-section of digital and organic instrumentation. There's admittedly a lot to unpack, which becomes even more impressive when you actually give the album a spin and realize that Rebekka has managed to stack all of these ideas and moods into something that is balanced, harmonious, and at times, even calming. One reason for this is the way she has produced the album- which features voice only-in a way that is as engaging as it is innovative.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It takes a great deal of technical knowledge to successfully create experimental or ambient-leaning music, and The Bell Tower's many complex layers are solidly built by Rebekka's expertise.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Lacrimosa 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sanctuary 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Fugue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Serenade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    You, Mountain 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    City By The Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Megafaun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9th Duino Elegy 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Let This Darkness Be A Bell Tower
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Vespera

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Stereophonics

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Make 'em Laugh, Make 'em Cry, Make 'em Wait

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Produced by Kelly Jones, 'Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait' is the brand-new studio album by Stereophonics, featuring 8 tracks, including the brand-new single ‘There’s Always Gonna Be Something’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      As Stereophonics celebrate over 25 years as one of the UK’s most loved bands, with 'Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry, Make ‘em Wait', Kelly Jones continues to cement his place amongst the great British songwriters. Stereophonics have developed an enduring success and deep-seated bond with their audience that is like few others. Their achievements include 8x UK #1 albums, 12x UK top 10 albums, 11x UK top 10 singles, including the UK #1 single ‘Dakota’. The group have sold over 10 million albums, 1.5 billion global streams and 5x BRIT award nominations, with 1x BRIT award win. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Make It On Your Own
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. There’s Always Gonna Be Something
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Seems Like You Don’t Know Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Colours Of October
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Eyes Too Big For My Belly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Mary Is A Singer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Backroom Boys
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Feeling Of Falling We Crave

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hieroglyphic Being

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Dance Music 4 Bad People

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        "I’ve been partying since 1984,” says Jamal Moss, the living Chicago legend known by his dedicated cult following as the one, the only, Hieroglyphic Being. “40 years later, it’s drastically different - everybody’s angry!” So sets the stage for 'Dance Music 4 Bad People', the artist’s first album for Smalltown Supersound. Tapping back into the same cosmic frequencies responsible for the prolific house virtuoso’s most vital work, the album sees Moss coaxing nine anthems for those up to no good from out of the ether. With driving drum machine workouts and low-slung synth sexuality, Hieroglyphic Being pays homage to human fallibility, drawing focus on the revolutionary potential of house music and club culture that is so often lost to the chaos of the present. “I have yet to walk into a club and see everybody hug and say: Let’s forgive each other, let’s move forward and make the world a better place,” he levels. “With all these conversations about sexuality, ethnicity, politics, whatever, when you walk into an environment with the music, you are supposed to celebrate all of that. Let it be and come together.” 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. U R Not Dying U R Just Waking Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. The Secret Teachings Of The Ages
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. The Map Of Salt & Stars
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Reality Is Not What It May Seem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. I´m In A Strange Loop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Dispatches From The B4 Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Awakening From The Daydreams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. The Art Of Living A Meaningless Existence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Danny Ward’s 30-year career has been far from predictable. While best known for the musical eclecticism of his Dubble D project, the dance floor-focused nous of his work as Moodymanc and as a member of the groundbreaking 20:20 Soundsystem, Ward’s bulging CV also includes stints drumming for artists as diverse as Fila Brazillia, Rae & Christian, and The Pharcyde, to Jazz luminaries Mat Halsall and Nat Birchall, alongside countless collaborations (Flora Purim and Nightmares on Wax to name but a couple) and numerous evenings spent adding live percussion to DJ sets at iconic Leeds club night Back To Basics.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Now the long-serving Manchester musician and producer has a new project to share via NuNorthern Soul: Balaphonic. Inspired by a mixture of lockdown-era studio experiments, online collaborations, his long-held love for Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian rhythms and a desire to do things differently, Resolution Revolutions is a gorgeously sonically detailed and immersive album that takes Ward’s musical output to a whole new level.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Like many musicians, Ward used the forced lockdowns of the global COVID-19 pandemic to retreat to his basement studio and make music. Focusing on utilising all of the acoustic and electronic tools at his disposal – not least his beloved percussion instruments – Ward took the opportunity not only to draw on a wide range of musical influences and ideas, but also rhythms, grooves and time signatures. As well as composing new tracks from scratch, he also revisited older compositions with fresh eyes and ears.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The results are simply stunning. Ward sets his stall out via the exotic, slow-burn Balearic warmth of ‘Sunflowers in Dub (Deep Summer Mix)’, where echoing whistles, harmonica motifs, sitar sounds, and cascading piano motifs rise above dub-wise bass and seductive, soft-focus beats. The heady, eyes closed vibe continues on the sunrise-ready awakening of ‘Disorganics (All Strings Mix)’, a samba-soaked summer shuffle rich in sparkling acoustic guitars and infectious Latin percussion, and the fretless bass-sporting Afro-Cuban yearning of ‘Six Fingers’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        As Resolution Revolutions progresses, Ward’s deep love of club-adjacent and dancefloor-focused rhythms subtly comes to the fore. There’s ‘Udders’, a hybrid – and hypnotising – fusion of chopped-up South American percussion, marimba-style melodic motifs, looped bass and spacey electronics, and Ocean Waves Brasil collaboration ‘Oxum’, a mid-tempo Afro-Brazilian deep house number wrapped in deliciously dreamy chords and gentle acid lines.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Similarly impressive and inspired is closing cut ‘Bloco Manco’, where Ward peppers a delay-laden Latin beat and a deep, weighty, dancehall style bassline in waves of echoing hand percussion and restless timbales patterns. Stripped-back, raw and seriously sub-heavy, it provides a jaw-dropping conclusion to one of Ward’s most perfectly formed albums yet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A1. Sunflowers In Dub [Deep Summer Mix]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A2. Disorganics [All Strings Mix]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A3. Six Fingers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B1. Udders
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B2. Oxum Feat. Ocean Waves Brasil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B3. Bloco Manco

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mark Springer, Neil Tennant & Sacconi String Quartet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Sleep Of Reason

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          "I fell into a deep sleep of reason Everything broken and hence when I woke up from that deep sleep of reason it all made sense”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A Unique Artistic Partnership. This project represents a distinct and carefully considered artistic endeavor. Developed by Mark Springer (Rip, Rig and Panic) and Neil Tennant (The Pet Shop Boys), it combines a suite for piano, quartet, and quintet with vocals, accompanied by lyrics offering thoughtful introspection. The collaboration explores the intersection of divergent creative approaches-one characterized by radical expression, the other by meticulous craftsmanship. The result is a work that invites reflection and demonstrates the potential of disciplined artistic dialogue

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Phantoms And Monsters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. A Witch And A Devil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Truth Is For Losers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Schmutzig
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. My Friend The Monster
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. The Madness Of The Summer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Morn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Noon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Flight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Break
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Moon

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Billow Observatory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Glass Curtain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Following a string of increasingly electronica-minded releases, Billow Observatory returns to the haunted hunting grounds of their 2012 debut with a fully ambient, percussion-less pearl.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Embracing chance and randomness, spectral guitars rise, flitter, and crackle into dusty particulates as the concept of time is thrown out the window on each track. An increasingly hostile society no doubt contributes to the album's sense of introspection and the quest for "otherness". Brooding, spooky, and beautiful, listeners are rewarded with a highly detailed collection of songs evoking visions of slowly spinning globes being knocked slightly off axis.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The duo, consisting of Jason Kolb (Michigan, US) and Jonas Munk (Denmark) started working together in 2006, sending each other tracks across the Atlantic, eventually resulting in a full-length release on Felte in 2012. What started out as a side project to their respective main projects (Auburn Lull and Manual) have slowly become the main activity for both artists, now with a total of four full-lengths under their belt. Their music has also evolved and matured over the years, reaching a level of perfection that’s only granted producers who've been in the game for decades. Billow Observatory have by now established themselves as purveyors of highly refined ambient music

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Broken City Seance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Systol Nightshade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Vanish Always
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Colza
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. The Glass Curtain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Shadow Through The Eyelit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Armistice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Arise And Perish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Sundial

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Floral Image

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Gone Down Meadowland

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Gone Down Meadowland' is the much-anticipated debut album release from Norwich, UK psych outfit Floral Image, via the renowned Fuzz Club. More than ever, the band wanted to produce a brand of East-Coast psychedelia that reflected the natural lusciousness and glorious solitude of the immediate world around them. Over 30 songs were conjured, considered and arranged before being whittled down to a final 10 that epitomise what they do best - ten tracks of vivid hue, harnessed live power, all laced together in fluid lyrical harmonies. Taking inspiration from band favourites Woods, KGLW, Stereolab, among many others, a string of at-home recording sessions commenced over a 6-week period across the summer of 2024.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Meadowland
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. The Dream
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Burning 305
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Call Up The Doctor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. The Score
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Boogietown
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Tiergarten
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Howling Dog Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Twist Of A Nerve
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Sun For Hire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Gather In The Mushrooms: The British Folk Underground 1969-1975 - 2025 Reissue

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • Compiled by Bob Stanley to document the acid folk scene, “Gather In The Mushrooms” was first issued in 2004 on Sanctuary as a CD-only release; it proved popular enough for a sequel entitled “Early Morning Hush” two years later.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • This new edition of “Gather In The Mushrooms” contains the cream of both long-deleted compilations with a few additions – COB, Roy Harper, Fotheringay – that weren’t available to Sanctuary at the time. Though they aren’t traditional, these songs have an authenticity of their own, an autumnal atmosphere and a naivety which proved influential in the 00s neo-folk boom (Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Alasdair Roberts, Tuung et al) but impossible to replicate. For many of these acts at the end of the 60s, folk music and the hippy world that surrounded them was a way of life, a way of opting out from the Vietnam war, Angry Brigade and three-day-week early 70s. Anne Briggs lived in a caravan in Suffolk, Shelagh McDonald lived in a tent, Vashti Bunyan eschewed electricity; they weren’t part-timers. Listening to “Gather In The Mushrooms”, we are transported to a time when no one used the term post-modernist.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                • It may not have resonated with dyed-in-the wool political folkies, but over five decades later this music sounds very evocative of an England of yore – not necessarily one of poachers and pedlars, but one of long-haired youths in tie-dye T-shirts, bikers and hippies, acoustic guitars played in white stone cottages. Groups such as Stone Angel, Midwinter and Oberon made primitive, privately recorded folk albums; today they sound as distant and mystical as the field recordings of Alan Lomax. The sincerity and folk knowledge of a group like Forest becomes irrelevant once you hear something as eerie and evocative as ‘Graveyard’. Home-made, homely, warm as soup or chilling as a hoar frost, this is music of innocence and rare beauty.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE ONE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. CORN RIGS - Magnet & Paul Giovanni
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. MORNING WAY - Trader Horne
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. NOTTANUM TOWN - Oberon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. GRAVEYARD - Forest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. THE SKATER – Midwinter

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE TWO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. WINTER WINDS - Fotheringay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. LORD AND MASTER - Heron
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. FLY HIGH - Bridget St John
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. SHEEP SEASON - Mellow Candle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. THE BELLS OF DUNWICH - Stone Angel *

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE THREE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. THE SEAGULLS SCREAM - Christine Quayle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. FOREST AND THE SHORE - Keith Christmas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. ROSEMARY HILL - Fresh Maggots
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. FINE HORSEMAN - Anne Briggs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. THE WEREWOLF - Barry Dransfield

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE FOUR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. ANOTHER DAY - Roy Harper
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. WINDOW OVER THE BAY - Vashti Bunyan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. ELEVEN WILLOWS - C.O.B. (Clive's Original Band)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. THE HERALD - Comus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                * LP BONUS TRACK

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Tim's Listening Party Volume 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Demon presents the second volume of the Tim Burgess Listening Party compilation. Following on from the success of 2024’s listening party, Tim is back with a further 24 eclectic cuts. This 2LP collection is pressed on blue translucent vinyl, bringing together 24 further highlights from the 1,278 Listening Parties that took place. The parties themselves were an eclectic mix of genres and eras, and the compilation reflects that with track from Paul McCartney, The Magic Numbers, Ibibio Sound Machine, Róisín Murphy, Iron Maiden, Laurie Anderson and Norah Jones.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  As well Tim's Twitter Listening Party, Tim's Listening Party is also a six-part radio and podcast series airing on Sunday nights on Absolute Radio.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. The Magic Numbers - Love Me Like You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Paul McCartney - The Kiss Of Venus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Talking Heads - Heaven
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Ibibio Sound Machine - Tell Me (Doko Mien)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Hot Chip - Hungry Child
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Boy Azooga - Breakfast Epiphany
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Biffy Clyro - Tiny Indoor Fireworks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Pixies - Debaser
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Georgia - About Work The Dancefloor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Michael Kiwanuka - Piano Joint (This Kind Of Love)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Run The Jewels & El-P & Killer Mike Feat. 2 Chainz - Out Of Sight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Róisín Murphy - Murphy's Law
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. The Soft Boys - Insanely Jealous Of You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  14. Iron Maiden - Powerslave (2015 Remaster)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15. Gang Of Four - Natural's Not In It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  16. Jesus Jones - The Devil You Know
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  17. Dry Cleaning - New Long Leg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  18. Laurie Anderson - Born, Never Asked
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  19. Metronomy - Corinne
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  20. Flyte - Cathy Come Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  21. The Pipettes - Pull Shapes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  22. Joel Culpepper - Black Boy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  23. Saint Etienne - Pond House
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  24. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Beirut

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A Study Of Losses

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'A Study Of Losses' is the seventh studio album from Beirut, the musical project of Zach Condon. The project originated in spring 2023, when Viktoria Dalborg, director at the Swedish circus Kompani Giraff, reached out to Condon, asking if he would be interested to provide the music for their next project, a show based on an adaptation of a novel by German author Judith Schalansky. The main themes in Schalansky's book and in the adaptation for the circus show deal with the concept of loss and the impermanence of everything known to us: from extinct animal species, lost architectural and literary treasures to more abstract concepts of loss through the process of aging. In close collaboration, 'A Study Of Losses', turned into a rather unexpected piece of music-at 18 songs and nearly an hour long, it is by far the largest album Beirut has ever done, and amongst some of their most beautiful work to date

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: Another superb suite of thoughtful, wandering melodies and swooning harmonies from Condon here, this time commissioned for a contemporary Swedish circus. Though Beirut's albums are usually quick bursts of emphatic, mournful melodicism, 'A Study Of Losses' is a decidedly more expansive operation. Lovely stuff.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Disappearances And Losses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Forest Encyclopedia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Oceanus Procellarum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Villa Sacchetti
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Mare Crisium
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Garbo's Face
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Mare Imbrium
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Tuanaki Atoll
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Mare Serenitatis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Guericke's Unicorn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Mare Humorum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Sappho's Poems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Ghost Train
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. Caspian Tiger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Mani's 7 Books
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. Moon Voyager
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    17. Mare Nectaris
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    18. Mare Tranquillitatis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Julien Baker & TORRES

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Send A Prayer My Way

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

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Tunde Adebimpe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Thee Black Boltz

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        For the last 24 years, Tunde Adebimpe has largely been known as the co-founder, co-vocalist and principal songwriter for TV On The Radio. The mostly-black art-rock band triumphed through two decades of volatile cultural change to become one of the most beloved, enduring and influential groups from New York City’s early-2000s rock scene. Though Tunde’s poetic songwriting and towering vocals are central to TV On The Radio, the band will always be a collaboration between a group of musicians. Tunde’s personal story exists on a parallel path, as a sort of creative polymath. He is a musician but also an illustrator and painter. He’s a former animator and stop-motion filmmaker (Celebrity Deathmatch). He is a television and film actor, with roles in Jump Tomorrow (2001), Rachel Getting Married (2008), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Twisters (2024) and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024).. And now he is also a solo artist, with his first-ever solo album, 'Thee Black Boltz'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Tunde initially conceived of the album in 2019, while TV On The Radio was on a break. Two years later, as the world emerged from the Covid pandemic, he started a notebook of words, illustrations and ideas, forming what he calls, “mixtape of emotions the music could evoke. A feeling map of sorts.” It is how Tunde begins most of his projects, and in 2011 he started translating those ideas into music with the help of multi-instrumentalist Wilder Zoby (Run The Jewels), with whom he shares a studio with in Los Angeles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'Thee Black Boltz' is not a TV On The Radio album. But the excitement of doing something on his own ignited a similar spark in Tunde as the early TV On The Radio days. The songwriting process is the same, but without his TVOTR bandmates Tunde “didn’t have that scaffolding to hang on. That was both terrifying and exhilarating.”At the heart of the album is its title, a nod to Tunde’s propensity to write and sing about the human condition, in all its forms, under all its stressors, both big and small. It is his response to the macro unease of a post-pandemic world careening towards violent authoritarianism and the personal grief that has come from loss in recent years, specifically the sudden passing of his younger sister while making this album. 'Thee Black Boltz' is Tunde’s desperate grasping of small moments of joy amidst the dissonance and sadness, any way he can. “It was my way of building a rock or a platform for myself in the middle of this fucking ocean.” As Tunde writes in his notebook, “The sparks of inspiration /motivation/ hope that flash up in the midst of (and sometimes as a result of) deep grief, depression or despair. Sort of like electrons building up in storm clouds clashing until they fire off lightning and illuminate a way out, if only for a second.” “Also,” he adds. “It’s a good name for a cool metal band, and I think that most people would describe me as akin to a very cool metal band.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: TVOTR's Tunde Adebimpe brings us a beautiful mix of shimmering synth-pop, clattering electronica and raucous hands-in-the-air rock business. Brilliantly heartfelt, wildly melodic and packed full of moments of genuine euphoria.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Thee Black Boltz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2 .Magnetic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Ate The Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Pinstack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Drop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. ILY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. The Most
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. God Knows
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Blue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Somebody New
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Streetlight Nuevo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Chime Oblivion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Chime Oblivion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          New John Dwyer project featuring Dave Barbarossa (Adam & The Ants, Bow Wow Wow, Fine Young Cannibals), Weasel Walter (Flying Luttenbachers, Lydia Lunch's Retrovirus), Tom Dolas (Osees, Mr Elevator), H.L. Nelly (Naked Lights, FKA SMILEY) & Brad Caulkins (Bent Arcana, With Egg)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          CHIME OBLIVION began out of the blue. David Barbarossa reached out to John Dwyer saying he was a fan of OSEES and he was invited to a show in London. The two hung out and hit it off, "then I rabbit holed on Bow wow wow too…," Dwyer recalls. "I reached out to David and suggested that we try and write some songs together... I flew David out, we met at my studio and spent five days writing basin drums ideas." The two got to know each other and had a lot of laughs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dwyer then brought in Weasel Walter, knowing that he would be perfect "to add all that legitimate old-school weird proto-punk no wave guitar scratch to it, which of course he did masterfully." Next came Tom Dolas to play fuzzy marimba, and the fabulous H.L. Nelly, "as I knew her from a record I’d put out back in the day for a band called Naked Lights from Oakland. I knew that she could pull off the vocal style I had in mind." 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: More John Dwyer! This time sees the OSEES mastermind pair up with a bunch of super talented noise merchants, forging an LP that's soaked in classic hardcore and wild, trebly garage rock. It's something a little different for Dwyer, but it's not *that* different, and it's got all the hallmarks of another classic OCS related collection.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. INCIDENTAL SYNTH 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. NEIGHBORHOOD DOG
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. KISS HER OR BE HER
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. THE FIEND
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5.INCIDENTAL SYNTH 4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. HEATED HORSES
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. THE UNINVITED GUEST
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. AND AGAIN
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. THE MYTHOMANIAC
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. SMOKE RING
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. INCIDENTAL SYNTH 7
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. I'M NOT A MIRROR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. GRASS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          14. COLD PULSE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          15. THE CATALOGUE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mien

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Miien

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            In a landscape where the term 'psych' often feels confined and predictable, MIEN stands out as a beacon of true sonic exploration. Comprising members of The Black Angels, Elephant Stone, The Earlies and Golden Dawn Arkestra, their long-awaited sophomore album ‘MIIEN’ marks a bold new chapter for a band whose alchemical approach to music has redefined the boundaries of psychedelia. Building upon the foundations of their critically acclaimed 2018 self-titled debut while venturing into uncharted territories, this new release pushes the group’s collaborative and exploratory ethos to thrilling new heights. Recorded between Montreal, Abilene and Austin, Texas, ‘MIIEN’ captures the band’s unique creative process. Most songs began as simple ideas—a loop, a vocal phrase, or a groove—passed between members and meticulously layered. John Mark Lapham, the band’s “musical alchemist,” transformed these sketches into fully realized compositions, adding bold textures and dynamic shifts. The Black Angels frontman Alex Maas’s hauntingly beautiful vocals bring a dark yet alluring dimension to the sound, elevating each track with his distinctive presence. “It’s an organic process,” notes Rishi Dhir. “A simple idea can become something monumental when we each put our stamp on it.” A tapestry of vivid third-eye visions and nocturnal serenades, ‘MIIEN’ represents the strength of the band’s collective vision. Each member brings their unique perspective to the table, creating music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. With its richly textured soundscapes and fearless experimentation, the album bridges the golden age of ‘60s psychedelia with the cutting edge of modern music. The album is released April 18th 2025 through their new label home Fuzz Club. MIEN is: Rishi Dhir – bass, guitar, keyboards / Robb Kidd – drums / John Mark Lapham – keyboards, samples, programming / Alex Maas – vocals, bass, guitar

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Off-kilter lysergic psychedelia that's both hypnotic and entrancing on the ever-reliable Fuzz Club. There are hints here of minimal ambient and Industrial, music concrete and classical but the whole lot remains as uncategorisable as it does spellbinding.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Evil People
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Counterbalance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Silent Golden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Mirror
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. How Could You Run
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Empty Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Tungsten
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Knocking On Your Door
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Slipping Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Morning Echo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Electric War

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Electric War marks an electrifying collaboration between British power trio, Little Barrie, composed of Barrie Cadogan and Lewis Wharton and acclaimed producer/drummer,Malcolm Catto, fusing unique talents into a mesmerizing exploration of raw, experimental sound. And they are also the band behind the opening theme to Better Call Saul.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Electric War delivers a blend of sharp guitar lines, thunderous drums, and swirling textures that evoke a post-apocalyptic soundscape teetering between chaos and harmony. Tracks range from pulsating, fuzz-heavy anthems to moody, groove-centric pieces and are underscored by each musician’s seamless interplay. Channeling their shared love for analog warmth and raw, unfiltered sound, the album creates a visceral experience that invites listeners into a world where rock, funk, and psychedelia collide. For fans of boundary-pushing, instrumental-driven music, Electric War is a potent testament to the power of collaboration.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Intricate guitar work and skittering percussion loop around each-other before the soaring, spooky vocal effortlessly rides atop, tempering the frenetic chaos somewhat. It's not all intensely paced though, there are moments of relative calm scattered throughout. A beautifully produced, funky odyssey of an album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Electric War
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Zero Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Spektator
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Creaky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ‘Said Soul
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Sick 8
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              My Now
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Count Of Four

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Oracle Sound (Richard Norris)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Oracle Sound Volume 4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This fourth selection of outernational dub from Richard Norris is the best one yet. Booming bass, seismic echoes and fathoms deep reverb take up a widescreen space and shake the foundations. Mighty dub versions and melodies. Dive in!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: Richard Norris takes cues from Nat Birchall a coupla weeks back (actually, this is his forth volume, so I think he technically pips Nat to the echo chamber - Ed) in turning his hand to the joys of dub. Much more electric than Nat's trad roots offering; this one shares its DNA with Deepchord, Strategy, Froid Dub, Jahtari, Dub Surgeon etc.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Connected Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. A Decoy For Demons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Earthsea Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Maximum Bass
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Flying Crane Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Mirror Cave Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Ceefax
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Ceefax (RN Amp Freqq Dub) - CD ONLY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Ceefax (Jon Carter Due South Dub) - CD ONLY

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Divide And Dissolve

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Insatiable

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The title for Divide and Dissolve's new album, 'Insatiable', came to Takiaya Reed in a dream.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The multi-instrumentalist and composer had a vision of a better world, one that gelled seamlessly with the optimism of her take on doom metal: "I saw people committing great acts of harm never being happy, and people committing great acts of love, always being happy," she says. "People are constantly feeding into this genocidal energy, depleting all of these resources in the name of so-called power, just to end up powerless. Whereas people feeding into pathways of love and decolonial energy, honouring loving and benevolent ancestors, experience such a deep sense of fulfilment."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  For Takiaya, this is what it means to be "insatiable"; it's the way we choose either a path of destruction or one of compassion, and experience it to its fullest. "The album's title hits on so many levels," she continues. "It's an album about love, and it feels important to tap into that, now more than ever."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: I LOVE Divide And Dissolve. Drone-doom-ambient monoliths forged through distorted guitars and pummelling percussion, and 'Insatiable' is certainly the pinnacle of this juxtaposition. A superbly evocative, intensely heavy journey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Hegemonic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Monolithic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Withholding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Loneliness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Dichotomy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Provenance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Disintegrate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Grief
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Holding Pattern
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Death Cult

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Double LP edition (300 copies) of Eastern Europe's first shoegaze album, featuring the 1993 John Peel Session as a bonus.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Originally released in 1992, "Popsubterranea" holds the distinction of being Estonia’s first shoegaze album. But it wasn’t the country’s first foray into indie music—three years earlier, that milestone had already been claimed by the same quartet, Röövel Ööbik. While their debut album, "Ilu", was a reckless, provocative, and swaggering indie rock statement, "Popsubterranea" saw them channeling their energy into a more immersive sonic landscape, where the raw urgency of pop and rock collided with krautrock’s hypnotic grooves and shoegaze’s lush, erotic, and dreamlike harmonies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tõnu Pedaru’s exultant, wavering, and half-whispered vocals, Tarvo Hanno Varres’ brooding basslines, Allan Hmelnitski’s airy yet razor-sharp guitar textures, and Raul Saaremets’ fiercely dynamic drumming didn’t just fit the shoegaze mold—they reshaped it. "Popsubterranea" didn’t attempt to mimic the prevailing aesthetics of the era’s shoegaze heavyweights; instead, it carved out its own space, fusing noisy transcendence with an unmistakably Nordic sense of cool detachment.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Röövel Ööbik’s sonic tremors even reached the ever-curious ears of legendary BBC Radio 1 tastemaker John Peel, who invited the band to record a session at his iconic Maida Vale studios. They became the first Eastern European band ever to record a Peel Session, a testament to their singular sound and boundary-pushing spirit. The group embarked on a grueling 2,000-kilometer bus journey to London, and on April 17, 1993, their four-session tracks aired on Peel’s show, cementing their place in the annals of underground music history.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Now, for the first time, "Popsubterranea" and its Peel Session companion are available on vinyl—a long-overdue reintroduction to an overlooked yet essential piece of shoegaze history.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Following their shoegaze chapter, Röövel Ööbik ventured into electronic dance music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  But that’s another story.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Estonia's first shoegaze LP...! And it's great! It's slipped under the radar of all shoegazers old and new here at Picc HQ, but already has Liam and myself hooked. It's effortlessly cool, instantly transportive and should scratch that itch while we wait for MBV at Factory in November.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Equalized Evil Envious Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Finger On The Trigger Transfigured
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Komik Kapital Kaput
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Practically Perfect In Every Way
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Best Of Fantasy Science Fiction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tygahauadrodynamon (T'S T'S T.Q.D.)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Well I Welcome
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Motormolecular Jerk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Pull Push (Storyteller Is Dead)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  House Of The Energy Powerewolves
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Sports And Games
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  What Ever Makes You (1993 Peel Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Masters Of Day Dream Machinery (1993 Peel Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Kitch Zen Kierkegaard. (1993 Peel Session)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Betterlife (recreation Version) (1993 Peel Session)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Arthur Russell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Open Vocal Phrases....

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out' offers an intimate unedited solo live performance recorded at Phill Niblock's Experimental Intermedia Foundation in Downtown NYC on 12/20/85.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Phill curated and produced with Arthur two concerts at EI that would become an integral part of the foundation for the final World of Echo album. Arthur titled this performance 'Open Vocal Phrases, Where Songs Come In and Out'. This extraordinary performance was recorded by Steve Cellum and overseen by Phill and Arthur. Arthur would later edit sections from this performance merging it with studio material recorded at Battery Sound to finalize the 'World of Echo' album released in 1986.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    "Some of it sounds so pure and clear and I am picturing him huddled around all that gear, simply magical. In my memory he didn't play "for" the audience but was rather trying to perfect these various permutations of sound within himself...and a few of us just happened to be present" - Tom Lee

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    LP Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. That’s The Very Reason
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Tower Of Meaning/Rabbit’s Ear/Home Away From Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Happy Ending
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. All-Boy All-Girl/Tiger Stripes/You Can’t Hold Me Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Introductions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Hiding Your Present From You/School Bell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Too Early To Tell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Changing Forest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Sunlit Water

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    CD Tracklist:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    CD1 - Sketches For World Of Echo:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Changing Forest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Let’s Go Swimming
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. They And Their Friends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Keeping Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Make 1,2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. I Take This Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Losing My Taste For The Nightlife
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. I Can’t Hide You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. The Boy With A Smile On His Face
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Sunlit Water

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    CD2 - Open Vocal Phrases Where Songs Come In And Out:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. That’s The Very Reason
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Tower Of Meaning/Rabbit’s Ear/Home Away From Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Happy Ending
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. All-Boy All-Girl/Tiger Stripes/You Can’t Hold Me Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Introductions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Hiding Your Present From You/School Bell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Too Early To Tell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Limited edition of 500 copies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hard Top assembles the previously unreleased 1975 recordings of legendary South African saxophonist Kippie Moketsi (also spelled Moeketsi). The 2LP vinyl edition is presented in a gatefold sleeve featuring artwork by Mafa Ngwenya and comes from As-Shams Archive on the heels of the Tete Mbambisa's previously unreleased African Day album in 2024.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    By 1975, at the age of 50, saxophonist Kippie Moketsi had already earned his stripes as a South African jazz figurehead. His tenure with the Jazz Epistles and the cast of the "South African Jazz Opera" King Kong in the late-1950s had not only marked his own rise to fame but also seen him help catalyse the ambitions of a younger generation of iconic artists who would go on to become the defining figures of modern South African jazz. While he didn't enjoy the same international attention as his protégés Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim, his humble and challenging career on the local jazz scene until his death in 1983 saw him forge an enduring legacy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Owing to the efforts of record producer Rashid Vally, Kippie Moketsi's journey through the 1970s is beautifully documented, most notably on the albums Dollar Brand + 3 (1973), Tshona! (1975) and Blue Stompin' (1977), in which he shares the spotlight with Abdullah Ibrahim, Pat Matshikiza and Hal Singer respectively. As a featured performer on Soul of the City's Diagonal Street (1975) and Dennis Maple's Our Boys are Doing It (1977), Moketsi is seen embracing the popular orientations of South African jazz in 1970s but, having come up in the 1940s and 1950s, he never forgot his roots as a dedicated admirer and scholar of traditional American jazz.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    While Moketsi did write some memorable compositions, it was in the role of interpreter that he shone most brightly. With its title derived from a good-natured nickname that nodded to Moketsi's elder status by way of his receding hairline, Hard Top is a covers album that looks back in time to the era of rhythm and blues while also indulging 1970s pop and funk with a decidedly South African vibe. Officially joining Kippie Moketsi's catalogue 50 years after it was recorded, Hard Top provides an opportunity to celebrate the multiple dimensions of a South African jazz legend and reflect on the unwavering support of his fan, producer and friend Rashid Vally, who passed away in December 2024.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: As-Shams seemingly getting very good at this. Who knew there was such a wealth of untapped South African jazz! This is a particularly special set in my humble opinion...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It Was A Very Good Year
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Swallowin The Blues
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    New Cambridge Blues
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Untitled By Dennis Mpale
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    I Can See Clearly Now
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Black Frost
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Wavy Gravy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    South Londons’ indomitable Medlar delivers an ambitious new album

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The long-time underground favourite has collaborated with the likes of Dele Sosimi, Rebekah Reid, Deevoenay, Finn Peters, Sam Virdie, Afla Sackey and Arnau Obiols on an album that finds him taking his production to new levels.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    From roots playing illegal raves in the South West to building up a cultured catalogue that bounces between house and garage, Medlar has long been part of the underground conversation. He has dropped a previous album and many innovative remixes and edits for the likes of Billy Cobham and Shirley Lites, worked in the studio and on stage with Afro legend Dele Sosimi and most recently released an album under his own name that collected myriad different sonic sketches from the past 15 years.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    "Islands" is an altogether different proposition that comes after establishing himself as a mix engineer and producer of other people's music. In that time, Medlar has honed his skills, learnt new tricks and grown more able to express himself in sound. The result is an album that explores a more electronic palette inspired by '80s fusion sounds whilst maintaining a loose, organic flow through his use of live instrumentation. 'The idea for the LP was for a collection of music which could sit alone as club tracks, but would work equally well as part of a whole. The name Islands came from this, as there's some connecting ideas but the tracks sit independently in their own little sonic worlds. I took a lot of inspiration from early 80’s electronic music produced during early years of MIDI technology… proto house, jazz fusion, electronic disco and experimental ambient. I wanted to juxtapose some of these methods with more contemporary production and make something that's ultimately quite fun!' says Medlar of the record which could easily soundtrack a summer road trip.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Across 11 tracks, he blends old-school techniques like a fusion of live instruments, FM synthesis and MIDI triggered vocal samples with more contemporary touches such as punchy, club-friendly drums and dub inspired, speaker-wobbling low end. The result is less reliant on samples than his previous works and makes for a perfect blend of retro authenticity and future freshness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Contemporary house don Medlar reveals his new long player. Sure to be a permanent fixture in DJ's record boxes through the coming months, it'll also soundtrack any Saturday night living room disco perfectly. Just make sure you've tidied away the expensive glasses first...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A1. Take A Trip Ft. Dele Sosimi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A2. Dot The Ts Ft. DeeVoeNay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A3. Yeah Ft. Finn Peters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B1. Luv Interlude Ft. Kim Anh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B2. Jungle Ridge Ft. Dele Sosimi & Arnau Obiols
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C1. Ibiza Ft. Andy Blake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D1. Sun Spots Ft. Sam Virdie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D2. Atlantean Ft. Alfa Sackey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D3. Hello 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Neil Young

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Coastal: The Soundtrack

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'Coastal' is a personal, behind-the-scenes documentary on Neil Young as he cruises the coast on his 2023 solo US tour. The film gives an intimate view of the maverick musician, as he navigates a return to the stage post-Covid. From his everyday observations on the bus to his candid banter with his audience. Coastal is a rare peek behind the curtain of this unguarded iconoclast.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Here we have 11 live tracks from said documentary, including 'Song X', 'Vampire Blues', 'Expecting To Fly', 'Throw Your Hatred Down', 'I Am A Child', and 'Prime of Life'.





                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. I’m The Ocean
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Comes A Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Love Earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Prime Of Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Throw Your Hatred Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Vampire Blues
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. When I Hold You In My Arms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Expecting To Fly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Song X
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. I Am A Child
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Don’t Forget Love

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ed Kuepper & Jim White

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      After The Flood

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Let’s go back in time. Back in the mid-90s the Dirty Three opened for Ed Kuepper in Melbourne. That’s when Ed and Jim first crossed paths. Jim of course was well-aware of Ed; who wasn’t? This was an artist who had redefined Australian music not just once with The Saints, not just twice with Laughing Clowns, but was at it again for a third time. under his own name. For his part Ed was watching Jim play and making a mental note.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Time passed… a lot of time passed. Jim left the country with the Dirty Three and built a formidable reputation as a collaborator and sideman. Ed was in his pomp, touring and releasing albums, building a remarkable body of work that now stands at over 50 albums.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Roll forward to 2020. Time became malleable, even these most industrious of artists found themselves with time to kill. Jim was unexpectedly back in Australia, in fact stranded in Australia. Despite all the complexities of the pandemic Ed recognised an opportunity to capture the collaboration he’d long had in mind.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The original idea was for the two of them to do a few shows together. It would be ‘casual’. But it proved to be anything but. Amidst the on-off restrictions and the threat of the virus the tour was a turbulent ride. They performed two sold out nights at the Sydney Opera House and fluked the only gig at Rising before the Melbourne Festival was cancelled. Other gigs were blown out and plans would be changed at the last minute. Touring was precarious with Ed and Jim unsure when restrictions would be announced, leaving them high and dry or forcing them to drive cross county late at night to cross state lines before the borders were closed. Ed refers to them at one point “operating like a guerrilla outfit on the NSW/Queensland border.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        In amidst this turmoil a musical bond was forged. Ed appreciated Jim’s “rhythmic intent. It’s intuition based” he explains. “With Jim there’s an overlap of influences but Jim has his own character. “

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The duo grasped an opportunity to enter Melbourne’s Sound Park Studio. Working quickly over four days they captured the music they had been performing. “We took what we’d been doing live and brought it into the studio” Ed recalls. “It was important that we captured the immediacy of what we’d been doing, that it wasn’t laboured over. Everything was laid down live”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The resulting album features eight tracks that provide, as Ed puts it “The broadest representation of what we did, with the most variety.” The widescreen selection of songs gives a tracking shot of Ed’s career to date. The earliest song reimagined here is The Saints' "Swing For The Crime", which originally appeared in 1978 on the 'Prehistoric Sounds' album. Ed’s early 80s band Laughing Clowns is generously represented and rewired with the songs "Crying Dance", "The Year Of The Bloated Goat" and "Collapse Board". His solo career is deeply mined for reworked hidden gems; "Demolition" and "Miracles" (both from 2007’s 'Jean Lee & the Yellow Dog') and "The Ruins’"(from 2015’s 'Lost Cities'). "The 16 Days" originally appeared on Ed’s second album under his own name, 'Rooms of the Magnificent' in 1986.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        More time has passed. Many of Ed’s long out of print albums have been reissued, his work with The Saints has been released globally as a deluxe boxed set. There has been associated touring with original Saints drummer Ivor Hay, Mick Harvey (Birthday Party/Bad Seeds), Mark Arm (Mudhoney) and Peter Oxley (Sunnyboys) joining Ed on the road. (“The towering impression left by the nights proceeding? That Kuepper is a motherfucker of a guitar player, his sound just as molten and unrelenting as back in the day - Uncut UK). Jim White remains as prodigious as ever, releasing his debut solo album, rekindling the Dirty Three for their biggest Australian tour and highest charting album. Creatively restless as ever he has recently worked with The Hard Quartet, Marisa Anderson, Bill Callahan, Myriam Gendron and Xylouris White.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Deep into their careers, at the top of their game, ever curious, changing and searching, Ed and Jim reach another high-water mark.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. The Ruins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. The Crying Dance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. The Year Of The Bloated Goat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. The 16 Days
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Demolition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Swing For The Crime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Collapse Board
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Miracles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Lola Kirke

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Trailblazer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Lola Kirke is a powerhouse of creativity—a gifted artist, writer, and actress with a story as dynamic as her talents. Born in the UK, shaped by New York, and now thriving in Nashville, TN, she channels her life experiences into art. Her highly anticipated album 'Trailblazer' delves into the defining moments of her journey, exploring the complexity of relationships with family, friends, and lovers. This is Lola at her most authentic—unapologetically bold and undeniably captivating.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Trailblazer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Easy On You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. 241s
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Marlboro Lights & Madonna
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Hungover Thinkin'
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Raised By Wolves
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. 2 Damn Sexy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Zeppelin III
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Mississippi, My Sister, Elvis & Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Bury Me In NYC

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mamuthones

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          From Word To Flesh

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            How does one approach the morning after a party for the end of the world? This is a question which Mamuthones had to ask themselves, in the wake of their last album for Rocket, 2018's 'Fear On The Corner'. Nonetheless, from the aftermath of this uncertain period has risen the still more flourishing realm of 'From Word To Flesh' - a colourful and multi-faceted creation very much befitting the outsider spirit of Rocket's new Black Hole imprint.“I believe that with this album a circle has been closed” reflects Mamuthones mainman Alessio Gastaldello. “We returned to the atmosphere of the first Mamuthones albums with the skills acquired throughout the journey, with new sounds and with new creative processes. I would say that what remains constant – and at the core of our music – is the obsessive rhythms and the search for a sonic rituality: this is for certain our trademark”. This is clear right from the curtain raiser 'Burn From Inside', which beams the emotive approach of the band through the shamanic prism of Coil's 'Ape Of Naples'. From there, hypnotic repetition marries to abstract abrasion and mournful laments with equal finesse, as redolent of the spiritual zest of Popol Vuh and Ash Ra Tempel as the gnostic folk of Six Organs Of Admittance. Elsewhere, 'A Symmetry Of Faith' summons a union of post-punk and psychically charged folk aligned with the recent work of Bristol's Beak. The Sardinian ritual of the Mamuthones – in which sinister masked figures weighed down with cattle bells conduct a ceremonial procession to ward off evil forces - has gone on for some two thousand years, and it may be that these ghoulish avatars are engaged in a celebration of the endless cycles of death and rebirth, fortifying spirits for a new epoch. Amidst the chaos and tumult of the 2020s, the band of this name has undergone just such a change themselves, and ‘From Word To Flesh’ is the fruit of their struggle. As Alessio says “With this album I think the Mamuthones have never been so unmediated, so naked: all masks gone”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Burn From Inside
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. A Cage Full Of Sins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Can't Be Done
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Before You Leave
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. A Symmetry Of Faith
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Son Of Myself
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Carry On 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Melvins

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Thunderball

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The new album featuring the 1983 lineup of Buzz & Mike Dillard. Plus special guests Void Manes and Ni Maitres. Formed over 40 years ago in Seattle, they were one of the pioneers of the grunge and sludge metal scenes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              a little history… and some opinions from Buzz Osborne - 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              "Mike Dillard is the original drummer for the Melvins, we’ve been friends since high school. We met in Montesano, a small town on the coast of Sashington state. We had moved there from an even smaller town. I hated everything about it. I hated the people, hated the teachers, hated the cops, hated the weather, hated how isolated it was. It was like living on the dark side of the moon. I knew no one and had no friends at all which was fine by me If I had a chance to do it over i’d quit high school as soon as i could. High school was a complete waste of time. My own classmates proved themselves the enemy so finding someone I could relate to was just great. Mike was immediately impressed with all the weird music I was into. Up to that point I hadn’t met anyone with any an interest in any of my musical discoveries. It was an amazing time in the history of music and literally no one was interested. We were surrounded by mediocrity, stupidity, prejudice, and dangerous rednecks. We learned to play music together. We grew up together and have remained friends all these years. 'Thunderball' is the third Melvins 1983 record we have made together. I wanted this one to be bombastic. I think it is. I’m already planning a fourth one that will be even more uncompromising. A real shit show."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. King Of Rome
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Vomit Of Clarity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Short Hair With A Wig
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Victory Of The Pyramids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Venus Blood

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Rindert Lammers

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Thank You Kirin Kiki

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Rindert Lammers' debut album is a heartfelt exploration of gratitude, blending personal narratives with cinematic imagery in a serene and soulful ambient jazz style. Inspired by Japanese cinema and the raw authenticity of YouTube confessions, the album captures a mood of introspection and appreciation. Central to the album is the track "Thank You, Kirin Kiki," which draws from a powerful scene in the film Shopliers. Lammers explains "It's one of my favorites. The Japanese actress Kirin Kiki plays the grandmother of a ‘chosen family’, all of whom have fled or lost their own families in some way. In this scene, one of her last scenes before her (real) death, Kirin Kiki (the grandmother) looks at her family and says, 'Thank You!' twice towards the children and the sea. Kirin Kiki improvised these words on the spot, and it's such a poignant moment in the film, but also indicative of her impending death. I found the gratitude so moving it fit perfectly with the gratitude I found in the voice clip from "Thank You Hiroshi Yoshimura. "The fourth song, "Thank You Hiroshi Yoshimura," opens with a voice clip that acts almost as the protagonist of a film, reflecting on a turbulent time of sleeping in parks and on the streets. This voiceover was inspired by a comment on a Hiroshi Yoshimura video on YouTube that began, “This album reminds me of...” Lammers noticed the deeply personal responses le on these videos, so he recorded various similar YouTube comments from people around the world, initially intending to set them to music. Though much of this idea evolved, this particular voice clip remained a central influence, ultimately inspiring a cinematic journey within the album. "Summer in Shibuya" sets the scene as a trailer, "Opening Credits" introduces the narrative, and "Closing Credits" gently brings it to a close. While there’s a Japanese and Tokyo theme running through the tracks, Lammers doesn’t view the album as a tribute to Japan or Tokyo specifically—he’s never visited and admits to knowing only fragments of the culture. Yet he's drawn to Japanese environmental music and is an avid Murakami reader, seeing Japan as a powerful, visual inspiration in his mind’s eye. In a way, the album is also his “thank you” to the beautiful art that Japan has shared with the world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                R.I.Y.L.: Nala Sinephro, Sam Gendel, Shabaka, Alabaster De Plume, Jeff Parker, Carlos Niño.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                01 Summer In Shibuya
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                02 Opening Credits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                03 Thank You Kirin Kiki
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                04 Thank You Hiroshi Yoshimura
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                05 Closing Credits

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Gangster Music Vol. 3

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  **Gangster Music Vol.3: The Most Gangster Music Trilogy of All Time Comes to a Triumphant Close**

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Imagine curating a dream lineup of MCs and producers from every corner of the rap world—sounds impossible, right? Not for artist and illustrator Gangster Doodles, who has been bringing this vision to life for the past decade. Now, with “Gangster Music Vol.3”, the trilogy reaches its grand finale, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more unpredictable than ever before.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Gangster Doodles himself puts it best:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  "It’s hard to believe that I’ve been actively working on this Gangster Music series for the past 10 years. The most gangster music trilogy of ALL TIME is almost complete!! And in my humble opinion Vol.3 is the most exciting out of the 3, both from a music standpoint (special shout-out to all my music heroes on Vol.3) and artistically speaking this is the most fun I’ve had in years”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Since launching Volume 1 in 2019 and following up with the second volume in 2022, Gangster Doodles has been shaping the Gangster Music series into a one-of-a-kind sonic universe—an unfiltered mix of underground titans, unsung legends, and rising stars. Volume 3 is the biggest installment yet, boasting a staggering 30 tracks that traverse the entire spectrum of rap and beat culture.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This time around, the lineup is as eclectic as ever. From legendary pioneers like Lee Perry and Tommy Wright III, to veteran producers such as Mr. Scruff and Peanut Butter Wolf, the album pays homage to hip-hop’s roots while pushing forward into fresh territory. The roster also includes established up-and-comers like Devin Morrison, Low Leaf, DJ Harrison, Quelle Chris, Homeboy Sandman, and Suzi Analogue, ensuring a mix of classic flavors and new-school innovation. The bubbling underground is well represented too, with artists like Raz Fresco, Atlanta’s 645AR, and Pro Era’s Chuck Strangers bringing their own distinct heat.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  From pioneering SoundCloud rappers like Pouya to genre-bending composer John Carroll Kirby, from Birmingham’s Romderful to Chile’s RVYO, the album encapsulates a truly global soundscape, proving once again that Gangster Doodles’ ear for cutting-edge talent is second to none.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  As always, the cover art is a vital piece of the puzzle. This time, Bootleg Garfield & Friends take center stage, bringing the same playful irreverence that has defined Gangster Doodles’ artwork for years. Fans are encouraged to engage, remix, and make the cover their own, staying true to the spirit of interactive creativity that has always fueled the series.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  After years of meticulous curation, countless DMs, emails, and behind-the-scenes wrangling, Gangster Music Vol.3 is here to complete the trilogy in legendary fashion. Expect boundary-pushing beats, next-level lyricism, and a lineup that celebrates hip-hop in all its many forms.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  “Thanks to everyone who’s actively supported and continues to tap-in. Believe & trust when I say I've got more dope stuff cookin’. STAY TUNED!! GANGSTER DOODLES 4EVER. 1LUV."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Gangster Music Vol.3 is out April 7th on All City. Stay tuned, stay tapped in, and get ready for the most gangster music experience yet.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: More exquisite, leftfield hip-hop for the most blunted. The third volume of this buy-on-sight series is full of stoned headnodders, block party joints and tracks tailormade to play at full volume out the back of the Jeep!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1 Raz Fresco - Who Mapped The Earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2 ROMderful - Maybe With You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3 Dowker - Call Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4 Speak - Sakuraba
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5 Cookin Soul Ft. Ovrkast - Flying
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6 Demahjiae Ft Monster Rally - Clooney
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7 Mr Scruff - Flute Boom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8 645AR - Shooting Star
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9 Peanut Butter Wolf Ft. Myka 9 & WarAgainstGod? - Organic AI
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10 Chuck Strangers Ft. Graymatter - Marigold
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11 L.A. Jay Ft Pigeon John - Thank You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12 DJ Harrison - AppleChopChutney
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13 Homeboy Sandman Ft Monster Rally - I Love You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  14 Low Leaf - Faerie Function
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15 Pouya Ft Boobie Lootaveli - Bitch, Park Backwards
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  16 Eddie Chacon Ft. John Carroll Kirby - Comes And Goes (Live At ISC)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  17 Devin Morrison - Givin' Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  18 Suzi Analogue - King
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  19 Lee 'Scratch' Perry - Morning Star
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  20 Dayytona Fox - WoOoAaah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  21 RVYO Ft Bombay - KFLEX
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  22 Crimeapple Ft. Don Leisure - Vic Damone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  23 EyeBriss - Don't Clap When I Win
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  24 NCY Milky Band Ft Quelle Chris - High Speed Clouds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  25 Mr.Mumblz Ft. Daniel Son - Snake Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  26 Girl Talk Ft. Freeway & WakaFlakaflame - Tolerated (Remixed By Mikey The Magician )
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  27 Swum Ft. Big Lordy - Shinto
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  28 Xavier Wulf - 2 Can Wulf
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  29 Tommy Wright III - Chrome Thang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  30 YVAIN - Metta

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Natural Sciences Recs started in 2015 before mutating into the Embryo magazine series. Flesh Renewed marks ten years of the label with the fifth issue of Embryo. A light into the gutter of the fringe underground, through new tracks from the labels catalogue, 100 pages of interviews by labels and artists kicking against the grain and ties forged from the 80’s tape network. We invite you to witness the next stage of the evolution.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  This package includes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12" from DJ Warzone and Florian Kupfer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7" the first ever vinyl reissue of two tracks from the cult 80's tape label Harsh Reality Music
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Cassette Tape with 21 new tracks from Mutant Joe, DJ Sacred and more
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Magazine - Embryo Issue 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Download link to exclusive mix from Mother (Rubadub / Concrete Cabin)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Bumper pack of fiendish industrial filth here from Manchester's Natural Sciences who've dug deep to bring us something old, something new and something altogether wild and feral from the industrial / anarcho audio cannon. An expansive collection over 12", 7" and cassette, not to mention the magazine and poster bonuses! Not to be missed!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A1. DJ Warzone - Resonant Void
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A2. DJ Warzone - Microgravity Drift
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B1. DJ Warzone - Submerged Transmission
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B2. DJ Warzone X Florian Kupfer - Tactical Dissonance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  First Reissue Of Two Tracks From 80’s Tape Label Harsh Reality Music

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A1. Osiris - Starlight Scorpio [1989]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B1. SEEMEN - Floating Gently [1989]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tape Compilation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Crawl Of Time - Crossed Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Exome - Solitude
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Crave - Damages
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Ineffable Slime - Lucifer-Under-Lordsburg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Mutant Joe Ft. Death Dealers Anonymous - Tank Bullets 6. Iggor Cavalera - Social Horror
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. DJ Sacred - Down With 187
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Apoc Krysis Ft. DJ Killa C - Ain’t No Warning 9. Primitive Knot - Hostile Architecture
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Magnum Opus - Altergeist 11. Quiet Husband - Embryo 12. Mars89 - I Stole A Car
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. Pvssyheaven - Wicked City 14. Clay Teeth - Chapel Fire 15. Chaosy - Ortodetox
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  16. DJ Suhoy - Can Do Dark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  17. Dalibor Cruz - Sub Volution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  18. Costa - Cronos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  19. Mt.Borracho - Moxoxreoreyxia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  20. Svartvit - Days At The Jetty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  21. Andre Uhl - One Eye On The Clock, One Foot In The Ditch 22. Electric Doom Synthesis - Dogs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Bon Iver

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  SABLE, FABLE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bon Iver’s three-song collection SABLE, was a prologue mired in darkness, a controlled burn clearing the way for new possibilities. fABLE is the book that follows. Where SABLE, was a work of solitude, fABLE is an outstretched hand. Radiant, ornate pop music gleams around Vernon’s voice as he focuses on a new and beautiful era. On every song, his eyes are locked with one specific person. It’s love, which means there’s an intense clarity, focus, and honesty within fABLE. It’s a portrait of a man flooded and overwhelmed by that first meeting (“Everything Is Peaceful Love”). There’s a tableau defined by sex and irrepressible desire (“Walk Home”). This is someone filled with light and purpose seeing an entire future right in front of him: a partner, new memories, maybe a family. There’s something undeniably healing about infatuation. Cleaving to someone else can feel like light pouring in from a door that’s suddenly swung wide. But there’s a reason SABLE, is of a piece with fABLE; the shadow still rears its head in lighter times. Even when you’ve reached a new chapter, you’ll still find yourself back in your own foundational muck. A fable isn’t a fairy tale. There’s good stuff: unbridled joy and trips to Spain. But fables aren’t hinged on happy endings; they’re here to instill a lesson. As the album winds to a close, he acknowledges the need for patience and a commitment to put in the work. There’s a selfless rhythm required when you’re enmeshing yourself with another person. The song—and by extension the entire album —is a pledge. He’s ready to find that pace.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: SABLE, fABLE sees the inimtable Bon Iver return for a cathartic, epic album comprised of two parts. While the first disc 'SABLE' is undeniably beautiful, it's definitely more rooted in Bon Iver's alt-folk roots, while the contrasting 'fABLE' is a widescreen burst of emotion, and results in some of the most captivating material in his stylistically varied catalogue.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    SABLE,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    SIDE A

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. S P E Y S I D E
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    SIDE B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. AWARDS SEASON

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    fABLE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    SIDE A

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Short Story
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Everything Is Peaceful Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Walk Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Day One (feat. Dijon And Flock Of Dimes)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. From
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    SIDE B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. I'll Be There
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. If Only I Could Wait (feat. Danielle Haim)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. There's A Rhythmn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Au Revoir

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Julian Cope

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Friar Tuck

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Prince of Fried has brung forth 12 brand new humdingers: all hummable and lyrically compelling and replete with wah-acoustic guitars and beautiful orchestrations of Mellotron 400 from Liverpool’s Blondest. So inhale the garage fuzz dub of 'R in the Hood'; the mantric powerdrive of 'Four Jehovahs in a Volvo Estate'; the sentimental Pete Burns lamentations of 'In Spungent Mansions'… and who could resist the affectionate micro-trolling of 'Will Sergeant’s Blues'?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Stay cosy, defiant and edgy this autumn with these 12 fruits of FRIAR TUCK.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Julian Cope returns, following his album of off-piste Mellotron excursions with this scathing blast of proper scuzzy classic-Cope garage rock and / or roll. Snappy, witty and scathing, this is cope at his raucous best.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Too Freud To Rock'n'Roll Too Jung To Die
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. You Gotta Keep Your Halfwits About You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Four Jehovahs In A Volvo Estate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. The Dogshow Must Go On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. 1066 & All That
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. In Spungent Mansions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Me And The Jews
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. A Shipwrecked Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Sol Invicto
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. R. In The Hood
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Done Myself A Mischief
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Will Sergeant's Blues

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Valerie June

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Owls, Omens & Oracles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        “If you were in the middle of a forest, surrounded by a thicket of unkempt plants, trees, and wild wonder at every turn, would you marvel at all of the paths and directions you could go?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        If it were pitch black, dark, would you trust each step taken into the unknown?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        If it were the brightest day, would you bask in the sunshine and fall in love?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Owls, Omens, and Oracles is a collection of songs that summon us to observe the roads we are traveling and how they might lead us through dark times, but we are never alone.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        There’s always an inner light to guide the way.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        -Valerie June 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Shining, uplifting rhythmic soul music that's imbued with bright streaks of gospel and country, all topped with the beautifully jubilant lyrics and soaring register of VAlerie June. Beautifully celebratory and full of moments of genuine joy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Joy, Joy!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. All I Really Wanna Do
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Endless Tree
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Inside Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Trust The Path
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Love Me Any Ole Way
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Changed (ft. The Blind Boys Of Alabama)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Superpower
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Sweet Things Just For You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. I Am In Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Calling My Spirit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. My Life Is A Country Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Missin’ You (Yeh Yeh)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Love And Let Go 

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

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

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

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


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


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

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Matt says: Sublime ambience which creeps stylishly into delicate and dreamy electronica utterances. It's the MFM remit alright - executed with all the majesty and intrigue we've come to expect from this monumental label.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Saint Odds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        No Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Brick House
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Cloud Sofa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Sea Serpent
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Waterbear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Swimmer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Aftersun

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Kapote

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Para Mytho Disco

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Toy Tonics presents "Para Mytho Disco", the 2nd album by Toy Tonics label founder Mathias Modica operating under his Kapote alias.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          "Para Mytho Disco" is a futuristic mix of sounds. It's far away from the dark monotone techno and trance music from Kapote's hometown Berlin. Instead, he creates warm friendly atmospheres full of sonic colours and little musical surprises. Kapote's knowledge of music history and his background as a jazz piano student and son of classic music composer is clearly inside this music. Before turning into a DJ and electronic music producer he has been playing in bands since he was 13 years old.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The album is full of emotional chord progressions played by Kapote on various keyboards. The basslines and melodies are inspired by jazz fusion from the 1970'S. And he programmed syncopated grooves that come from Afro-American dance music. There are influences from Japanese electronic music (Yellow Magic Orchestra), from 1980s synthwave and from 1990s electronica (like Squarepusher and Luke Vibert).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Kapote plays keys, bass, flutes and percussions, he plays synth solos and sings on a few tracks. The complexity of the arrangements makes keep the music interesting throughout. Quite an accomplishment from the artist formerly known as Munk. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Nice to see Kapote return with album number 2. More housey than the nu-disco of the last; it's nonetheless soulful and seductive and should appeal to fans of Bitter End, Roisin Murphy's work with Crooked Man, Crazy P and even Confidence Man.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A1 Spaceship
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A2 Hot & Sick (Extended Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A3 Berlin Boogie Town
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B4 Mystery (feat. GUINNY)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B5 Prana & Passione
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B6 Selfish Gods
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C7 Arte Poverina
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C8 Jerks Of Neukölln
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C9 Stoicus Lex
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D10 Doyum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D11 Miracle Club
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D12 Ritual Of Unconformity

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Michael Grigoni /Pan American

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          New World, Lonely Ride

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Michael Grigoni and Pan•American present their first collaboration. The album’s title, New World, Lonely Ride, gestures toward its meditative orientation. The duo offers a series of reflections on the zeitgeist of our present moment, the spirit of our age: the isolation and loneliness that continues to echo in the wake of the pandemic; the fractures that mar our political discourse; the uncertainty that has stamped itself on the future of democracy. The vast geography of America and the absence of a common ground, a shared political vision, have contributed to the affective landscape of contemporary American life—of what it feels like to live in the United States today.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Using instrumental voices and textures drawn from the traditional American forms of folk, country, bluegrass and blues, and informed with a modern sense of ambience and space, the sound is both contemporary and deeply rooted. With New World, Lonely Ride, Grigoni and Pan American join countless American artists who have drawn upon this landscape—physical and affective—giving it a voice and shape, listening to its character. And in starting there, with listening, offer a response for the future.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: I'm BANG into this sort of rippling, ambienty American guitar music at the moment, and New World, Lonely Ride is possibly the most perfect example of this I could imagine. Of COURSE it's Kranky, and of course it's majestic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Arvo Pärt

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Silentium

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The album centers around a never-before-released rendition of 'Silentium', the second movement of Pärt's most famous concerto, Tabula Rasa, performed by Boston-based chamber orchestra A Far Cry. The group plays 'Silentium' at nearly half the speed of the best-known version, released on ECM in 1984. The piece, known for its healing properties for the dying and often used in palliative care facilities (one patient famously called it "angel music"), is breathtaking at half speed, seemingly stilling time itself.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The album compiles some of the most stunning renditions of Pärt's music ever recorded. 'Vater Unser (Arr. for trombone & string ensemble)' is somehow warm and austere at once. A miniature epic. Pianist Marcel Worm's solo version of 'Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinuschka' is as beautiful as anything we've ever heard. 'Fratres for Strings and Percussion' is one of Arvo Pärt's most celebrated works.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Hungarian State Opera Orchestra's version is iconic, filled with emotional playing right on the verge of overly romantic, but never tipping over. Pärt's approach to both music and life is as sparse as the compositions he creates. He once said, "I have nothing to say... Music says what I need to say. And it is dangerous to say anything, because if I've said it already in words there might be nothing left for my music."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: A stunning rendition of Silentium that's simmering with unease from the outset, but resolves slowly and through much dissonance and process, that's only one piece of this four-part epic, a stunning collection of pieces that people including and entirely limited to me are calling 'The Best Of Arvo Pärt'. Lovely.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Vater Unser (Arr. For Trombone & String Ensemble)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Variationen Zur Gesundung Von Arinuschka
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Fratres For Strings And Percussion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Silentium

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Daughter Of Swords

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Alex

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Daughter of Swords is the solo project of North Carolina singer-songwriter Alex Sauser-Monnig (they/she), who has also released music with bands Mountain Man and The A’s. Their solo debut, 'Dawnbreaker', was a hushed folk record released in 2019; in the years since, Sauser-Monnig found a new understanding of self, personally and musically. Across the last several years, Daughter of Swords’ music has grown thornier, an unpredictable and knotty tangle of technicolor synths, heady guitar, bubbling rhythms, a sheen enveloping songs about raw human intensity writ large – crushes, desire, anger, alienation, the horrors of late-stage capitalism, the cascading paradigm shifts it seems we’re all hurtling toward.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Enter 'Alex', Daughter of Sword’s sinewy new record. Recorded at Betty’s (Sylvan Esso’s studio), 'Alex' was built out by Sauser-Monnig’s longtime friends/collaborators Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso, Mountain Man, The A’s), Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes), Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso, Made of Oak), TJ Maiani (Weyes Blood, Neneh Cherry), and Caleb Wright (Hippo Campus, Samia). There’s a sharp cerebral tension between the stories at the core of these songs and the electrifying, playful buoyancy of the sound, the wink with which Sauser-Monnig can deliver a withering observation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Reckoning with pleasure-seeking, boundary-breaking, and their place in the world, 'Alex' heralds a fresh chapter of exploration and liberation for Sauser-Monnig, yielding the truest representation of their identity via song yet. A reassessment of inner systems, and relationships of all sorts — with art and creativity, with other humans, with gender – happened in tandem with Sauser-Monnig’s interrogation of the late-capitalist culture that makes life for working artists an inequitable grind. Forced out of their habitual ways of thinking and being, Sauser-Monnig found new energy in dissolving old limitations—be they about the music business or their concept of gender—and exploring in uncharted territory. Their priority became maximizing the mood of each track, borne out in Alex’s layers of synthetic textures and unorthodox flourishes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: Angular bursts of overdriven guitar and looped noises underpin the smoothly melodic vocals of Alex Sauser-Monnig, and result in something that's clearly influenced as much by art rock and folk as it is indie music. A hugely dynamic selection of wonderfully hummable oddities and soaring chorsues.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Alone Together
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Talk To You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Hard On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Morning In Madison
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Money Hits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. All I Want Is You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Willow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Dance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Strange
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Vacation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. West Of West

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Mars Volta

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos Del Vacio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Mars Volta's ninth studio album represents a significant milestone for the band, which has been continually reinventing itself for more than 20 years. With “Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio," they deliver an album that celebrates their roots, allowing them to reconnect with their origins. Fans are invited to embark on a musical journey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Fin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Reina Tormenta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Enlazan Las Tinieblas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Mictlán
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Nefilbata
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Cue The Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Alba Del Orate
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Voice In My Knives
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Poseedora De Mi Sombra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Celaje
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Vociferó
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Mito De Los Trece Cielos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. Un Disparo Al Vacío
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  14. Detrás De La Puerta Dorada
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15. Maullidos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  16. Morgana
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  17. Cue The Sun (Reprise)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  18. Lucro Sucio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Nell Smith

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Anxious

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Posthumous record releases are always charged with emotion but when the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    release comes from a 17 year-old artist that was just getting started it is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    heartbreaking,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Anxious' is a mesmerizing selection of songs that explore the highs, lows and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    uncertainty of teenage life through the eyes of Nell and is the follow-up to 'Where The Viaduct Looms', her debut collaboration with The Flaming Lips that explored the works of Nick Cave.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Guided by the talented Jack and Lily Wolter of Penelope Isles, who helped shape Nell's songs, some of which had been in the works since she was twelve years old, the result is an album brimming with emotion, playful melodies and a depth that hints at what Nell's future may have held. Nell's record includes three songs which were written in partnership with Canadian folk band Shred Kelly with whom she spent winter evenings writing in her hometown of Fernie, British Columbia, huddled round the fre in 2022. Jack and Lily Wolter subsequently completed these songs and the rest of the works in Brighton in 2023.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nell's frst and only studio recording session at Bella Union's studio in Brighton at the tender age of 15 was an intense mix of long days with Jack and Lily expertly teasing out what was really going on in Smith's mind with the help of Doritos, Fizzy sweets, Coca Cola and inspiration gained by sneaking her into venues to see local bands play.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A lot of Nell's creative drive was rooted in raw teenage emotions; apprehension; love; travel; gratefulness; ambition; and grief. These moods are visited throughout the tracks on the album with an instrumental approach that brings joy into even the darkest of songs.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Anxious
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Daisy Fields
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Bubba
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. The Worst Best Drug
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Service Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Boy In A Bubble
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Splash
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. I Know Nothing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Billions Of People
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Split In The Sky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Over-Gain Optimal Death

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Die Underground

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Die Young, Die Broke. A new mantra for the most depraved connoisseurs of Psychedelic Punk. For fans of Mainliner, Brainbombs, Les Rallizes Denudes, Stooges, Motörhead, MC5 ...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A critique and embrace of self-destruction, esoteric vanity and inevitable ruin. The molten-red LP on Riot Season Records plunges deep into an abuse of distortion, existential doom and primal Stooges-like chaos. LA’s Acid Punk Power Trio returns to its mark 1 line up, now wielding a second addition in twin-drum assault
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      OVER-GAIN OPTIMAL DEATH are :Jasso : Guitar/ Vocals, Luna : Bass, Backhaus + TJ : Twin Drums

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Jasso (guitar/vocals) is seemingly out for blood on this 4 track studio album, leading a violent dive into the abyss, Japanese Underground fury meets Hendrix’s wreckage, fuzz-drenched wah freak-outs compete against raw punk vocals caught in an endless slap back delay…

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      OVER-GAIN OPTIMAL DEATH are an Acid Punk power trio formed in 2008 hailing from Los Angeles, and now currently hiding out somewhere in the South of France.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Fronted by guitarist/ vocalist Jasso (Psychedelic Speed Freaks, Antarcticans), they push a special niche product of blown-out extreme psychedelic noise rock. Their sound is enveloped in a total nihilist

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      "No Hope" atmosphere of heavy lyrics and distortion, mating intoxicating pulsing repetition, hyperactive improvisations and out of body guitar solos.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Resurrecting US 60s punk and acid-riffage from the likes of Blue Cheer, the Stooges, MC5 and live Hendrix Experience, OVER-GAIN OPTIMAL DEATH also draws greatly on the in-the-red sound aesthetic and high energy of the Speed Freak Underground and Hardcore scene of 80s/90s Japan. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A1. Die Underground (5:49)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A2. No Lord (10:28)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B1. Oversleep (4:56)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B2. Fallen Woman (14:07)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cold Specks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Light For The Midnight

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Following the acclaim of her first three records ('I Predict a Graceful Expulsion' [2012], 'Neuroplasticity' [2014], and 'Fool’s Paradise' [2017]), Cold Specks (Al Spx) has solidified her reputation as a singular voice in modern music. From her spellbinding acapella performance on Later… with Jools Holland to collaborations with Moby, Massive Attack, and Michael Gira of Swans, Cold Specks has consistently delivered artistry that resonates.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'With Light for the Midnight', she embarks on her most personal journey yet. At its core, the album is a raw and deeply emotional reflection on endurance, survival, and transformation. A collection of fervent ballads and atmospheric pop songs, it channels Spx’s soulful voice into expansive sonic worlds.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The album was conceived during a challenging period in Spx’s life. Work began in 2019 amidst struggles with mental health, experiences that are deeply embedded in the music. Yet, despite its personal origins, Spx emphasises its universality: "I definitely wanted to reflect on the last couple of years because it impacted me so much, but I also wanted the audience to walk away with this album. You know, the songs belong to them once I release them.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The record was crafted in Toronto and Bristol, with Spx co-producing alongside Adrian Utley of Portishead and Ali Chant (known for working with Perfume Genius, Dry Cleaning, and Aldous Harding). It features string arrangements by Owen Pallett (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Sampha) and additional contributions from Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck. Spx also worked with a stellar lineup of collaborators, including Chantal Kreviazuk (Drake, Kendrick Lamar), Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap, Ben Christophers, Ed Harcourt, and Jonathan Quarmby.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'Light for the Midnight' captures Cold Specks at her most vulnerable and powerful, weaving stories of struggle into stunning compositions that resonate deeply. It is an album of hope and transformation.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. How It Feels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Venus In Pisces
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Wandering In The Wild
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Cold Goodbye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Endlessly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Lingering Ghosts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Cheap Dreaming
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Lovely Little Bones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Curse Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Closer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Zion Train

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dubs Of Perception

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          New studio album from Zion Train. This album is produced by Neil Perch in the Alte Ziegelei studio and features the world renowned Zion Train brass section along with vocals from Zion Train singer 'Cara' and the award winning poet Roger Robinson. Featured on several tracks is Paolo Baldini playing guitars and bass guitar alongside veteran musicians - Trinny Fingers, Blacka Wilson, Dreada One and Professor Skank who hails from Crete.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          For this album Zion Train return to their roots with copious amounts of analogue Dub mixing performed by Perch on his TAC Scorpion vintage mixing desk. With mastering at the Pressure Mastering, and artwork by the highly acclaimed anarchist artist Marko Gin from Croatia, this album presents Zion Train at their creative, anarchic best.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Corridors Of Breath
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Travelling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Cosmic Serpent
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Move To Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Love To Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Rwandan Holiday
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Protection By Complexion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Recession Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Mother Of Creation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Sloe Revenge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Things Fall Apart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Nepantla (The In Between Space)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Pete Herbert is back with another tasteful assembled and escapist compilation. This one focuses on slowed-down, low-slung sounds for the golden hour when love is in the air and the vibes are blissful. Balearic mainstays feature throughout with Max Essa's 'Warm Enough' a delightfully humid and synth-laced deep house jaunt, Fernando's 'Moon Rocks' full of shimmering synth lushness and Pete Herbert's remix of Mantas & Vencla's 'Sun' offering some piano laced fun to rouse the 'floor.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mine says: The last Music For Swimming Pools compilation has gone down a treat and I think this one might prove just as, if not more, popular. Featuring a smorgasbord of balearic and electronic noise makers, including our album of the year 2020 chart toppers Rheinzand.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Marius Vareid - "Nite Drive"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Max Essa - "Warm Enough"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Fernando - "Mareas" (Pete Herbert Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dan Jarvis - "Schema"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12Tree - "Deep Souflee" (Gafas Du Soul Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Fernando - "Moon Rocks"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mantas & Vencla - "Sun" (Pete Herbert Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Fabulous Lover - "On The Run"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Rheinzand - "Queen Of Dawn" (Pete Herbert Instrumental Remix)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Rubens Room: Él Records - In Camera

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Of all the independent record labels of the 1980s, él was the most singular and exciting. él only existed for a few short years and yet paradoxically - given its modest commercial success - was hugely influential. For writer Jonathan Coe, one of the label’s many devotees, él was ‘Britain's great musical secret’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            This ‘best of’ compilation LP, curated by label supremo Mike Alway himself, will remind the world of the greatness of él. The secret is out…

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            él was created in 1984 by Alway, a mercurial A&R man for Cherry Red signing outstanding artists like Everything But the Girl, The Monochrome Set and Felt. Alway briefly co-ran Blanco Y Negro (an offshoot of WEA) but was soon constrained by the conservativism of the commercial music sector and left to set up his own label. él was once described as ‘the most innately English record label there has ever been’ and yet the look and the sound of the label achieved global reach.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Always ‘hands on’ approach was to take complete control of the philosophy of the label’s releases and even the titles of songs in the manner of pop impresarios of the past. Alway became a curator, selecting, shaping and overseeing the records issued on él. He employed songwriters proficient in classical pop techniques such as Nicholas Currie (AKA Momus) and Philippe Auclair (AKA Louis Philippe) who issued their own records while writing, arranging and performing for other él artistes. Great musicians such as Simon Turner (AKA The King of Luxembourg), Dean ‘Speedball’ Brodrick and producer Richard Preston completed the picture.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            él had a unique musical flavour, eschewing rock music for 1960s bubbelgum, chamber pop, European chanson, Latin rhythms and film scores (see in particular the work of Marden Hill). The label was decidedly un-macho and key artists such as Would Be Goods, Anthony Adverse and Bad Dream Fancy Dress examined the modern world through the female gaze. Alway saw él as a celebration of elegance and beauty: ‘a pop world beyond leather jackets and jeans’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The fantastic visual style of the label, adopting the aesthetics of high fashion, art photography and pop graphics was created by Alway with photographers Nick Wesolowski and Pete Moss and designer Jim Phelan. The él ‘look’ was so strong that one UK music paper even reviewed the records simply on the basis of the sleeves!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            él was critically acclaimed in the UK and popular in America and mainland Europe but in Japan had a profound effect, directly influencing the Shibuya-kei phenomenon that included Pizzicato Five, Kahimi Karie and Cornelius.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Rubens Room accompanies the book Bright Young Things by Mark Goodall (Ventil) the first publication to tell the fascinating story of the music found on The Rubens Room.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Mike Alway writes in his sleeve notes that ‘él was the joy of my life. It was monumental’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            With The Rubens Room, we can all share that joy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Louis Philippe - Anthony Bay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Louis Philippe - Like Nobody Do
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Louis Philippe - Guess I'm Dumb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Louis Philippe - Touch Of Evil
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Louis Philippe - If You're Missing Someone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Anthony Adverse - Now Listen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Anthony Adverse - Ulysses And The Siren
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. The King Of Luxembourg - A Picture Of Dorian Gray
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. The King Of Luxembourg - The Rubens Room
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. The King Of Luxembourg - Smash Hit Wonder
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Would-Be-Goods - The Camera Loves Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. Would-Be-Goods - Velasquez & I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            13. Would-Be-Goods - Cecil Beaton’s Scrapbook
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            14. Marden Hill - Curtain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            15. Marden Hill - Oh Constance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            16. Marden Hill - The Execution Of Emperor Maximillian
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            17. Bad Dream Fancy Dress - Choirboys Gas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            18. Bad Dream Fancy Dress - Where Have All The Schoolboys Gone?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            19. Bad Dream Fancy Dress - Lemon Tarts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            20. The Monochrome Set - Jet Set Junta (Single Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            21. Always - Thames Valley Leather Club
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            22. Always - Park Row
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            23. Momus - John The Baptist Jones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            24. Momus - Paper Wraps Rock
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            25. Simon Fisher Turner - Umber Wastes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Disk Musik: A DD. Records Compilation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Japan’s cult, half-forgotten goldmine DD. Records opened and closed within a few frantic years. In that short time (from 1980 to 1985), they released exactly 222 cassettes (and a handful of vinyl records) of the strangest, boldest, most arresting and addictively subversive music within their social and creative circles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Each of their cassette releases came with abstract, xerographic artwork, often created by the musician themselves, while the label’s recorded output encompassed avant-punk, Cubist ambient music, sound collage, pop concréte, jazz-prog, early computer music, and anything else their roster cared to throw at them. Housed in sleeves of found imagery taken from classical and Medieval literature, contemporary and historic photography, science textbooks, magazines, homemade erotica, and endless more, these records reveal not only the strength of the community the label had fostered, but also the insular self-reference and in-jokes that kept the music from outsiders for decades.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Two facets of DD. Records shine through even this unique story: firstly, they were friends. Founder T. [Tadashi] Kamada formed the label alone, but it wasn’t long before he was joined by like-minded allies T. [Teruo] Nakamura, K. [Koshiro] Yoshimatsu, K. [Keiichi] Usami, and T. [Takafumi] Isotani, among a few others. All were contributors to Kamada’s tape-trading network The Recycle Circle, formed at the University of Yamanashi, most of its members at the time around 20 years old. Their bond was a love of exploratory sounds and a hunger for deeper excavations into the tunnels and caves of experimental music. “An independent, private circle where members who owned expensive records or rare imported vinyl with limited distribution could send a cassette tape and a return postage stamp to dub the record back to each other for free,” Usami explains, in interview with Jon Dale for Bandcamp Daily.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Secondly, the aforementioned cassettes remained almost entirely unavailable to the world outside Japan, with only a single US retailer engaged to carry the releases. Forty plus years hence, many of the records have been lost to time, but occasionally surface when (so writes an online observer) “a private collector has a medical bill to cover.” A German archivist, Jorg Öpitz, is primarily (and almost exclusively) responsible for the entire English-language directory of the label’s output, cataloguing online surviving and lost cassettes with completist dedication. Largely autodidactic and almost always hermetic, this company of hobbyist and amateur (and in many cases, totally untrained) musicians rarely performed live. Many of them collaborated remotely, sending home-recorded tapes and collaged artwork in the post. “[We were] isolated from the rest of the [Japanese] indie movement,” Usami remembers. Strangely, and sadly for many, Tadashi Kamada has completely retired from public view. According to one-time collaborators, it is likely he is unaware of the cult following his label has garnered over the decades. Some sources point to a successful career in consumer electronics, a family, and a contented indifference to his early experiments in record label curation. But no-one seems certain about these details, none of which has harmed the image of a label that revels in mythmaking. An artefact left behind was Disk Musik.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Though compilations were not unknown to DD. Records, vinyl was rare. Only a handful of Kamada titles - presumably self-funded - were released on vinyl, right at the start of the label’s life, and it is not until 1985 and Disk Musik that the format reemerges. It appears to be their final release: a parting gift to neatly bookend five feverish years of new music, rubber stamping their creative identity. In the twenty-first century, the second hand market for original copies is limited to scarce private sales at seriously hefty prices. There are endless and curious gems within. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Circadian Rhythm - Shela
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Kum - One Day With Kakusuko
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. 10T - Israel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Abnormal Sex - NHK
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. T. Isotani - 1/2 Orange
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Mask - In And Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Mosque Of Torment - Ceramic Dance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. T. Tukimoto - Did The Thought Of Love Surpass Everything?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. T. Kamada - Muzikapart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Y. Tabata - Summer Initiation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Cat Dog - Grain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. Young Hormones - Egg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              13. K. Usami - Soma Illusion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Black Country, New Road

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Forever Howlong

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Black Country, New Road return with Forever Howlong, their first studio album since 2022’s seminal Ants From Up There earned the band their second Top 5 UK album in just 12 months following their Mercury Prize-shortlisted debut For the first time. The highly anticipated new album follows 2023’s Live at Bush Hall, with the legendary James Ford (Fontaines D.C, The Last Dinner Party, Beth Gibbons) taking the helm as producer, and vocal duties now shared between Tyler Hyde, Georgia Ellery, and May Kershaw.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: An expansive, thematically diverse new album from the brilliant Black Country New Road here, smoothly dealing with the loss of main vocalist Isaac Wood and with it presenting a very different recipe from most of the same ingredients. It's avant rock, as always but there are more hints of beguiling prog and whispered odball folk, lilting Americana and scuzzy garage rock. Brilliantly weird, and perfectly new sounding, BCNR are back!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Vinyl Tracklist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A1. Besties
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A2. The Big Spin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A3. Socks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B1. Salem Sisters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B2. Two Horses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B3. Mary
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C1. Happy Birthday
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C2. For The Cold Country
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D1. Nancy Tries To Take The Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D2. Forever Howlong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D3. Goodbye (Don’t Tell Me)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                CD Tracklist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Besties
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. The Big Spin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Socks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Salem Sisters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Two Horses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Mary
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Happy Birthday
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. For The Cold Country
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Nancy Tries To Take The Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Forever Howlong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Goodbye (Don’t Tell Me)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Death Hilarious

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The fifth album from Newcastle’s riff wizards Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs is defined by calculated aggression and self-lacerating lyrics. Its startling bonuses include playful synth work and the appearance of a giant from hip-hop. With its title juxtaposing absurdity and seriousness, this is 'Death Hilarious'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Whereas 2023’s 'Land Of Sleeper' was conceived as an immersive headphones experience, this time Pigs strove for something more directly hostile. “We wanted it to be a slap in the face,” grins producer and guitarist Sam Grant. That objective came, in part, from playing so many gigs over the last couple of years. The band felt well-oiled and ripe to give listeners at home the kind of pummelling their audiences receive.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Death Hilarious' does bring in some big surprises, particularly the track ‘Glib Tongued’, which has guest bars by El-P from Run The Jewels. When bassist John-Michael Hedley unwittingly wrote what his bandmates considered their equivalent of a hip-hop number, Pigs set their sights high and secured a blistering contribution from one of the world’s greatest rappers. That’s not to say Pigs have pivoted to nu-metal. 'Death Hilarious' is a diversely punishing record which shapeshifts through Sabbathian doom, grotesquely minimalist noise rock and cyclical post-metal fortissimos. Pigs continue to push themselves, too. Incongruous synthesiser solos appear where guitar histrionics would usually fit. Piano tracks lurk in the mix, adding near-subliminal depth to the maelstrom. ‘Stitches’ is like Motörhead trying to perform glam rock with a tipsy keyboardist. Then there’s the 100mph pace of cosmic-thrash opener ‘Blockage’. Distorted licks flying from the amplifiers of Grant and lead guitarist, Adam Ian Sykes, while the rhythm section sizzle behind. With all that power running through its veins, 'Death Hilarious' is easily going to be one of the best rock albums of 2025...and that is no joke!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Newcastle's blistering Pigs x7 (EXACTLY seven) bring us a scuzzed-out version of their groundbreaking sound from 2023's mindblowing 'Viscerals'. There are riffs aplenty and heavy hitting lyrics, walls of noise and soaring, groovy basslines but there's also a load of garagey, saturated distortion and loads of muck. Classic pigs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Blockage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Detroit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Collider
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Stitches
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Glib Tongued (Feat. El–P)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. The Wyrm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Carousel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Coyote Call
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Toecurler 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Miki Berenyi Trio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tripla

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A new chapter, a new-line-up, a newly minted sound; Miki Berenyi Trio's debut album 'Tripla' is a landmark record for its three creators: Miki Berenyi, KJ 'Moose' McKillop and Oliver Cherer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The album's richly layered, imaginative and uniquely slanted strain of dream pop is an often euphoric and sometimes melancholic mix of guitars and electronica, fronted by Miki's instantly recognisable vocal, overlaid with an often profound and sometimes abrasive or yearning view of the world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Miki Berenyi Trio, or MB3 for short, is named after its lead singer - a direct way to convey the presence of the former singer/co-guitarist of Lush, and one of the most instantly recognisable faces of the '90s - but the songwriting is entirely a three-way collaboration, as the album title describes: acknowledging the mother tongue of Miki's father, 'Tripla' is Hungarian for 'triple'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Miki and Moose, who came of age during the era of shoegaze and Britpop in Lush and the equally beloved Moose respectively, arrived here from Piroshka, which the couple formed in 2017 with drummer Justin Welch (ex-Elastica) and bassist Mick Conroy (Modern English). When Mick broke his arm during the tour that followed Piroshka's second album 'Love Drips And Gathers', in stepped Oliver, Justin's bandmate in Aircooled and an eclectic, roving solo artist, under aliases such as Dollboy and Gilroy Mere.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    With Mick moving to America, and Justin swamped by session work and live duties for The Jesus & Mary Chain and The Pretenders, Piroshka was put on ice, before the Miki-Moose-Oliver trio came together to play a handful of Lush songs whilst promoting her hugely acclaimed memoir Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success.A bout of songwriting sessions followed. "Nothing was planned," Oliver recalls. "It was more of an organic process."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Likewise, the gleaming, gliding MB3 sound. Minus a drummer, the trio incorporated drum machines behind Moose and Miki's guitars and Oliver's bass, which led to the addition of more electronic components. Freed too from the logistics of touring with a drumkit, MB3 have seized the chance to regularly play live, including support tours to Gang Of Four and Wedding Present (twice) plus regular headline shows, including summer 2024's US dates, supported by post-punk legends Lol Tolhurst x Budgie

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: A beautifully psychedelic take on Berenyi's sound with the addition of the hugely talented Oliver Cherer and Moose McKillop. Where things previously were a little more muted, it feels like with the addition of a pair of likeminded collaborators and a raft of skill, the trio has opened Berenyi's sound right up. Expansive, beguiling psychedelic electronic music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. 8th Deadly Sin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Kinch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Vertigo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Gango
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Big I Am
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Hurricane
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Manu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Ubique
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. A Different Girl

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Momma

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Welcome To My Blue Sky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Like so many coming-of-age stories that leave a long-lasting impact, Brooklyn-based Momma’s new album Welcome to My Blue Sky takes place during a charmed and turbulent summer—a transformative moment in time that co-founders Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten sum up as a period of “parallel chaos”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mainly recorded live with the full band at Studio G in Brooklyn and produced by their bandmate Aron Kobayashi Ritch, Welcome to My Blue Sky marks the follow-up to Household Name—a critically acclaimed release that manifested their ascent. With the help of drummer Preston Fulks, Momma arrived at the album’s 12 immaculately composed yet immediately potent songs by matching the raw urgency of rock with the sticky melodies and taut arrangements of pop—a dynamic born from their deepened commitment to finding the most direct vessel for their emotional expression. “With this album we were less concerned with sounding cool and heavy and rock & roll and much more focused on good, clean songwriting that hopefully inspires people to sing along and mean every word,” Weingarten reveals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Equal parts shared memoir, communal outpouring, and riveting emotional travelogue, each track is infused with both unsparing self-awareness and immense sensitivity, and the result is a bold leap forward for one of the most creatively uncompromising and singular voices in indie-rock.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Crunchy, grunge-flavoured shoegaze from Momma that's beautifully produced, sonically rich and full of the sort of audio tricks and glitchy scattered production we'd expect to see in modern bass music or silky synth-pop. Heavy, grungy but wonderfully poppy to boot.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Sincerely
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. I Want You (Fever)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Rodeo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Stay All Summer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. New Friend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. How To Breathe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Last Kiss
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Bottle Blonde
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Ohio All The Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Welcome To My Blue Sky
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Take Me With You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. My Old Street

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Dirty Projectors, David Longstreth & S T A R G A Z E

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Song Of The Earth

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'Song of the Earth' is performed by Longstreth with members of his band Dirty Projectors — Felicia Douglass, Maia Friedman, Olga Bell —and the Berlin-based chamber orchestra s t a r g a z e, the album also features Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie), Steve Lacy, Patrick Shiroishi,Anastasia Coope, Tim Bernardes, Ayoni, Portraits of Tracy, and the author David Wallace-Wells.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Longstreth wrote the first draft in six manic weeks for a commission arranged by s t a r g a z e. He felt disoriented and also galvanized bythe moment: the pandemic chaos, the ‘radical psychedelia’ of new fatherhood, the novelty of writing for large ensemble. Then he spentthree years revising, rewriting, rearranging, and recording in studios and homes in the Netherlands, Los Angeles, and New York City.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'Song of the Earth' marks Longstreth’s biggest-yet foray into the field of concert music. It received its US premiere in a March 2024 sold-outperformance at Disney Hall in Los Angeles with the LA Philharmonic. Work-in-progress performances also took place between 2022 and2024 at the Barbican in London, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, and Muziekgebouw Amsterdam.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Just as Dirty Projectors’ 'Rise Above' sounds nothing like 'Damaged' — the Black Flag album upon which is based — 'Song of the Earth' bearslittle resemblance to its namesake, Gustav Mahler’s 1908 song-poem Das Lied Von Der Erde. But Longstreth notes that “it is saturated withthe Mahler work’s themes, feelings and spirit of dissolved contradiction.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: An entrancing selection of warm orchestral minimalism, brittle folky timbres and swooning, scattered busts of harmony and melody. Bold, uncompromisingly cinematic and wonderfully immersive.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Summer Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Gimme Bread
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. At Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Circled In Purple
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Our Green Garden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Walk The Edge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Opposable Thumb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. More Mania
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Spiderweb At Water's Edge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Mallet Hocket
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. So Blue The Lake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Dancing On Our Eyelids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Same River Twice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Armfuls Of Flowers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Twin Aspens
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Uninhabitable Earth, Paragraph One
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. Kyrie / About My Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Shifting Shalestones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Appetite
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. Bank On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21. Paper Birches, Whole Scroll
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        22. Raven Ascends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        23. Blue Of Dreaming
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        24. Raised Brow

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Yukimi (Little Dragon)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        For You

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Influential icon and legendary artist, Yukimi Nagano, best known to date as the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated, four-piece Swedish band Little Dragon, releases her debut solo album, 'For You'. Featuring De La Soul, Lianne La Havas, plus Erik Boden from Little Dragon who helped co-produce the record, this new venture will also see Yukimi step fully into her power, not just as a singer, songwriter and performer, but as a woman who has long been operating in a male dominated industry blooming on her own. This breakthrough moment has provided Yukimi with the space and freedom to explore themes that she has never touched on before; motherhood, her children, death, loss, and all encompassing feminine energy.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: Dynamically fluid, thematically wide selection of jazzy percussion and rolling instrumentation, soulful vocals and off-piste instrumental choices. There are echoes here of folk and hip-hop, the feel of ambient music and classic soul, and the melodies and drive of indie music yet it sounds like no one of those. Impeccable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Prelude For You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Make Me Whole
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Break Me Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Runaway
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Elinam
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Stream Of Consciousness (feat. Lianne La Havas)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Rules Of School
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Sad Makeup
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Peace Reign
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. No Prince
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Winter Is Not Dead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Jaxon (feat. Pos From De La Soul)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. Feels Good To Cry (feat. Yusuke Nagano)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ethel Cain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Preacher's Daughters

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The jaded daughter of a dead preacher-man caught in an exodus, Ethel Cain winds her way through a dizzying attempt at escape from her suffocating upbringing only to find herself crushed within its jaws in the end. Hayden Anhedönia, the woman behind the curtain, serves as the architect for the visceral and haunting world of Ethel Cain. After over four years of meticulously constructing her debut album and the graphic visual world that accompanies it, Preacher’s Daughter, was released in May 2022 to critical acclaim, catching fire with her reverent fanbase of daughters and the adoration of The New York Times, Vogue, NPR, Billboard, Vice, TheFADER, NYLON, Paper Magazine, Pitchfork, W Magazine, V Magazine and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: A beautifully accomplished, highly conceptual album here from Ethel Cain, with Anhedonia beautifully piecing together the pieces of a story through brittle piano interludes and bright, effusive melodies. There are echoes of pop music here, hints of avant rock and soundtrack work but at it's core, Preacher's Daughter is an impeccably constructed, transformative journey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            SIDE A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Family Tree (Intro)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. American Teenager
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. A House In Nebraska
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Western Nights

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            SIDE B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Family Tree
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Hard Times
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Thoroughfare

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            SIDE C
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Gibson Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Ptolemaea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. August Underground
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Televangelism

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            SIDE D
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Sun Bleached Flies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Strangers

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Anika

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Abyss

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Anika channels her frustration, anger, and confusion with the world into her third album, 'Abyss'. Recorded live to tape at Berlin’s legendary Hansa Studios, the album captures raw energy with minimal overdubs, resulting in a visceral and urgent 10-track journey fueled by intense emotions. The recording process, done in just a few days with a live band, emphasises immediacy, offering a sound that’s both physical and direct.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Abyss' reflects Anika’s desire to create a space where people can unite and feel free to express themselves amidst the chaos of the world. With influences ranging from 90s grunge and Courtney Love to Patti Smith and Genesis P-Orridge, the album is driven by a rebellious spirit. Tracks like 'One Way Ticket' critique the rise of fascism, while 'Hearsay' takes on the divisiveness of fake news, revealing Anika’s determination to confront the complexities of our current moment. The album’s raw, emotional power is matched by its physicality. Anika’s goal is to take listeners out of their heads and back into their bodies, offering a release through the music and live performances. This is a space to reclaim the connection between mind and body—something she feels is increasingly lost in world. Her desire to create that energy on stage is reflected in 'Abyss’ dense, pounding rhythms, which build on the energy of 90s alt-rock.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Abyss' also delves into the intense tensions between the left and right in contemporary society, exploring the complexities of human imperfection and healthy debate. From the thrashing intensity of 'Oxygen' to the melancholic 'Buttercups', the album refuses to shy away from uncomfortable truths. Anika boldly con-fronts her own raw emotions, as exemplified in the candid lyrics of 'Walk Away', where she reflects on discontent with herself and the world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              With 'Abyss', Anika invites listeners into a space for release, rebellion, and honesty, creating an album that speaks to the turmoil of our times while offering an emotional outlet. As she puts it, “This is a space for you.”


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Swimming in the sort of minimal, gnarly electronics we'd expect from Chris Carter or Throbbing Gristle and topped with vocals that are perfectly pitched but very relaxed in a performance sense. Grungy and intense, but with a sense of playfulness and melodic brightness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Hearsay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Honey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Abyss
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Oxygen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Walk Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Into The Fire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Out Of The Shadows
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. One Way Ticket
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Last Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Buttercups

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Thought Leadership

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              III Of Pentacles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Every so often an album of such deceptive genius, of such aesthetic clarity, comes across our desk and transfixes us. Thought Leadership's III Of Pentacles is one such work of art. It's an instant classic and glides into the pantheon of timeless guitar-soul totems. Originally out on cassette only, we present the first ever vinyl issue. It's a hideously limited pressing of 300 for the world, so don't sleep on this.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It has already garnered big support from such tastemakers as Ruf Dug, Jason Boardman, Nathan Gregory Wilkins, J Walk, Evan Woodward, Justin Robertson and Heavenly's Jeff Barrett. The first time we heard III Of Pentacles, we nearly wept at the thought that something so beautiful, so bursting with real hope, could even exist in this brutal world. To quote the Quietus, "imagine if Stockport was situated somewhere along the Pacific Coast Highway rather than the M60, and you’ll have some idea of the coordinates to the post-industrial, sunburnt dream space opened up here."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                So, who is Thought Leadership? What do we know about them? They reside in Stockport and are obsessed with ethereal guitar records. That’s about it. That and these X ideas shared with you, the listener.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Captured on a multitrack recorder in a terraced house in Stockport, this is as DIY as it gets. Glaringly obvious is a love for classic Factory and early 4AD. Perhaps it is the proximity to the River Mersey where the ideas arrived, and there being but three miles between where this and the Durutti Column’s classic “LC” was recorded, as the two operate across a familiar aural plain. Be it geographic or otherwise, limited by a true economy of means, namely guitar, pedals and drum machine, the fruit borne from these humble tools has been indelibly shaped by the perma-gloom that hangs low over the Manchester and Stockport environs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: There are echoes here of Durutti Column, sure but there is a lot more influence that has been drawn from across the musical spectrum with folky interludes and shimmering, shoegazey atmospheres. Some of the riffs here sound like they could be Smashing Pumpkins ambient drifters or the more upbeat Tropic Of Cancer pieces, but it all swims with a hazy, bucolic air.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Unspecified Enemies

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Romance In The Age Of Adaptive Feedback

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Unspecified Enemies, the project led by Louis Digital (Numbers, Counterattack, Arcola) present their debut album Romance in the Age of Adaptive Feedback.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Written and produced by Louis Digital, the album incorporates fragments of music data generated by long-time collaborator CiM (Ann Aimee, Delsin). Describing the title track, Louis Digital states:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  “It’s the microelectronic sound of a city playing strange light games with itself, evoking bitcrushed desires and floating images, an urban phantasy stored on the broken circuits of an Ensoniq ASR-10.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The origins of Romance in the Age of Adaptive Feedback trace back to 2006, when Louis Digital launched Diamond Sea, a series of events at London’s ICA that introduced the Unspecified Enemies project and a label called City of Quartz. The vision was to merge the hi-tech electronic textures of contemporary R&B with the sampling and sequencing techniques of pioneers like Anthony Shakir and Soundhack. However, the music was lost in time, and City of Quartz never released a single record.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Yet, the story took an unexpected turn. At one of these events, Spencer from Numbers received a CD containing early recordings. Years later, Numbers encouraged Louis Digital to reconstruct the lost music for an album. The result is a work resurrected from the past and reimagined for the future—retrieved in fragments from a broken Iomega Jazz SCSI Drive.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Expanding on the album’s themes, Louis Digital reflects:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  “By the late ’90s the cinematic image of Los Angeles and the sound of Detroit techno had crystallised a new style of living in time and space. In 1997 Mike Davis — the political activist, urbanist, writer and historian of Los Angeles — suggested that it all had “something to do with a microelectronic aesthetic of very transient and decaying states”. It was a romantic vision — one where the city’s glass surfaces reflected a musical desire for futurity not yet dominated by data-driven corporate life. These were strange days to live through. This album evokes the embers of this fibre-optic moment, when urban revolution in an age of digital reification still felt possible.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The album features full sleeve artwork and a poster designed by Ben Drury. In support of the release, an NTS show titled Romance and Reification will explore the cinematic and electronic music influences behind the album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Had my ears on these (this?) cat for some time now. The very epitome of techno's drive to push things forward. Unspecified Enemies impart a tough and distinctly UK attitude onto the ideas and influences crafted by the past masters.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A1. Mathematics Parc
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A2. Romance In The Age Of Adaptive Feedback
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A3. Glass Skin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A4. Nixon/Volcker (Mezzanine Level)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B1. Yield Compressor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B2. Her Husband Is A Lawyer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B3. Bonaventure Effect

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Spiral Deluxe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Love Pretender

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Jeff Mills' uber mysterious Spiral Deluxe collective unveil their second album. Driven by the free expression and creativity of improvised performance, Spiral Deluxe is an electronic jazz fusion project comprised Jeff, along with legendary keyboardist Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance), Japanese rocker Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter/Cornelius) on Moog synthesizer and the Japanese bassist, adopted New Yorker, Kenji 'Jino' Hino - son of Terumasa Hino, the world famous jazz trumpeter. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Almost a natural evolution of the Galaxy 2 Galaxy project. Real hi-tech jazz from the original innovators. Jeff Mills continues to impress, with us questioning whether or not he is indeed some musical galactic overlord.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.Society's Man(feat Sylvain Luc) 7:15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2.The Soloist 5:33

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.Paris Roulette (long Mix)10:45

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.Shapeshifters5:08
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2.Uptown5:15

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1.The Drive

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Disco edits, versions and dubs from the hip-hop, broken beat & house legend Ge-ology as he steps up for his second outing on leading disco edits imprint: Hot Biscuit. As usual, expect obscure source material, succinct edits and supreme sound quality throughout. Spread across two discs for maximum fidelity and headroom. Designed for the dance! Limited copies, move quick. 






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Out of all the recent slew of Hot Biscuits - this one is my favourite! Ge-ology keeps it bumping and underground, even when tackling such well known staples as "Sweet Rain". Other editors take note - this is how it's done!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A1. Nwa Nkpi (capricorntribe Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A2. Brand Neew (hallelujah Discoversion)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B. Dear God (ge-ology’s Sundayprayer Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C1. Sweeet Rain (springtime Extended Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    C2. Move Ya Body (from Sidetoside)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    D. Fareweell To Welfare (getdown Stripdown Mix)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Where there's Hot Biscuits there's usually a Mark Grusane; sniffing around amongst the tape reels for some lost treasure. That's where his Tapes label comes in - high grade edits taken from the seams of tape that the US disco scene churned out during its halcyon period. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Cut-n-spliced between 88-99 - these cuts fizz and bump with a fatness that could only really be imarted onto the tape format. Somehow transferring this magical qualities onto the wax, there's few out there in the field that can compete with the sheer sonic prowess of Mark Grusane! 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Super duper limited copies, cop now or cry later!  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Top shelf edits from Mark Grusane's cutting room. All direct tape-to-tape-to-vinyl transfers - so the audio quality is super high... as is the source material. No messing around.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Work It Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Southern Lovin'

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Funk Out

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Mapouka Dance (Non Stop)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. It's Hot In Here

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Freak Out Your Mind

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Gospel Of Jesamy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Whether or not you’re a believer, the Gospel stands for the good news. ‘The Gospel Of Jesamy’ by Arp Frique & The Perpetual Singers is a personal good news journey ignited by the birth of a girl named Jesamy, Arp Frique’s daughter. The Amsterdam-based multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer returns with a new record full of gospel funk inspired by his offspring. The lesson is simple and universal: we are all in need of love, unconditional love.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This new album is a deep journey in 7 tracks, where Arp Frique channels his love for organic, funk-based music full of obscure synths, bubbly basslines and swirling guitars to bring a new-old hybrid which could be described as P-funk meets gospel-disco.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Legendary vocalists abound in this Gospel: Dennis Bovell channels his inner funkadelic on ‘Look Up Johnny’; diva Muriel Blijd takes a solo feature on ‘Father Father’; and longtime Arp-collaborator Mariseya joins the vocal squad throughout.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The true gospel sound wouldn’t be complete without the help of Brandon Delagraentiss, ‘son of a preacher man’ from Houston, Texas, whose American-style Amsterdam choir The Gospel Experience supply some big vocals and who himself shares lead vocal parts on most tracks together with the legendary LA-born singer Rocq-E Harrell. In her decades-spanning career Rocq-E has sung with many of the greats, doing studio vocals for artists such as Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle and Earth Wind & Fire. Rocq-E also toured with Diana Ross and Barry White, to name a few.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matt says: Rightly hyped across the modern disco and soul landscapes, Arp Frique follows Daniel Plessow and Another Taste, assembling The Perpetual Singers for a long playing gospel disco EPIC! Form an orderly queue!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Elena
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hold The Line
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Holy Ghost Feat. Brandon Delagraentiss
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Father Father Feat. Muriel Blijd
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Save Your Soul
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Look Up Johnny Feat. Dennis Bovell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Gospel Of Jesamy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Scruscru has launched a new label called Tunes Delivery and it is back with another banger here in the form of LTF's Fine Tuning album. It comes hot on the heels of some sublime Soviet jazz-funk sample madness on previous works and is another production masterclass. These are deep-cut funk sounds with cooling organ chords, hints of Money Mark vibes and psyched-out synths, wah-wah guitars and plenty of rawness to keep things authentic and timeless. The jazzy flutes of 'Bokeh' make it one of our favourites here but there isn't a single bad jam, truth be told.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Mine says: I don't usually find myself enjoying jazz funk very often I have to admit, but this offering from LTF has got me hooked. BIG TIP!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    At The Pier
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Cool Steppin'
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sabbatical
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Star Drops

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Side 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Love Like A Man (LTF Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bokeh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Burn It Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Star Drops (Rockid Sound Machine Remix)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nat Birchall

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Drums In Dub

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A new vinyl album from Nat Birchall, this is the Dub version of his Dimension of the Drums LP, a roots reggae instrumental set that was very enthusiastically received last year, ending up on many best Of The Year lists.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      For this album Nat has remixed the tracks in classic early to mid - 1970s style. Inspired by the classic Dub LPs like Keith Hudson’s ‘Pick A Dub’ and Winston Edwards’ ‘King Tubby Meets The Upsetter at the Grass Roots of Dub’ the tracks have been reimagined in Roots Dub fashion, some with new horn lines and all with hand drums, giving the album a very authentic Rootsy sound. Additionally there are two different mixes of a new rhythm track that wasn’t on the previous album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Once again Nat plays all the instruments and did all the recording, mixing and mastering.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Drums in Dub features eight tracks of instrumental Dub delight, specially designed for the 1970s Dub connoisseur. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1 Jungle Trek
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2 Further Shores
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3 Bongo Man Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4 Solomon Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5 Eastern Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6 Sahara Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7 Granby Street Rock
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8 Sheba Dub

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Gary Bartz (alto & soprano sax, vocals) - Charles Mims (piano, syntheziser) - Curtis Robertson (electric bass, back vocals) - Howard King (drums). A fantastic live recorded in Bremen on 8th November 1975 set from reedman Gary Bartz – captured here with his ultra-hip NTU group – who you might know from their classic albums on Milestone in the 70s! 1 hour and 46 minutes of free and spiritual jazz.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Nation Time (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Ju Ju Man (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Medley: Rise / Celestial Blues / The Sounding Song / Incident / Uhuru Saga (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Peace And Love (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Sifa Zote (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. I've Known Rivers (Live)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Sweet Tooth

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Seoul-based producer and DJ Yetsuby conjures immersive, layered soundscapes that glide between breakbeat, jungle, and leftfield bass. As one half of the duo Salamanda and co-founder of Computer Music Club, she has released music on labels like Wisdom Teeth, all my thoughts, Human Pitch, and Métron. And her boundary pushing sets on Seoul Community Radio, Boiler Room, and NTS Radio have brought her experimental Seoul roots to a global audience.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Her new album, 4EVA, invites listeners to wander through strange musical landscapes. Blending digital, analog, and acoustic sounds, Yetsuby explores the magnetic pull between people and music - an experience that feels both cosmic and deeply personal. Effortlessly weaving through genres such as bass, breakbeat, ambient, footwork, contemporary club, and IDM, she creates maximalist compositions that remain cohesive and refined.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The inspiration behind 4EVA is equally surreal. A childhood doodle from her sister, calling her a “brain-ful human,” sparked reflections on loneliness, togetherness, and the joy of navigating both. The album channels these themes of connection, introspection, and the transformative power of music, delivering catchy melodies and restless harmonies that invite listeners to lose themselves in its nuanced rhythms.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Out on Pink Oyster Records in LP and digital formats, 4EVA marks a bold new chapter for Yetsuby. With this release, she emerges as one of electronic music’s most original and exciting voices, defining the sound of Seoul’s underground - and beyond.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Pink Oyster is a new label from Jess Goodchild and Jack Hardwicke (Métron Records)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: Now this is interesting. South Korean electronica-meets-vapourwave-meets-PC Music that should resonate with fans of Scotland's Proc Fiskal. It's quirky, innovative, delicate and fun; all at once. It makes your eyeballs pop. It's very good.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A1. S2WINGSs2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A2. FLY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A3. SOUNDCLOUD
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A4. Aestheti-Q
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A5. ;P
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B1. 4EVA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B2. Where Is My..
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B3. Aaa1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B4. Aaa2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B5. I Am 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Waterboys

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Life, Death And Dennis Hopper

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Inspired entirely by the life and mythos of actor Dennis Hopper, Mike Scott and The Waterboys created this expansive album as tribute to one of American popular culture’s most compelling public figures. Deeply conceptual, this album of all original songs brings together high-profile featured artists like Bruce Springsteen, Fiona Apple, and Steve Earle to musically weave through Hopper’s life, including a song for each of Hopper’s wives.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Kansas (feat. Steve Earle)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Hollywood ‘55
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Live In The Moment, Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Brooke / 1712 North Crescent Heights
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Andy (A Guy Like You)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. The Tourist (feat. Barny Fletcher & Sugarfoot)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Freaks On Wheels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Blues For Terry Southern
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Memories Of Monterey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Riding Down To Mardi Gras
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Hopper’s On Top (Genius)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Transcendental Peruvian Blues
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Michelle (Always Stay)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Freakout At The Mud Palace
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Daria
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Ten Years Gone (feat. Bruce Springsteen)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. Letter From An Unknown Girlfriend (feat. Fiona Apple)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Rock Bottom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. Don’t Know How I Made It (feat. Taylor Goldsmith)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. Frank (Let’s F*ck)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        21. Katherine (feat. Anana Kaye)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        22. Everybody Loves Dennis Hopper
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        23. Golf, They Say
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        24. Venice, California (Victoria) / The Passing Of Hopper
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        25. Aftermath

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Nightingales

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Awful Truth

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Nightingales return with ‘The Awful Truth’, a modern mutant music hall interpretation of the day’s news, a haunting jolt into realism narrated with all the angst of an insistent, slightly dishevelled late-night newscaster. Following the widely celebrated Stewart Lee-narrated King Rocker film in 2020, the curtain has finally been raised on the magic of the “long serving punk/alternative rock volunteer” (The Quietus). As pertinent as ever, The Nightingales release a poignant tirade on modern times heralded, quite rightly, as ‘The Awful Truth’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Opening cut, ‘The New Emperor’s New Clothes’ is an upbeat immersive eruption with a thumping percussive piano holding proceedings in order; think the Velvets meet Fairport Convention in a crowded boozer, still waiting for their man. ‘Same Old Riff’ recalls Bowie’s ‘Queen Bitch’ rekindling the class war struggles and throwing sharp focus on the national unrest in the summer of 2024.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Robert Lloyd’s acidic one-liners trace the collapse of modern society, retaining the harmonious warble of a veteran pub crooner infected with the growl and grouse of The Fall, Nick Cave and at times Beefheart reincarnated.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In the early 80s they enjoyed cult status as darlings of the credible music scene and were championed by John Peel, who said of them – “Their performances will serve to confirm their excellence when we are far enough distanced from the 1980’s to look at the period rationally and other, infinitely better known, bands stand revealed as charlatans.” Their time has indeed come.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Nightingales are Robert Lloyd, Andreas Schmid (Faust) on bass, Fliss Kitson (Violet Violet) on drums and guitarist, James Smith (Damo Suzuki).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. The New Emperor's New Clothes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Same Old Riff
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. The Gates Of Heaven Ajar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. The Men, Again
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. The Best Revenge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Just Before
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Warm Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Joyce
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. All Smiles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. The Limpest Bark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. The Princess And The Piss Artist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Giddy Aunt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. The Morning After Mouth

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Margo Guryan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          28 Demos

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            When not gazing out windows into the stormy Manhattan skyline, Margo Guryan spent her thirties banging out earworms for the likes of Bobbie Gentry, Jackie DeShannon, Claudine Longet, Carmen McCrae, and Julie London at CBS’s April Blackwood Music. Guryan’s timeless musings on love, Sundays, earthquakes, crying, and boys named Timothy have soundtracked countless films and viral videos—enduring masterpieces from the before times. 28 of her 60s and ’70s songwriting demos are collected on this 25th anniversary double album edition. Get under Margo’s umbrella.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. L What Can I Give You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Something’s Wrong With The Morning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. I Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Sunday Morning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Can You Tell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Think Of Rain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Most Of My Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. The 8:17 Northbound Success Merry-Go-Round
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Love Songs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Thoughts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. I Don’ Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            13. Come To Me Slowly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            14. Timothy Gone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            15. It’s Alright Now
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            16. Values
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            17. I Think A Lot About You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            18. The Hum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            19. Please Believe Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            20. Yes I Am
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            21. I’d Like To See The Bad Guys Win
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            22. California Shake
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            23. Shine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            24. Hold Me Dancin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            25. Goodbye July
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            26. Why Do I Cry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            27. Under My Umbrella
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            28. I Ought To Stay Away From You

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Martin had been a surprise choice for the commission.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            It was the Spring of 1977 and two Interstellar Mariners were to be sent hurtling into deep space. Glass was to provide weekly "sonologues" of their progress, audio diarist for a pair of mute mechanical adventurers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Delivered with a near fanatical diligence over the course of nearly three decades, these stuttering musical biographies would soon bewilder those who had first asked for them.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Martin's work, they judged, had begun to plot its own eccentric orbit, charting more than just the ships' material progress, but rather their imagined psychogeography ("What will they say about me?" "I will never conserve my instruments" "Nobody has gone further").

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            With his sonic dispatches increasingly ignored and unheard, all funding for the project swiftly fell to dust.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The very best of these scores, chosen from a vast compendium of source material, are now assembled here for the first time. Their muses, two arthritic spacecrafts now nearly half a century old, limp on through deep space, forever onwards and onwards forever...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Icarus Phase
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. The Last Picture I Took
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Filter Coffee At The Heliopause
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. I Am The Furthest Thing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. What Will They Say About Me?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Interstellar Disco
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Focused Flight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Durutti Columns On The Astrobelt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. And Then I Saw The Gas Giants...
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Super Infinite
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Time Is The Simplest Thing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. I Touched The Empyrion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Brown Horse

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            All The Right Weaknesses

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Brown Horse are excited to announce their second album, ‘All The Right Weaknesses’ on Loose Music. The group returned to Sickroom Studios in Norfolk following a multi-month European tour. Road tested and road worn, the band tracked these eleven songs in a whirlwind week of live takes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Building on the stark twang of their debut album, ‘Reservoir’ (9/10 Uncut, ★★★★ The Times, ★★★★ Mojo), ‘All The Right Weaknesses’ sees an energised Brown Horse meld slacker-rock, folk, and alt-country – equal parts Lucinda Williams, Jason Molina, The Breeders and Silver Jews. Weary, wry and disarmingly honest, these songs flash a smile at the dark and strange. With contributions from the band’s multiple songwriters, the record is a patchwork far greater than the sum of its parts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Verna Bloom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Wisteria Vine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Corduroy Couch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Dog Rose
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. All The Right Weaknesses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Holy Smokes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Radio Free Bolinas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Tombland
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Curse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Wipers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Far Off Places

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              L.A. WITCH

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              DOGGOD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                L.A. Witch have always exuded an aura of effortless cool, whether it manifested as the Americana noir and laconic back-to-basics rock n’ roll of their self-titled debut or the blistering austere adventurism of their sophomore album Play With Fire. The band—comprised of Sade Sanchez (guitar/vocals), Irita Pai (bass), and Ellie English (drums)—began as an informal affair, but the sultry and beguiling reverb-draped songs they created caught on with the public, moving the project beyond the insular space of the band’s friends and peers in Southern California into the broader world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On their latest album, 'DOGGOD', the trio push their craft beyond their previous creative and geographical confines, opting to craft the material in Paris, recording the tracks at Motorbass Studio on the Rue de Martyrs. 'DOGGOD' explores broader swaths of sonic terrain, employs a greater arsenal of tones, and probes larger existential and cosmic themes, all while retaining the band’s signature sense of the forbidden, the forsaken, and the foreboding. 'DOGGOD' is a way of tackling the universal riddle tangled in the spiritual nature of love and devotion. “I feel like I’m some sort of servant or slave to love,” says Sanchez. “There’s a willingness to die for love in the process of serving it or suffering for it or in search of it... just in the way a loyal, devoted servant dog would.” The album title is a palindrome fusing together DOG and GOD—an exaltation of the submissive and a subversion of the divine. It’s a nod to the purity of dogs and an acknowledgement of their unconditional love and protective nature that’s at odds with the various pejoratives associated with the species. “There is this symbolic connection between women and dogs that expresses women’s subordinate position in society,” Sanchez explains. “And anything that embodies such divine characteristics never deserved to be a word used as an insult.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                These conflicted explorations of love and subservience manifest themselves in L.A. Witch’s fusion of their trademark smooth and smoky garage alchemy with a newfound utilization of post-punk’s disciplined reserve and icy instrumentation. Album opener 'Icicle' captures the band journeying out of the proto-punk, psychedelia, and gritty riffage of the ‘70s into the chorus-drenched guitars and forlorn minimalism of Joy Division and early The Cure. A parallel is drawn between romantic suicide and martyrdom that carries over into the second song, 'Kiss Me Deep'. Here Sanchez describes a love so pure that it transcends time and carries over into multiple lifetimes. It’s a song about passion delivered in the worldly and wounded stoicism of early goth pioneers. From there, the band segues into the lead single '777', a song about devotion to the point of death. A propulsive beat, a driving distorted riff, and Sanchez’s ethereal vocals come together to create a song that’s both dire in its fatalism and sensual in its faithful passion.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Across the entirety of 'DOGGOD', L.A. Witch never strays from their muse. On 'I Hunt You Pray', Pai lays down a hypnotic bass throb while English employs a cyclical krautrock groove and Sanchez paints a picture of an abandoned dog on the roadside, alone in the night, living as both the hunter and the hunted. On 'Eyes of Love', the band harnesses the meditative mid-tempo repetition, deconstructed chords, and esoteric ruminations on love, death, and spirituality that made Lungfish such a beloved entity. It reinforces the parallel between the unwavering love seen in the eyes of a dog and the self-sacrifice of a savior. On 'The Lines', the band takes the propulsive pulse of post-punk and adds an extra dose of chorus to the mix. “Chorus is a modern effect that comes from the idea of replicating the slight pitch discrepancies of a choir. There is a shimmering quality which ties us back into this spiritual godly feel,” Sanchez explains. Coupled with the addition of organ and applied to a brooding minor-key melody, the song simultaneously conjures both the holy and the sacrilegious. The title track 'DOGGOD' bears perhaps the strongest resemblance to the material found on the previous album Play With Fire, pitting lean and mean guitars against a scrappy rhythm section and dreamy vocals. But whereas their previous album was a rallying cry to carving one’s own path, 'DOGGOD' adheres to the album’s “til death do us part” theme, going so far as to describe a level of submission that crosses over into dangerous and unhealthy places, with Sanchez singing “hang me on a leash / ‘til I wait for my release.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ultimately, 'DOGGOD' is a perfect encapsulation of L.A. Witch’s approach. It’s simultaneously romantic and menacing, reverent and profane, a celebration and a lament. It finds the thread between the past and present, taking familiar sounds and revamping them for the modern age. But it also heralds a new era for the band, looking beyond the Kodachrome memories of midcentury America and digging deeper into the medieval and gothic energies of Paris and beyond, all while probing inward at a sullied heart.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Icicle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Kiss Me Deep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. 777
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. I Hunt You Pray
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Eyes Of Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. The Lines
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Lost At The Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. DOGGOD
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. SOS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Young Widows

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Power Sucker

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Young Widows have inspired scores of underground artists across the globe with their unique collage of noise-rock, hardcore, and post-punk and pioneering presentation. The Young Widows sound or more accurately, the Young Widows feel is in full battering ram motion on their fifth studio album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The heaviness of 'Power Sucker' isn’t mysterious. The Louisville, Kentucky power trio play their individual parts with such recognizable precision and style that once entwined together each completed piece becomes an integral part of the puzzle. The sizzling guitars, growling bass, and lock-tight drums rip through the pavement that Young Widows had previously laid to allow the most forward-moving vocal arrangements of their now two-decade career.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Historical accomplishments aside, 'Power Sucker' has the shock and wonder of a new band’s debut album. After all, this is the regrouping of three passionate lifers once again sharing their undying love for the art of sound. No one and no thing can take those powers away.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. The Darkest Side
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Every Bone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Call Bullshit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Exit Slowly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Power Sucker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Turned Out Alright
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Balloon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. The Holy Net
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Total Fucking Clarity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Take Get Lost
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Falling Bullet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. A Life In Tow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. Hotel Of Crows

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Underground Youth

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Décollage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Berlin-based post-punk band The Underground Youth, led by Blackpool-born musician and author Craig Dyer, return with their twelfth studio album ‘Décollage’. Self-written, recorded and produced by Dyer, the album is an exercise in artistic deconstruction in both name and form, marking a decisive musical shift. “‘Décollage is the art of creating an image by ripping, tearing away or removing pieces of an original existing work’. My idea was to apply this technique to music”, he explains. “I built walls of static coated hip-hop drum samples, layers of Lee Hazlewood style string arrangements and Serge Gainsbourg inspired mellotron melodies, then I began tearing away at these beautiful, chaotic walls of noise, exposing a new sound for The Underground Youth.” The result, Dyer says, is “a trip-hop infused soundtrack to a collection of lyrics dealing with adoration, ancestry, originality, hallucinations of revolution and a hope that something better can be born from the ashes of the horror that exists in our world.” From moments of ghostly minimalism to sweeping crescendos of noise and melody, there is a shadowy, dreamlike quality to the songs here. If its predecessor ‘Nostalgia’s Glass’ (2023) mined a more introspective nostalgia, ‘Décollage’ feels more hauntological in nature – tearing apart and re-transforming what once was in search of a future left spinning from reel-to-reel on warped and distorted old tape. Alongside Dyer, The Underground Youth is comprised of drummer and visual artist Olya Dyer, guitarist Leonard Kaage (who also assisted with post-production on the record) and bassist Samira Zahidi. Initially formed as a solo project by Dyer in 2008, the band has sinced released 11 – now 12 – studio albums and 4 EPs, evolving a unique sound that has over the years ranged from cinematic lo-fi psychedelia and raw melancholic post-punk to gothic folk-noir. Throughout they have maintained a devoted global following continuously built upon by the band’s extensive touring through Europe, Asia and North America.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. You (The Feral Human Thunderstorm)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. One Of The Dreamers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. I Was There
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. From The Ashes Of Our Age
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Father
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Calliope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Your Beloved Hollywood
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Believe In Something

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Morning Star Music Club

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Liminal Zone

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Liminal Zone is the sparkly, soul and groove laden fifth album from Morning Star Music Club, a project led by Jesse D. Vernon (This Is the Kit, John Parish, The Moonflowers). Previously known simply as Morning Star, the name has been extended to acknowledge the collective involved in the new record - Liminal Zone, the band's first release in over ten years. While Jesse wrote all the songs and most of the arrangements, the bunch of close musician friends he gathered to flesh out the tracks turned the recording process into what Jesse calls "a kind of music club workshop environment," with production from long-term collaborator John Parish.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Liminal Zone is a selection of both soulful and soul-searching indie-pop songs led by guitars and the vocal harmonies of Lisa Weisslinger (guitar) and Abby Tsype (bass) alongside Jesse's own mellow tones, with themes of losing and finding oneself, the breaking and mending of one's heart, and the fragmentation and reunification of family, community and even society as a whole. There's a lot of beauty and some wistful moments but plenty of sparkling fun and humour too including a cover of Jessie Mae Hemphill's 'Jessie's Love Song'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Liminal Zone is an album of gently ambitious indie-pop full of heartfelt performances, showcasing Jesse’s expansive talent and deep, lifelong love of music, tapping into wide ranging influences such as the Velvet Underground, Hendrix, Dr. John and Leonard Cohen, with a dip into the cinematic - ‘the sort of stuff you’d find in a Wes Anderson film, arrangements with a huge sense of scale.’

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Lyrically, through its emotional earnestness, one glimpses a kindness rare in today’s jaded world. It asks difficult questions, yet there is no sense of urgency in the songs to find the answers - they’re happy to hang out and float on the groove of Morning Star Music Club’s bliss-tinged melancholy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Jesse D Vernon has been a full-time musician since leaving school. He was a member of indie psyche-rock band The Moonflowers during the 90s, has played violin for John Parish’s live band, and is a founding member (alongside Kate Stables) of This Is the Kit in which he played piano and guitar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      01. Carry It Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      02. Spiritual Guide
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      03. Mind Mind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      04. Coming Round
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      05. Nice And Simple
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      06. Liminal Zone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      07. Drifting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      08. The Tower Still Stands
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      09. Jessie’s Love Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Why Walk Away

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      After a highly acclaimed first volume featuring pioneers of the new Euro-jazz movement such as ECHT!, Lander & Adriaan, Triorität, Ishkero, La Récré amongst others, BMM Records present the second volume of "Groove Dingueries", their compilation series aiming to shine a light on the new hybrid and constantly evolving sound of jazz and groove. This time they've expanded research further into western Europe with new bands and solo acts such as Divorce From New York, Louis Fontaine, Bombataz, Namas, Opek and many others. This selection of outsider grooves infused with rock, soul, electronica, hip-hop, dub, library and world music will please any groove head looking for something fresh and new.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: A treasure trove of head nodding source material for beatsmiths, library music heads, jazz lovers and rappers alike.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A1.mohs. - Baïne
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A2.Allez Kiki Fermentation - Service 3000H
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A3.Louis Fontaine - Come Dire... (feat. Melissa Lesnie)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A4.Opek - Bajes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A5.Bombataz - My Face On Your TV

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B1.Divorce From New York - Flutes Echoes (feat. Arturo Garcia Martin)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B2.KAU - Sting Like A Bee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B3.NCY Milky Band - High Speed Clouds (Instrumental)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B4.Namas - Ops
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      B5.The Natural Yogurt Band - Balloons

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Italian house was the first, anticipating the irruption of the digital scenarios that have forever changed 'making art', to redefine, to redraw a map that did not exist, that of the 'young' sound that shifted its creative trajectories from the megalopolises overseas (with all their urban poetics) to the Italian province, inside recording studios where a group of young maniacs of machines, mixers, synths, appropriated a language that was not their own and declined it by opening their minds, demonstrating, that indeed, anything is possible. They studied patterns that came from afar, they applied to those patterns the natural force of moving with sensuality, they showed that they knew perfectly how to build what rappers, a few years later, would call 'The Perfect Rhythm'. They sought it out in the endless nights of discotheques, of dance halls, from the glitziest ones that would set the standard for Ibizan nightlife to the after-hours clubs on the outskirts of small towns. They succeeded in defining a syntax that, shortly afterwards, would mark, with its influence, the advent of what would become 'club culture'. So many theme songs, often created for the occasion, rhythmic and melodic sequences packaged with the awareness that there are codified rules that can enhance 'body language'. Sequences that, often, with their authors, would then fly to New York in search of the splendid voice to hire for a turn in the recording studio, to give the song that definitive and planetary dimension that has, with great ease, spanned the decades.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Montego Bay - Everything (Paradise Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Atelier - Got To Live Together (Club Mix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Golem - Music Sensations
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. The True Underground Sound Of Rome - Gladiators (feat. Stefano Di Carlo)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Eagle Parade - I Believe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. D.J. Le Roy - Yo Te Quiero (Detroit Version) [feat. Bocachica]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Green Baize - Synthetic Rhythm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. MCJ - Sexitivity (Deep Mix) [feat. Sima]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Kwanza Posse - Wicked Funk (Afro Ambient Mix) [feat. Funk Master Sweat]
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Progetto Tribale - The Bird Of Paradise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. MBG - The Quiet

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      In Paris, a creative force of artists molded the cultural identity of the Malian diaspora, infusing the city’s eclectic mix of sounds with their own rich heritage. At the heart of it all was Gaye Mody Camara, a towering figure in Malian music and culture since the late 1970s. Born in Abidjan and raised in Kayes, he grew up fascinated by the rhythms of Wassoulou, steeped in the rhythms of a land shaped by diverse ethnicities and traditions, including the Peul, Bambara, and Dogon. His migration to Paris didn’t sever these ties; instead, it amplified them.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Camara’s entrepreneurial spirit took root early, first in the markets of Paris, where he sold kola nuts and wax fabrics, and later as he built a reputation as a producer and distributor of West African music. Working between Paris, Bamako, and Abidjan, he captured music from artists hailing primarily from Mali and neighboring countries such as Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and occasionally The Gambia. Whether flying musicians to studios in Bamako, Abidjan, or Paris, Camara’s productions bridged continents, preserving the sounds of home while documenting the voices of an ever-shifting diaspora.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Where Wagadu Grooves: The Hypnotic Sound of Camara 1987–2016 focused on the sounds of the Soninke, Wagadu Grooves Vol.2 delves into the entirety of Camara Production’s vast catalog, shining a light on the syncretic sounds that resonated through the streets of Montreuil, Saint-Denis, and the numerous migrant housing centers around the city. Here, Malian musicians carried with them the rhythms of Wassoulou, from the traditional harvest dance sogonikun, to djaga, didadi, and sumu, the joyous, female-led celebrations rooted in Mali’s pre colonial traditions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Yet these were not merely echoes of the past; the city’s gritty undercurrent shaped these soundscapes, blending the hypnotic plucks of the kamélé ngoni, and the rhythms of the djembé with heavy autotune, drum machines and synths, funk arrangements, Afropop, Afro-Zouk, Rap, and even proto house.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Through its 12 tracks originally released on cassette tapes or digitally, Wagadu Grooves Vol. 2 brings to life these rich and diverse sounds, honoring the vision, creativity, and business savvy of Gaye Mody Camara, whose five-decade long career has shaped the sound of Malian communities in Paris and beyond.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Matt says: Hut Mule are the absolute dons at these comps, but I think they've excelled themselves on "Wagadu Grooves Vol.2". These tracks are sublime! And most of them relatively unknown to your average digger!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Souley Kanté - Bi Magni
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Doussou Bagayoko - Taman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Abdoulaye Brévété - Faalé Mokoba
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Djelikeba Soumano - Tougharanke
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Kankaba Sakho - Foty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Soninkara - Tamajoujou
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Bande Koné - Togo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Lassana Tamoura - Lassana Boubou N’kana Ké Kiye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mamadou Mariko - N’diaye Sylla 2014
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Aïchata Sidibé - La Vie Est Si Belle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Adja Soumano - Dja-Dja
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mah Kouyaté N°2 - Bani

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Snapped Ankles

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hard Times Furious Dancing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        “We can still hold the line of beauty, form, and beat. No small accomplishment in a world as challenging as this one... hard times require furious dancing. Each of us is proof” Alice Walker, Hard Times Require Furious Dancing (2010)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Snapped Ankles have given up trying to make sense of it all. The forest only offers so much protection. Feeding on a diet of fractured narratives, meme culture, viral moments and the very worst of human impulses weighs heavy. The woodwose hold up a mirror to the absurdity of modern life once again. The only sane response is to dance. Make your way to the clearing, gather around the megalith of speakers, drum machines, amps and synthesisers and dance like there’s no tomorrow.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Hard Times Furious Dancing is an invitation to all those lost in the unrelenting noise of the present, to leave it all behind and come together in the forest. Driven by the primitive thrust of their single-oscillator ‘log’ synths, high and low culture collide in a surreal, free flowing narrative - but the rhythm is universal. This is easily the closest Snapped Ankles have come to capturing their rapturous live energy in the studio. It’s everything you’ve come to know and love from a Snapped Ankles album, amped all the way up until the ground begins to shake.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The sound of Hard Times Furious Dancing evolved at Snapped Ankles’ South London ‘Forest Rayve’ club nights in 2024 in response to that age-old primal urge to bring people together and make them move. It’s the first time the woodwose have road tested new material to this extent before committing it to tape since debut album Come Play The Trees, and in doing so have harnessed that feral energy once again. This surreal human/woodwose connection is the very best release from an algorithm that knows you better than you know yourself. Dance it all loose. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Snapped Ankles return for their most abrasive, dancefloor ready burst of cathartic noise and snappy garage rock yet. Though there are elements of punk-funk and IDM woven through the hammering maelstrom, this is still at heart an indie album with a BIG vibe. Incandescent, aggressive in parts and wholly immersive throughout.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Pay The Rent
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Personal Responsibilities
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Raoul
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dancing In Transit

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Where’s The Caganer?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Smart World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Hagen Im Garten
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ƒ

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Lucy Dacus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Forever Is A Feeling

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Widely regarded as “one of the best songwriters of her generation” (Rolling Stone), Lucy Dacus returns with Forever Is A Feeling. Following a career defining run with boygenius that earned her three GRAMMY® Awards, her fourth solo studio album explores falling in and out of love, the tumult of desire, and larger than life romance. Across 13 tracks that range from lush arrangements to simple declarations, Dacus makes a serious inquiry into what it looks like to dedicate one’s life to true love, and a valiant attempt to capture the elusive, fleeting feeling of forever.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: A fittingly grand, majestic outing from Dacus of Springsteenian melodicism and slowly growing atmospheres, wonderfully orchestrated and finely balanced to result in an album that's definitely her most cinematically intense to date. A stunningly voiced, perfectly curated selection from one of the greatest songwriters of our generation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Calliope Prelude
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Big Deal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ankles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Limerence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Modigliani
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Talk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          For Keeps
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Forever Is A Feeling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Come Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Best Guess
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Bullseye (with Hozier)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Most Wanted Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Lost Time

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Perfume Genius

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Glory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            'Glory' has a pristine surface and a tender, roiling underside. Mike Hadreas’ seventh album is muscular, filled out by his partner in life and songcraft Alan Wyffels and longtime producer Blake Mills alongside the fiercest band Perfume Genius has ever assembled: guitarists Meg Duffy and Greg Uhlmann, drummers Tim Carr and Jim Keltner, and bassist Pat Kelly. These players marshall their power, and Hadreas his macabre imaginings and gallows humor, to humane ends. Perfume Genius pries open a mildewed den full of alienation, longing and desire and lets it bask in the sunlight.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The record’s central conflict, says Hadreas, is the “back and forth between internal and external.” Promoting his string of beloved, increasingly ambitious albums during the past decade and a half—touring the world, dwelling in the public eye—clashed with his innate impulse toward isolation. For 'Glory', he discovered a new songwriting process because he welcomed the dynamics of a group, leaving room in his compositions for his friends to flesh out the arrangements. As Hadreas says: “I’m more engaged with the band and the audience. I’m still on some wild tear, but there’s more access and it’s more collaborative, in a way that makes it better, but also scary—because it feels more vulnerable.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Lyrically, these 11 concise tracks reveal uncanny situations that we can just barely discern, scenes of domesticity and desperation projected through an idiosyncratic, queer prism. Each cut is a character sketch at its core, and Hadreas assembles a whole cast: Dion, Angel, Tate, the familiar Jason we recognize from his eponymous number on 2020’s 'Set My Heart On Fire Immediately' and Hadreas’ last release 'Ugly Season'. These figures float through an abstracted landscape even as Perfume Genius pins them down with a novelist’s specificity. The result is mesmerizing and life-affirming, a bonafide singer-songwriter record that’s both the most lyrically deft and musically eloquent statement of his career. … - Daniel Felsenthal

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Soaring, sonically fluid pieces that swell from minimalist folky vignettes to grand, orchestral crescendos and flickering, glitching drone all beneath Mike Hadreas' spellbinding vocals. A wonderfully fascinating, endlessly listenable triumph, and more evidence that Perfume Genius is one to continue to watch.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. It's A Mirror
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. No Front Teeth Feat. Aldous Harding
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Clean Heart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Me & Angel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Left For Tomorrow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Full On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Capezio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Dion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. In A Row
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Hanging Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Glory

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Destroyer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Dan’s Boogie

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              What is a “boogie”? In the common tongue, it’s a dance or an occasion to dance. This being a Destroyer album and not the common tongue, the implications of a title like 'Dan’s Boogie' are at once more alluring and dangerous. “A boogie is a hustle, a scam that doesn’t quite work, the moves we make when we’re up against it,” explains Dan Bejar. “I think of spy work, double agents, sleeping with one eye open, an eye on the exits. But I also think of petty street-level victories and losses and improv.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              To record 'Dan’s Boogie', Bejar had to burst through a series of intentional and unintentional barriers to write the songs. Initially challenging himself to not write songs so the ideas would well up inside of him until they breached containment, the months following the completion of LABYRINTHITIS turned into one year then two, at which point Bejar gave himself a New Year’s resolution to play the piano every day for an hour. That lasted about four days, but the songs Bejar credits as coming from that resolution 'Cataract Time', 'Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World', 'Bologna', and 'Dan’s Boogie' among them are all-timer Destroyer songs across the vast spectrum Bejar and his collaborators have established for themselves: spectacle-laden pop epics, personal piano ballads, and smouldering works of mood that blur the lines between song and novel and cinema, each brimming with the urgency of a state secret in the mind of a tortured spy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Lead single 'Bologna' is the most radical frame for this energy, as it’s the first time Bejar wrote a song where he imagined himself as a supporting character. Taking lead is Fiver’s Simone Schmidt, whose voice tough and expressive, piercing through the murk of the scene is a siren’s call that haunts the album. The gravity of their voice pulls 'Dan’s Boogie' into order around a sense of impending doom, the way a fatale’s promise of the unusual and the ecstatic dooms the principal character of an erotic thriller.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Hydroplaning Off the Edge of the World' is a delicious bit of contradiction, a peppy song that came out of the havoc Bejar was intentionally wreaking on himself its holiday cheeriness making the angst of its lyrics go down smoothly until the song veers off the road. “We are now entering a new phase,” Bejar intones, introducing layers of guitar and synthesizer that considerably darken the palette as he alternates between singing and speaking.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Contradiction informs much of 'Dan’s Boogie', the fog swirling around Bejar illuminated by the friction between competing truths and tastes, as when his interest in jazzy ballads runs aground on producer and bassist John Collins’ interest in bands like Led Zeppelin and Scritti Politti. When Bejar told Collins that he was thinking of Sammy Davis Jr., the title track bloomed into being, Bejar adopting a Rat Pack swagger with almost delusional glee against a dreamy soundscape of soaring guitars, lush horns, jazz drumming, spaced-out synths, and, perhaps truest to how Bejar sees himself, plinking lounge piano. In terms of shaping sound, the centerpiece of 'Dan’s Boogie' may be 'Cataract Time', an eight-minute epic that ranks as some of the heaviest lyrics Bejar has ever written, and one of Destroyer’s most musically intricate compositions. Borne aloft on an easygoing groove, Bejar’s lyrics are transfigured, their melancholy tasting almost counterintuitively like hope. It’s an intimate song that puts away Destroyer’s usual urban fable milieu in exchange for bracing interiority, but its lilting groove can see a future, one that Bejar and his band are eager to meet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Where previous Destroyer albums were locked in combat with the world, 'Dan’s Boogie' dances with it, its nine reveries coalescing into one long hustle. Dan Bejar’s eye may be on the exits, but he’s not leaving anytime soon.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: A Destroyer album has never been a simple listen, enjoyable, sure but simple? Never. There are layers of appreciation for Bejar's music that are drawn from an appreciation of Balearic music, IDM and post-punk much like there are shared elements with disco and folk but does it sound like any of these? Nope. Destroyer as always, sounding just like Destroyer. Awesome.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. The Same Thing As Nothing At All
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Hydroplaning Off The Edge Of The World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. The Ignoramus Of Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Dan’s Boogie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Bologna (feat. Fiver)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. I Materialize
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Sun Meet Snow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Cataract Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Travel Light

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Sacred Paws

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Jump Into Life

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Glasgow/London duo Sacred Paws return to the fold after a five year hiatus, with their new album ‘Jump Into Life’ via Rock Action Records.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                When the band broke through with their debut record 'Six Songs' EP, they did so with firm intent and rousing success. The duo of Ray Aggs (Trash Kit, Shopping) and Eilidh Rodgers (Golden Grrrls) have their roots in the punk world which they wound together with a myriad of influences, from Afrobeat, through pop and post-punk, to create a glorious and unique hybrid.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: It's no secret that I love Rock Action Records, with Cloth (and Mogwai, obviously) being right up top in the list of my favourite bands, so I am always predisposed to enjoying their wares. Sacred Paws are a little different to the aforementioned though, they certainly have the jagged art-rock guitars and mathy percussion but their songs are a lot more melodic and anthemic than the instrumentation would suggest. A heady and entrancing mix of indie, post-rock and folky vocal harmonies.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Save Something
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Another Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Fall For You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Simple Feeling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Through The Dark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Turn Me Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Jump Into Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Slowly Slowly
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Ask Myself
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Winter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Draw A Line

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Girlpuppy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Sweetness

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  On her first album of alt-pop anthems - 2022’s gorgeous, folk-infused 'When I’m Alone' - girlpuppy (neé Becca Harvey) often felt like she was working in the shadow of her collaborators. Made on the other side of a relationship where she often felt marginalized, 'Sweetness' felt like the right project for the 25-year-old Atlanta-based singer-songwriter to rethink her creative approach and work solely from her own lyrical and melodic ideas. The result of this process was a darker, more texturally expansive record than its predecessor, full of heart-rending songs about pushing back against self-blame and doubt. From its heavy-duty sonics to its naturally flowing melodies to its emotionally generous lyrics, every element of Sweetness exudes confidence, capturing Harvey relishing raw creativity and trusting her inclinations. The record takes place within that moment all artists wait for: when their “voice” becomes so clear, they realize they can just open their mouth and start speaking in it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Freed from the nagging insecurity that she couldn’t be a songwriter without playing an instrument - she cites The National’s Matt Berninger as an inspiration - Harvey began 'Sweetness' by recording full-length acapella voice memos. To find a backdrop for the vocals, Harvey delved into her diverse, lifelong set of musical reference points, from the country and Top 40 pop she grew up on in small-town Georgia to the later favorites that expanded her idea of what songwriting could achieve: Elliott Smith, Lana Del Rey, Yo La Tengo, and more. With the help of Asheville-based producer/co-writer Alex Farrar and additional co-writers Tom Sinclair and Holden Fincher, Harvey pinpointed a sweet spot between shoegaze, dream-pop, and pop-rock anthems from the turn of the millennium.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mixing the playful with the devastating, Harvey coasts on cathartic waves of emotion and monster hooks throughout Sweetness—a momentum which is guaranteed to push her to the front of the ranks of today’s most fearlessrising indie-pop singer-songwriters. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: A bracing mix of late 90's grunge, fizzing fuzzes and feedback with dusty shoegaze saturation and thumping, punky percussion all topped with Harvey's impeccably driven, wonderfully performed vocals. Perfectly written melodic masterpieces, and an instrumental aesthetic that hits just right.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. I Just Do!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Champ
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. In My Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Windows
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Since April
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Beaches
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. I Was Her Too
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. For You Two
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. I Think I Did 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Joe Armon-Jones

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  All The Quiet (Part I)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Keyboardist, producer and songwriter Joe Armon-Jones shares his most elevated solo project to date, 'All The Quiet'. A galvanising statement of intent, traversing jazz, funk, dub, hip hop, and soul music, entirely written, produced, and mixed by Armon-Jones himself. As a band member, he is best known as part of the Mercury prize winning Ezra Collective, who capped 2024 by being the first jazz band to headline London’s Wembley Arena. 'All The Quiet (Part I)' is the first chapter of a two part album, released on his own label, Aquarii Records. Guest musicians & features include Nubya Garcia, Oscar Jerome, Goya Gumbani, and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Six years have passed since Armon-Jones’ last solo album, 2019’s 'Turn To Clear View' was released on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings, but don’t mistake that gap for a break. In this time he’s toured the world, built a studio, contributed to albums from the great and good of UK jazz, and recorded collaborative releases with Liam Bailey, Fatima, Hak Baker, Prince Fatty, Ranking Joe, Maxwell Owin, and dubstep legend Mala.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: Intricate, finely honed jazz-funk business from Joe Armon-Jones with the bristling 'All The Quiet (Part 1)' sacrificing none of the urgency or experimental aura from his earlier work while introducing a number of elements to take these pieces into smooth, soulful jazz territory.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Lifetones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Forgiveness
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Kingfisher (feat. Asheber)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Nothing Noble
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Eye Swear (feat. Goya Gumbani)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Danger Everywhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. The Citadel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Snakes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Show Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Hurry Up & Wait

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    CocoRosie

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Little Death Wishes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      For just over twenty years, Bianca and Sierra Casady have transmuted the love, hardship, and ecstasy of sisterhood into some of the most daring, dangerous, and wildly original music our increasingly sanitized culture has known. CocoRosie has been a project consistently at the musical vanguard, influencing countless musicians while inspiring and creating refuge for the “criminal queers” of the world. Above all, CocoRosie has been a conduit for irrepressible artistic self realization.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'Little Death Wishes' is as open and tenderhearted as anything they’ve ever created. The songs tell a kaleidoscopic story of the generational hardship of women and the shattered realities of their lives, the precarious and precious nature of being human, of being done wrong by love, and a final wish to be unbroken. It boils everything CocoRosie down to its most brutal essence: turning pain into knowledge, sisterhood into polemic, trash into treasure, and recalcifying kitsch and cliché into fresh truths.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The duo’s 8th long player exists in its own musical lexicon. It is both primordial and tawdry, a rich bricolage of dusted-over pop culture signifiers that the sisters contort into their own sense of temporality. Contributing to the avantgarde, yet unbeholden to contemporary trends, CocoRosie collects musical detritus from other times, which they fashion into their own baroque, theatricalized creations. With the sisters’ hands deep in every layer of their music, each song on 'Little Death Wishes' feels transportative and transformative.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      “CocoRosie has been the center of our lives for such a long time now,” says Bianca. In those years, the sisters have been infantilized and revered, fetishized and mirrored, misogynized and adored; at times willfully misunderstood by the press—which has failed to reduce the group into mere perverse whimsy. Despite it all, CocoRosie has continuously pursued the bravest and boldest routes, uplifting the rawest, unveiled, and most tender strands of humanity and nudging us towards the light.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Enduringly off-piste gothic indie from CocoRosie, with the duo's 8th album epitomising the sort of bombastic synthy momentum we've come to know from them but with a more thumping, dancefloor drive. As oddball as ever, but with a much more cinematic presentation than we've heard before.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Wait For Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Cut Stitch Scar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Yesterday
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Luckless
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Paper Boat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. It Ain’t Easy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Nothing But Garbage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Least I Have You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Girl In Town(feat. Chance The Rapper)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. No Need For Money
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Pushing Daisies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Unbroken

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      IST IST

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      On Fire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'On Fire' is a document of IST IST at their blazing best. The album takes in all ten 'Light A Bigger Fire' tracks recorded at ten different shows and chronicles the growth of the songs from the studio into the live arena.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        It includes recordings from iconic venues such as the Paradiso in Amsterdam and New Century Hall in the band's home city of Manchester.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'Light A Bigger Fire' peaked at number 25 in the charts in September 2024, breaking the band into the Top 40 for the first time; a genuine indie success story with the release coming on the band's own Kind Violence Records label.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: 'On Fire' shows why IST IST have become one of the biggest rises in indie music in recent history, with their live show proving a huge draw. Here we get an accurate document of the incendiary live experience, and a superb listen from start to finish.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Lost My Shadow (Paradiso, Amsterdam, 18.11.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. The Kiss (Oslo, London, 18.10.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Repercussions (De Oosterpoort, Groningen, 04.11.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. I Can't Wait For You (Live/Evil, Munich, 07.11.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Dreams Aren't Enough (Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 03.10.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Something Else (Movie, Bielefeld, 16.11.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. What I Know (Exchange, Bristol, 10.10.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Hope To Love Again (Exil, Zurich, 10.11.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. XXX (Think Tank, Newcastle, 05.10.24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Ghost (New Century, Manchester, 19.10.24)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dean Wareham

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        That’s The Price Of Loving Me

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'That’s the Price of Loving' Me marks Dean Wareham’s (Galaxie 500, Luna, Dean & Britta, ) evocative return, rekindling his partnership with producer Kramer for the first time since Galaxie 500's This Is Our Music in 1990.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Recorded in six days in Los Angeles, the album is steeped in lush, haunting soundscapes, driven by Wareham's signature reverb-soaked guitars and melancholic, dreamlike vocals. Britta Phillips joins on bass and harmonies, while Gabe Noel’s cello adds depth and tension. “Two takes yield more treasure than twenty,” notes longtime friend Matt Fishbeck, as Kramer's insistence on spontaneity infuses the project with raw immediacy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Thematically, Wareham delves into the poetry of memory, set against a backdrop of wistful nostalgia and existential reflection. "Songs are in dialogue with other songs" Fishbeck writes. The lead single, 'We’re Not Finished Yet', is a playful, introspective meditation where Wareham drops his own name while relishing the tactile joy of the guitar. 'You Were the Ones I Had to Betray' unfolds like a somber narrative, underpinned by Noel’s cello and crowned with a haunting bass harmonica by Kramer, encapsulating the emotional ambivalence of friendship and loyalty.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'That’s the Price of Loving Me' pulses with conga rhythms and Kramer’s vintage Moog, capturing Wareham’s musings on the life of a performer and the sacrifices it demands. Fishbeck describes 'The Mystery Guest' as "an acrostic poem" and concludes by saying "We're not finished yet." 'Loving Me' also includes two covers, Mayo Thompson's 'Dear Betty Baby' and Nico's 'Reich der Träume.' The latter highlights his love for blending history and homage, sung entirely in German for a chillingly authentic touch.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. You Were The Ones I Had To Betray
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Dear Betty Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Mystery Guest
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. New World Julie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. We're Not Finished Yet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Bourgeois Manqué
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Yesterday's Hero
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. That's The Price Of Loving Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Reich Der Träume
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. The Cloud Is Coming

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Second volume of tributes from Kutmah.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A beat tape for the brotha from anotha planet, the most high Ras G & the Afrikan Space Program
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          All beats by Kutmah / Cover Photos By Kevin Ramos

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Californian beatsmith Justin McNulty offers up more sonic sacrifices to the almighty Ras G, who makes up the triptych of upper echelon MPC / SP-303 sorcerers alongside Maldib & J Dilla. A woozy, blunted mixtape full of leftfield hip-hop instrumentals that'll have trunk poppin'!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          01 - The Almighty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          02 - Holy G
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          03 - Ruff Church Break
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          05 - Smell The Blunts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          06 - Kemetic Alchemy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          08 - Rise Travel On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          09 - Blukka
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10 - Ragtag Beat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11 - Its A Sin To Go Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12 - If They Push Mstr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13 - East Los Interlude
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          14 - Be Free
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          15 - Khali
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          16 - Out Of The Frame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          17 - Staring At Gs Mural
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          18 - Spaced Out G
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          19 - Carry You Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          20 - Raw Data
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          21 - Poobah Crate Talk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          22 - Late Night Drive

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Now and again, an album project with no home comes along out of the blue, demanding to be licensed and shared with the world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          It was unearthed on one of Paper's digging trips. BOM's album sounded like nothing else out there, only the future. Shrouded in mystery and country-of-origin unknown, Africa runs through its DNA, but sometimes mysteries are best left...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ase - a Yoruba philosophy signifying the power that makes things happen and produces change; given to Gods, ancestors, spirits, humans, animals, plants, rocks, rivers, songs and prayers.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          BOM takes influence from all corners of Africa and its diaspora, blending them with 25 years of Western electronic music into a melange of forward facing, leftfield afro futurism.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The album features one of Africa's brightest rising stars, Luka Productions (from Mali), cosmic poet Sirius Rush (UK) and master drummer & vocalist Felix Ngindu (DRC/Liverpool) for a journey into kaleidoscopic Afro-tech funk. Gqom, Shangaan electro and township funk rub shoulders with hip-hop, bass, deep house and dub for a psychedelic celebration of collaboration and possibility.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          As geographical and musical barriers are broken down, BOM's 'Ase' album is leading the charge; London to Lagos, Lisbon to Sao Paulo, Bamako to Berlin, BOM captures the sound of the underground.






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Paper Recordings make an assured return to the fold with this confident, colourful and totally uncategorizable slab of globay electronic dance music courtesy of BOM.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A1. An Ka Be Feat. Luka Productions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A2. Tribe Of Visions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A3. Funk, Jive And Break
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A4. Sutuka Feat. Felix Ngindu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B1. The Ideas Of Forbidden Feat. Sirius Rush
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B2. Sankarani Fever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B3. Alabo Feat. Luka Productions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B4. Ngoso Muziki

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Limited double 180g gatefold vinyl.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Good block say:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          "Presenting our debut album ‘Window'. A collection of works recorded between 2017 - 2024.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Self released - mix, art direction, design and photography by ourselves. This collection of tracks, varied in style and emotion, offers an insight into the wide variety of inspirations that have shaped our sound over the last 15 years. These tracks weave together an unexpected blend of influences such as acid, synth, world and electro bound by our signature sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The album is our fourth release on our own Good Block imprint following, 4 Corners EP, Aquaculture EP and Naiad / Dryad."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Eagerly anticipated by us all here, Good Block's intoxicating and uplifting concoction of free party optimism and rose-hued vintage dance sounds colide with a keen, fresh ear that results in an irrestible formula! Essential tackle.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Glow Green
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Lema
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Scatter Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Golden Pulse
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Coda
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          23 Scatter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Datura
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Clear Water
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sandii
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Rain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Vega Trails

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sierra Tracks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Inspired by the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains north-west of Madrid, his home since August 2022, Milo Fitzpatrick presents 'Sierra Tracks' the new album from his expansive, cinematic, chamber-jazz project Vega Trails.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Having cut 2022’s beautifully resonant debut album ‘Tremors in the Static’ as a duo, alongside saxophonist Jordan Smart (Mammal Hands and Sunda Arc), Milo now substantially expands upon that blueprint with his follow-up, ‘Sierra Tracks’, which, as the title suggests,was conceived at his new home in central Spain and adds piano, vibraphone and strings to the mix. The beautiful Spanish countryside offered inspiration too.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            However while 'Sierra Tracks' features an expanded line-up including pianist Taz Modi (a colleague alongside Milo in Portico Quartet’s live band) providing “some rhythmic movement behind us, to free up the bass and sax from being so busy” and vibraphone specialist Harriet Riley, multi-reedist Jordan Smart remains a key voice in Vega Trails. “Jordan has a really direct and exciting way that he connects with his instrument, and the audience,” Milo reflects. “He's into jazz, but also folk of many traditions, and he can play different wind instruments – soprano and tenor sax, bass clarinet, the dadouk, and the Ney flute from Turkey and Armenia. Knowing his phrasing, Iwrote very much with him in mind.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Milo also re-engaged with the cello, an instrument he hadn’t played since school days, adding an extra dimension to his own sound,but it was a conversation with Gondwana Records label mate, Hania Rania, about recording orchestral arrangements that helped bring 'Sierra Tracks' fully into focus.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A shaping influence on Milo’s vision for the record was David Toop’s seminal book, ‘Oceans of Sound’, and he perceived each track asan aural story. “I wanted to make sounds that felt equal to where I’ve been roaming in the mountains and forests out here, that reflect the incredible scale of the place. You get these huge views and skylines, which it’s hard to find words for.” The curious sounds thatopen the album, at the beginning of ‘Largo’, are an approximation, by Milo on cello, of a harmonic series that is often heard in the Sierra region: when the local knife-sharpeners travel around the neighbouring villages, plying their trade, they play a similar riff on panpipes to proclaim their arrival. “You get all these announcements, from people collecting scrap iron and steel, or delivering fruit and bread, and I thought that kind of thing would make a good opening for the record.” With that colourful reference as an overture, ‘Sierra Tracks’ shapes up as a love letter to the rocky landscape within which its creator now resides. It is also, he says, about his mental-health journey out of the pandemic years, which have been so testing for us all.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “I had been thinking about Time, and how history repeats itself, but also how one can become trapped in thoughts, especially on difficult personal subjects, and how these become cyclical in our minds. But I also wanted to talk about how walking or running canhelp release oneself from these cycles and find clarity and order from tangled emotional thinking patterns. It’s like discovering a newpath from your usual running route, and how that can change your perspective and help find a type of peace and acceptance.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Through the album there are motifs and melodies that repeat from one tune to another, which of course resemble cyclical thoughts and memories.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “So, to me,” Milo concludes, “this record is an exploration of the relationship between the complex, tangled world of one’s mentalprocesses and how moving through the tangible world, especially through nature, can help find definition and clarity.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            As such, ‘Sierra Tracks’ really is medicine for the mind, body and soul.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Largo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Els
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Murmuration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Dream House
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Clarifantasia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Reverie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Murmur
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Old Friend; The Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. When This Is Over
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Sleepwalk Toky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Gemini

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In Latin, the word 'Gemini' denotes “two together” or “twins.” In astrological terms, Geminis are noted for, amongst other things, being curious and versatile. For San Diego’s 9-piece (mostly) instrumental combo The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Jazz and Funk have always been the two genres that they’ve consistently and effectively melded together, forming the bedrock of their sound. Exercising their stylistic curiosity and versatility, they’ve expanded upon this foundation on their new 11-song long player for Colemine Records.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Recorded between late 2021 and early 2024 at The Kitchen II in their home base of Lemon Grove, California, SFSE steer their “introspective party music” into fresh sonic realms. While their breakbeat-heavy brand of funk-soul-jazz is still the cornerstone of their sound, as displayed in tunes such as 'Makin’ Moves', 'The Grifter', and 'Don’t Trip', they’ve begun to take more and more cues from library music labels such as KPM Music, spiritually-leaning jazz labels such as Tribe & Black Jazz Records, and exotica-adjacent jazz artists such as Cal Tjader and Dorothy Ashby.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Now leaning more into the “introspective” part of their sound, particularly on 'Mother Earth', 'Freddie', and the title track, they evoke the spirits of Freddie Hubbard, Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison, Bubbha Thomas, Chester Thompson, and even Cannonball Adderley at his headiest & most cosmic (listen to Adderley’s Soul Zodiac & Soul of The Bible albums for reference). “Corporatocracy” takes it a step further with an extended tabla solo, which floats in and rides the percussive wave before kicking into its funk-driven, modal vibe. With their current lineup of: Tim Felten on keys, Jake Najor on drums, Omar Lopez on bass, Kiko Cornejo Jr. on conga/percussion, Aquiles “Lito” Magana on guitar, Wili Fleming on trombone, Sheryll Felten on percussion, Jesse Audelo & Travis Klein on saxophone & flute, SFSE maintains their commitment to keeping it funky but dares to go where they haven’t gone before and, as a result, breaks intriguing new ground in their overall sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Makin’ Moves
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Las Olas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. The Grifter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Mother Earth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Freddie
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Don’t Trip
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. The Alliance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. The Lemon Groove
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Gemini
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Contemplation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Corporatocracy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Unknown Mortal Orchestra

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              IC-02 Bogotá

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The band Unknown Mortal Orchestra sometimes enjoys making purely instrumental music. In addition to the vocal-based records they’re more well-known for, they’ve also begun to make an instrumental series called the IC where they spend time in a chosen city and improvise and collaborate on non-vocal music. Recently the band spent time in Colombia to make music and initiate their new keyboard player Christian Li. The resulting sessions have become 'IC-02 Bogota', a musical document of the time they spent in that exciting city and the possible background music for some strange parties and night drives in your future.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Earth 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Earth 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Earth 3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Earth 5
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Heaven 7
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Underworld 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Underworld 4
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Underworld 6

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Butler, Blake & Grant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Butler, Blake & Grant

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Norman Blake, Bernard Butler and James Grant are three of the most renowned and respected musicians of their generation. Norman; the centrifugal force in Teenage Fanclub, Bernard; renowned for his solo work and output with Suede and McAlmont Bulter and James; for his solo work and Love And Money. Following a handful of hugely well-received shows which saw the trio perform a selection of each other's songs , the collective reconvened to write new material. The resultant record is an errant joy; each of the guys taking vocal turns with simpatico input from their co - players. Butler, Blake and Grant oozes with natural camaraderie and beautifully crafted tunes, filled with melody, harmony and impeccable guitar chops.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Bring An End
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. One And One Is Two
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. The 90's
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Down By The Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. The Old Mortality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Girl With The Little Black Number
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Writing's On The Wall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Rosus Posus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Seemed She Always Knew
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. There's Always Something

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Eiko Ishibashi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Antigone

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Antigone' is a chilling look at our already-alternate reality, coming from inside Eiko Isibashi's own head. Her band brings a wide array of sounds and moods, shading pop, funk and jazz, ambient, electronic and musique concrète in a bittersweet latticework. Interlocking her new songs in seamless long-play flow with the compositional ambitions of her acclaimed soundtrack work, Eiko's expressions are epic and intimate. 2025 will never be the same!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. October
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Coma
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Trial
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Nothing As
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Mona Lisa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Continuous Contiguous
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. The Model
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Antigone 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    SPELLLING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Portrait Of My Heart

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      On Chrystia Cabral’s fourth album as SPELLLING, the Bay Area artist transforms her acclaimed avant-pop project into a mirror. Cabral’s lyrics for 'Portrait of My Heart' tackle love, intimacy, anxiety, and alienation, trading the allegorical approach of much of her previous work for something pointed into her human heart. The album’s thematic forthrightness is echoed in its arrangements, making it the sharpest, most direct SPELLLING album to date. From the dark minimalism of her earliest music to the lavishly orchestrated prog-pop of 2021’s 'The Turning Wheel' to this newly energetic expression of her creative spirit, Cabral has proved again and again that SPELLLING can be whatever she needs it to be.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The title track, with its propulsive drum groove and anthemic chorus of “I don’t belong here,” is the most potent embodiment of the album’s turn toward emotional directness. Once the main melody emerged, Cabral used the song as a tool to process her anxiety as a performer and opted for a tighter, more rock-oriented composition. This transformation mirrors the album’s broader shift toward energy and immediacy, driven by the core band of Wyatt Overson (guitar), Patrick Shel-ley (drums), and Giulio Xavier Cetto (bass), whose collaboration uncovers new contours of the SPELLLING sound. Cabral still writes and demos in isolation, but presenting the songs for 'Portrait of My Heart' to her bandmates helped her discover their eventual lively, organic forms. So did working with a trio of producers — 'The Turning Wheel' mixing engineer Drew Vandenberg, SZA collaborator Rob Bisel, and Yves Tumor producer Psymun.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Key guest contributions further shape the album. Chaz Bear (Toro y Moi) delivers SPELLLING’s first duet on 'Mount Analogue', Turnstile guitarist Pat McCrory turns Cabral’s original piano demo for 'Alibi' into the crunchy, riffy version that appears on the record, while Zulu’s Braxton Marcellous gives 'Drain' its sludgy heft. These parts aren’t just incorporated seamlessly into the album; they feel like an integral part of its universe. Ultimately, though, 'Portrait of My Heart' is nobody’s record but Cabral’s. She fearlessly draws the curtain back on parts of herself that she’s never included in SPELLLING before - her feelings of being an outsider, her overly guarded nature, the way she can throw herself recklessly into intimate relationships and then cool on them just as quickly. “It’s very much an open diary of all those sensations,” she says.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Portrait Of My Heart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Keep It Alive
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Alibi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Waterfall
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Destiny Arrives
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Ammunition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Mount Analogue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Drain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Satisfaction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Love Ray Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Sometimes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hannah Cohen

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Earthstar Mountain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Earthstar Mountain is an ode to curiosity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        It asks what it means to live a life: how do we decide which direction to take? How do we stay there? And what happens when the rug is pulled from under our feet? Once again working with her partner and collaborator Sam Evian at their home studio Flying Cloud, Hannah Cohen's fourth full-length album Earthstar Mountain, is a keepsake of Cohen's time in the Catskills, built over the course of 2020-2024, as blurred, shimmering memories come into focus to produce a collage of echoes and sonic souvenirs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Featuring contributions from Sufjan Stevens, Clairo, Sean Mullins, Liam Kazar, Oliver Hill and more, Earthstar Mountain is a love letter to the Catskills and in the interconnectedness of all things: in her past, present, future and alternative selves, in her friends--here and gone--and in the mountain that peers through her windows.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dusty 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Draggin'
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mountain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Earthstar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Rag
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Una Spiaggia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Summer Sweat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Shoe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Baby You're Lying 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dog Years

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jetstream Pony

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Bowerbirds And Blue Things

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jetstream Pony combine post-punk, indie-pop and power-pop, featuring Beth Arzy (The Luxembourg Signal/Trembling Blue Stars/Aberdeen) on vocals and percussion, Shaun Charman (The Wedding Present/The Popguns/The Fireworks) on guitar and vocals, Kerry Boettcher (Turbocat) on bass, Tom Levesley on drums, and recently joined by Mark Matthews (The Dentists/The Treasures Of Mexico) on guitar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Returning with a new full length 'Bowerbirds and Blue Things', the band's evolution continues, and there are branches into new territory. 'The Relativity of Wrong' is driven by heavy bass, a tale of youthful misbehaviour, with guest vocals from Eleni Poulou, formerly of The Fall. 'Tendrils' has a darker presence, sung by Kerry, echoing and ghostly. 'Bonanza 2 Tango Sierra' and 'Look Alive!' both have a driving feel, and the power-pop is still intact with songs like 'Bubblegum Nothingness'. 'Bowerbirds And Blue Things' is a varied album that keeps the underlying Jetstream Pony sound, but with real development.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Sit And Wonder
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Frustration Can Cause Accidents
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. "Bubblegum Nothingness"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. The Relativity Of Wrong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Bonanza 2 Tango Sierra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Birdland '74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Only If You Want To
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Tendrils
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Bad Common Earth Connection
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Captain Palisade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11.3am
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Look Alive!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          With NYX, the London-based vocal and electronic collective delivers a debut album that pulses with primal energy and delicate introspection, weaving together the ancient and the futuristic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The result of six years of collaboration and transformation, this record reflects the collective’s signature blend of experimental vocal techniques and electronic alchemy. Co-produced by Marta Salogni and mastered by Heba Kadry, it’s a spellbinding journey through the human experience, crafted not just to be heard but deeply felt.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The album opens with “Mother”, an invocation inspired by the first chapter of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. This layered plainsong swells with synth drones, violin loops, and whispered ASMR textures, grounding the listener in a wordless essence while calling life into form. From there, NYX ignites with “Through Fire”, a feral anthem of awakening and upheaval featuring additional drum production by Memory Play, and added space and bass layers from Sebastian Gainsbourgh (Vessel). Metallic voices and machine elf harmonies erupt into a post-apocalyptic chorus of pounding bass and techno-driven chants: a sonic cleansing through chaos.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tracks like “Bright Tongues” and “Awe” offer contrasting tones, showcasing NYX’s emotional breadth. “Bright Tongues” spirals through intimate synth pulses and bursts of golden noise, while “Awe” radiates pure wonderment, layering improvisational choir harmonies and lush harp arrangements by Miriam Adefris into a blissful sound bath. On “Truce”, plaintive vocals and violin trade calls across an imagined valley, weaving an acoustic plea for peace into a tapestry of shared humanity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          NYX plunges deeper into the underworld with “Silent Union”, an ode to hidden root systems and mycelial harmonies that sustain life unseen. Featuring field recordings from deep inside a Great Oak by sound artist James Bulley, the track’s low rumbles and choral drones evoke the primal rhythms of the Earth itself. “Undercurrent”, co-written by NYX artist Alicia Jane Turner, expands on this theme with a swirling loop of haunting voices and layered strings that come together like crashing waves until the final moment of release.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “Everything I Wanted For You” is an ode to love and hope, weaving heavenly vocals with cinematic strings in a euphoric resolve, while “Daughters” is a raw and visceral invocation of rage, resilience, and liberation. Blending kitchen-recorded vocals with the visceral drum work of Sebastian Gainsbourgh (Vessel) and additional bass and space production by Memory Play, the track opens and expands through its intensity, transforming pain into a re-wilding of the spirit and a celebration of untamed, collective power.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Women’s voices have traditionally been associated with spirituality and otherworldliness, but NYX reclaims the voice as the purest form of human expression. As its soaring harmonies dissolve into the reverberating echoes of “Dream Baby Dream”, a cover of Suicide’s 1979 song, NYX leaves an indelible mark, reminding us of the radical potential of healing and love. In NYX’s words: “We’re creating a place in which we want to live – connected, belonging, deeply embodied.” 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Daughters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Bright Tongues
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Truce
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Silent Union

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Awe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Through Fire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Everything I Wanted For You

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Deafheaven

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Lonely People With Power

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Everyone's favourite blackgazers Deafheaven are back with their new album 'Lonely People With Power' via their new label home, Roadrunner Records.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Recorded with producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen [St. Vincent, M83], 'Lonely People With Power' follows Deafheaven’s 2021 studio album, 'Infinite Granite', which saw the GRAMMY-nominated band charting new ground and expanding stylistic boundaries. 'On Lonely People With Power', Deafheaven again confound expectations, piling element on element, and towering towards the sky with their most ambitious release yet. Tracked at EastWest Studios, 'Lonely People With Power' includes additional vocal contributions from Jae Matthews of Boy Harsher and Paul Banks of Interpol.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The band return to the UK in June to play Manchester’s acclaimed Outbreak Fest.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Incidental I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Doberman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Magnolia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. The Garden Route
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Heathen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Amethyst
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Incidental II (feat. Jae Matthews)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Revelator
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Body Behavior
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Incidental III (feat. Paul Banks)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Winona
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. The Marvelous Orange Tree

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            'Miles Away' is the sixth full-length solo project for the award-winning London-based independent label.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Comprised of 10 new tracks, performed entirely by the multi-instrumentalist himself once again, this is an array of forward-thinking eclectic electronic jazz. Rhodes, pianos, synths, strings, horns and flutes weave in & out atop of vibrant percussion and mind-bending drum patterns, forming a sound that is uniquely King Kaidi.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            We begin with the delicate groove of 'Misty Garden', before the infectious synth-boogie of 'Sweet Cherry Punch'. The almost-Quincy / EWF vibes of lead single 'So Happy' follow, ahead of the mid-tempo stomp of 'Kanji'. 'Silkie Bantam' keeps the energy nice while picking up the BPM a touch, as we reach the half-time title track 'Miles Away', which also features Kaidi on vocals. 'Hipsteppin' does what it says on the tin; another slice of infectious bruk-tinged jazz-boogie. Then it's the return of frequent collaborator, the super-dope MC Uhmeer (aka Jazzy Jeff's son!) on the smooth soulful hip hop bounce of 'Wave'. 'Hydration' brings the funk; clavi keys and some weighty live bass accompany some truly knockin' drums that switch in & out. The set closes with a real treat for the reggae steppers; 'Ku Deh' is a short sweet touch of uplifting rock steady.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            For those that don't know, Belfast-based Kaidi Tatham has been an innovative powerhouse in the world of British black music for decades. From his early days as one of the pioneers of the broken beat movement, to his recent prominence as a key-player for DJ Jazzy Jeff's PLAYlist project, he has inspired an array of artists and tastemakers across the globe, from Madlib to Gilles Peterson.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The list of artists he's worked and collaborated with reads like a fever dream - Amy Winehouse, Mulatu Astatke, Soul II Soul, Leroy Burgess, Nubya Garcia, Slum Village, Andrew Ashong, Marcos Valle and beyond. Additionally to a number of releases with 2000 Black's Dego and The Herbaliser, he's also dropped records for Theo Parrish's Sound Signature and Alex Nut's Eglo Records, taking in a number of aliases along the way, including Agent K, Shokazulu, Blakai, Da One Away and Likwid Biskit - the latter two projects alongside IG Culture (New Sector Movements / LCSM). He's also worked with fellow First Word label-mates like Children of Zeus, Allysha Joy, Darkhouse Family and Eric Lau.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Misty Garden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Sweet Cherry Punch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. So Happy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Kanji
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Silkie Bantam
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Miles Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Hipsteppin'
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Wave (feat. Uhmeer)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Hydration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Ku Deh

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Volcanic Tongue

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              An eclectic compilation album celebrating twenty ‘tips of the tongue’ from David Keenan, released to coincide with a book of his collected music writing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              As well as being the title of a book. Volcanic Tongue was a record shop that existed in Glasgow from 2005 to 2015, run by David Keenan and Heather Leigh, it championed contemporary DIY music from around the world, often released in tiny runs on homemade CD-Rs, and also sought to shine a light on forgotten artists from the past, who had often released their music as a ‘private press’ LP. The shop was also known for it’s weekly mailing list, with Keenan enthusiastically rapping about new arrivals, especially the record of the week, given the sobriquet ‘tip of the tongue’. This collection has been put together from releases that were a ‘tip of the tongue’, containing music that runs the gamut from outsider synth to psych-folk to damaged rock’n’roll, with tracks recorded between 1968 and 2013, a celebration of a vibrant and eclectic underground avant-garde.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Printed inner sleeves with original notes on each artist by David Keenan, housed in a sleeve designed by Julian House.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Ashtray Navigations - Mailshot Slot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Elli And Bev - 31Men
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. The ScrotumPoles - Pick The Cats Eyes Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. The Bachs - Tables Of Grass Fields
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Fille Qui Mousse - Fraîcheur Et Amalgame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Idea Fire Company - Romance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Hollywood Autopsy - Lost Finding Gone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. ESP Kinetic - Metropoline
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Hospitals - This Walls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Counter Intuits - Anarchy On Yr Face
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Metal Rouge - Grey AreaII
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. Simon Finn - Patrice
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              13. A To Austr - Thumbquake And Earthscrew
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              14. Christina Carter - Seals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              15. Sachiko Yama - Keburi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              16. JD Emmanuel - Attaining Peace
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              17. Vox Populi! - Gole Mariam
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              18. Circuit Des Yeux - Serenade To Sophia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              19. Bronze Horse - Number 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              20. Orphan Fairytale - Phantom Shapes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Paul Weller Presents: That Sweet Sweet Music

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Soul music has always been in Paul Weller’s blood from early Jam covers of Martha & the Vandellas 1963 classic ‘Heatwave’. Along with other forms of music, soul found its way into Paul’s record collection, nourishing his ears and informing his own songwriting

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                We don’t need to recap a questing musical career from the Jam to the Style Council and then blossoming into one of the most productive and revered careers of any UK solo artist. Paul has written anthems, standards and a songbook that have always developed from his own feelings.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Whilst Paul has talked about his love of soul music he has, before now, simply been too busy to sit down and curate a collection of his favourite tracks and get it into the record racks.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Ace Records are honoured and delighted to finally release that Paul Weller curated collection which he has aptly titled, “That Sweet Sweet Music”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This 2-LP set and CD open the curtains on 26 tracks that are some of Paul’s favourite soul records most of which nestle on vinyl in his own collection. He can still recall paying £70 for his copy of Jon Lucien’s 1971 ‘Search For The Inner Self’ 7” at a record shop in Leicester in the 90s. Some of these tracks are soul classics like James Carr’s 1966 ‘Pouring Water On A Drowning Man’ and Brother to Brother’s brilliant take on Gil Scott Heron and Brian Jackson’s ‘In The Bottle’ from 1974. Others are deliciously obscure wonderous gems like the A-side of Blackrock’s sole 1971 single ‘Blackrock “Yeah, Yeah”’, ‘Life Walked Out’ from the same year by the Mist or Syl Johnson’s ‘Black Balloons’ taken from his 1970 album “Is It Because I’m Black?”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                There are plenty of big vocal hitters such as Darrell Banks, Spinners, Joe Simon, O.C. Smith, the Dells and Betty Davis. Whilst the core is vocal soul the music does branch out with Paul selecting a wicked instrumental from the flipside of the Isley Brothers’ ‘Twist & Shout’ from 1962 and the funky jazz of the Headhunters ‘God Made Me Funky’, the A-side of their first 1975 seven-inch.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Paul has not only written an introduction but the way he has curated the music allows each side of the vinyl and the CD to flow like a river taking the listener on a journey through some of his favourite music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                It’s a Sweet Sweet collection indeed...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE ONE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. GOD MADE ME FUNKY - The Headhunters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. SPANISH TWIST - The I. B. Special
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. BREAKAWAY - The Valentines
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. TOP OF THE STAIRS - Collins & Collins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. DONT LET THE GREEN GRASS FOOL YOU - The Spinners
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. BLACK BALLOONS - Syl Johnson

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE TWO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. SOULSHAKE - Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. I CAN'T MAKE IT ANYMORE - Richie Havens
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. YOU GOT TO HAVE MONEY - The Exits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. PULL MY STRING (TURN ME ON) - The Joneses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. RUN FOR COVER - The Dells
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. ON EASY STREET - O.C. Smith
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. IT AIN'T NO BIG THING - The Radiants

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE THREE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. SUMMERTIME - Billy Stewart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. IN THE BOTTLE - Brother To Brother
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. HARD TIMES - Baby Huey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. MAGGIE - Johnny Williams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. WHEN - Joe Simon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. POURING WATER ON A DROWNING MAN - James Carr
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. THAT'S ENOUGH - Roscoe Robinson

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                SIDE FOUR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. BLACKROCK “YEAH, YEAH” - Blackrock
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. GOLDEN RING - American Gypsy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. SEARCH FOR THE INNER SELF - Jon Lucien
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. LIFE WALKED OUT - The Mist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. IN THE MEANTIME - Betty Davis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. BEAUTIFUL FEELING (SINGLE MIX) - Darrell Banks

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Midnight In Tokyo Vol.4

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tsunaki Kadowaki, a staff member at Kyoto’s record store Meditations, the supervisor of "New Age Music Disc Guide", and the founder of Sad Disco, curates the fourth installment of "Midnight in Tokyo" themed around Ambient Kayō.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The album presents 12 exquisite pop tracks infused with an ambient feeling, resonating deeply with the evolving landscape of the mid-2020s—a time of post-hyperpop and Y2K revival.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Midnight in Tokyo series by Studio Mule focuses on Japanese music, serving as a soundtrack for Tokyo nights—whether for home listening, club play, or as a driving BGM, transcending location and space. After a six-year hiatus, the fourth volume takes "Ambient Kayō" as its new perspective, compiling genre-defying tracks released between 1977 and 1999 to explore the intersection of Japanese ambient and pop music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  For this long-awaited fourth installment, selections were made regardless of record label status (major or independent), era, format (vinyl or CD), original release price, or prior reissues. Instead, the focus was on music that deeply moves the listener, is open-minded and evocative, brims with inspiration and spiritual insight, and embodies the "utagokoro" (singing heart) of Japanese artists.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Opening the compilation is "Umi e Kinasai" by Yōsui Inoue, a legendary Japanese singer-songwriter whose works have recently gained renewed interest as hidden gems of Walearic and ambient pop

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Composed and arranged by Katsu Hoshi—who is also known for his arrangements on Inoue’s masterpiece Ice World—the track features renowned players such as Masayoshi Takanaka, Hiroki Inui, and Shigeru Inoue. The song embodies a yearning for Balearic horizons, tinged with youthful vibrancy and sentimentality.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Next, "Oritatamu Umi", compiled from Keiko Nosaka, a 20-string koto player, and George Murasaki, a pioneer of Okinawan rock, is an instrumental track from their album "Niraikanai Requiem 1945". As the title suggests, it carries themes of requiem and remembrance, conveying poetic lyricism even without words. Blending Ryukyuan/Okinawan harmonies and indigenous elements, it unfolds as an intimate and nostalgic piece of progressive rock.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Also featured is "Natsu no Kowareru Koro" by Higurashi, a folk-rock band led by Seiichi Takeda, formerly a guitarist of The Remainders of The Clover, the predecessor of RC Succession. Like the opening track "Umi e Kinasai", this song was also produced by Katsu Hoshi. It stands as a folk/new music piece that takes a step into an "otherworldly" realm, recommended for fans of Twin Cosmos and Masumi Hara.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  From the enigmatic Blue, the only work left by the mysterious composer S.R. Kinoshita, comes "Mangrove", a hidden treasure of Japan's ambient/new age scene from the CD era. With an oriental and enigmatic atmosphere, the track evokes a mystical world of deep, uncharted jungles, unfolding as an otherworldly New Age Kayō.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  "Yaponesia Sakura", selected from Rehabilual’s sole album New Child, is a masterpiece of Japanese new age music. Produced by Swami Dhyan Akamo, a disciple of Indian meditation teacher Osho and a renowned balafon player, the track features Michio Ogawa (Chakra) and Atsuo Fujimoto (Colored Music). Their collective artistry creates an exquisite spiritual ambient pop sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  "Asa no Hitoshizuku", the opening folk song from Sachiko Kanenobu’s album Sachiko, is also included. Known for her legendary folk album Misora, produced by Haruomi Hosono, Kanenobu’s fourth album after resuming her career was inspired by her experiences living in San Francisco and revolves around the theme of "love." This track carries the same intimate poetic world as Misora, imbued with a pure, crystalline innocence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  From the synth-pop band E.S. Island, known for the Haruomi Hosono-produced *Teku Teku Mami", comes "Yume Fūrin ", selected from their long-lost new age classic Nanpū from Hachijo. Created while the band’s core duo was living in Hachijō Island, the album aimed to sonically capture "the high and happy vibrations of everyday island life." This track offers a dynamic, tribal-infused New Age Kayō experience.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Dubbed "the world's first Min’yō House Mix" "Esashi Oiwake (Maeuta) " comes from Kanazawa Akiko HOUSE MIX Ⅰ, a collaboration between Japanese house music pioneer Soichi Terada and Akiko Kanazawa, a renowned min’yō singer. Through the prism of club music, Hokkaido's Esashi Oiwake, one of Japan’s most iconic folk songs, is transformed into a futuristic ambient pop piece with intricate sound design.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The compilation also includes "Sweet Ong Choh", a track from Voice From Asia, a group active between 1989 and 1992 featuring vocal artist Shizuru Ohtaka. Taken from their imaginative minimal work Voice From Asia, released under Aoyama Spiral’s music label Newsic, the song presents a tranquil, tribal-minimal soundscape enriched by ethnic instruments.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Hailed by Haruomi Hosono as having “a shaman residing in her voice,” singer-songwriter Nami Hōdatsu also appears in the selection. Known for her collaborations with Henry Kawahara, her debut album featured "Asa-Hikari-Ame-Yume", a track that now stands as a precursor to modern vocaloid/synthesized vocal music—a hidden gem of post-choir aesthetics that deserves rediscovery.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Likewise, "Tennessee Waltz", from Naomi Akimoto’s album One Night Stand, supported by members of Mariah, serves as another early prototype of vocaloid/synthesized vocal music. The track weaves fragmented vocal samples, pastoral yet sweetly minimal synth sounds, and mechanical beats into a strikingly unconventional piece in the history of Japanese music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Closing the compilation is "Heaven Electric", a track from Nav Katze’s album Gentle & Elegance, which featured remixes by Autechre, Seefeel, and Sun Electric. Merging elements of IDM, ambient techno, and chillout, the song embodies an optimism reminiscent of space music while seamlessly blending a mystical Japanese aesthetic—an ambient pop masterpiece. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A1 Yousui Inoue Umi He Kinasai 00:05:29
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A2 Keiko Nosaka / George Murasaki Oritatamu Umi 00:05:17
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A3 Higurashi Natsuno Kowareru Koro 00:03:56
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B1 Blue Mangrove 00:06:45
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B2 Rehabilual Yaponesia Sakura 00:05:07
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B3 Sachiko Kanenobu Asano Hitoshizuku 00:04:36
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  C1 E.S.Island Yumefurin 00:03:47
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  C2 Akiko Kanazawa Esashi Oiwake(Maeuta) (Virtual Reality Mix) 00:05:53
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  C3 Voice From Asia Sweet Ong Choh 00:04:43
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  D1 Nami Hotatsu Asa Hikari Ame Yume 00:01:53
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  D2 Nav Katza Heaven Electric 00:05:26
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  D3 Naomi Akimoto Tennessee Waltz 00:03:01

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Soul Jazz Records Presents Studio One Showcase 45: Expanded Edition

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Soul Jazz Records’ ‘Studio One Showcase 45’ features a roll call of classic Studio One reggae legends including Horace Andy, Cornell Campbell, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Jackie Mittoo, The Heptones, The Skatalites and more - seminal reggae artists who all launched their careers at the legendary Studio One label.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Featuring seminal cuts like Bob Marley and The Wailer’s original version of ‘One Love’, Freddie McGregor’s take on the classic ‘Beat Down Babylon’, Judah Eskender Tafari’s re-version of ‘Danger In Your Eyes’ plus tracks from The Skatalites, Lone Ranger, Johnny Osbourne and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The album was previously only ever released as a long-deleted limited edition 7” box set for Record Store Day. This album has now been expanded into a lavish double vinyl album edition as well as a first-time release on CD, with both formats featuring a massive eight bonus tracks of wicked Studio One classics and rarities. The album also comes with newly commissioned sleeve and track notes by Noel Hawks.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Freddie McGregor - Beat Down Babylon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Cornel Campbell - No Man's Land
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Judah Eskender Tafari - Danger In Your Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Tony & Howie - Fun It Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Liberation Group - Namibia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Winston Francis - Love Me Today, Not Tomorrow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Roland Alphonso - Jah Shakey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Joe Higgs - Dinah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Brown Eagle - Natural Living
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Freddie McKay - So Long, Farewell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Jackie Mittoo - Mixing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Heptones - How Can I Leave You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Skatalites - Sudden Destruction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Lone Ranger - Dance A Fe Cork
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Horace Andy - Mamie Blue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Johnny Osbourne - Run Up Your Mouth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Bob Marley And The Wailers - One Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Cables - What Am I To Do

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Wewantsounds is delighted to announce the release of "Sweet Rebels – The Golden Era of Algerian Pop-Raï" Selected in Paris by Cheb Gero. The set features the raw energy of the Algerian Raï scene from the 80s and early '90s and its young stars Cheb Zahouani, Chaba Zohra and Abderrahmane Djalti. Newly remastered and including liner notes from Raï authority Rabah Mezouane, the compilation brings together eight cassette tracks from the electrifying period when Raï music was evolving from a more traditional sound to the mesmerising electro funk sound of the 80s.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Cheikha Djenia El K'bira - Chabe Rassi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Cheb Zahouani - Zinek Bekani
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Chaba Zohra - Ki Bghitouni Nabra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Cheb Abdelhak - Ghir Hbibi Ouana
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Abderrahmane Djalti - Ala Bladi Nebki
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Chaba Amina - Kindi Ebatal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Cheb Tahar & Chaba Noria - La Hbibi Ouaalah Ela
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Djilali Tiarti & Chaba Zohra - Matczaafiche Omizi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Japanese Breakfast

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Produced by Grammy Award winner Blake Mills, the record sees front-woman and songwriter Michelle Zauner pull back from the bright extroversion that defined its predecessor 'Jubilee' to examine the darker waves that roil within, the moody, fecund field of melancholy, long held to be the psychic state of poets on the verge of inspiration. The result is an artistic statement of purpose: a mature, intricate, contemplative work that conjures the romantic thrill of a gothic novel.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'For Melancholy Brunettes' follows a transformative period in Zauner’s life during which her 2x GRAMMY nominated breakthrough album 'Jubilee' and her bestselling memoir Crying In H Mart catapulted her into the cultural mainstream, delivering on her deepest artistic ambitions. Reflecting on that success, Zauner came to appreciate the irony of desire, which so often commingles bliss and doom. “I felt seduced by getting what I always wanted,” she says. “I was flying too close to the sun, and I realized if I kept going I was going to die.” The plight of Icarus and other such condemned ones lends 'For Melancholy Brunettes' its most persistent theme, the perils of desire. Like light dispersed, its spectral parts take the album’s characters through cycles of temptation, transgression and retribution. On 'Orlando in Love' — a riff on John Cheever’s riff on Orlando Innamorato, an unfinished epic made up of 68 ½ cantos by the Renaissance poet Matteo Maria Boiardo — the hero is a well meaning poet who parks his Winnebago by the sea and falls victim to a siren’s call, his 69th canto (even in the lofty realm of classical myth Zauner has a soft spot for innuendo). 'Honey Water' plumbs the quiet rage of a woman married to an unfaithful man, watching him cede again and again to lust like a base insect perpetuating its own demise.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sadness is indeed the dominant emotional key of this record, but it is sadness of a rarified form: the pensive, prescient sadness of melancholy, in which the recognition of life’s essentially tragic character occurs with sensitivity to its fleeting beauty. Zauner finds space enough inside it for glimmers of hope. They are the consolations of mortals that poets before her have called out to and that poets after will continue to rediscover: love and labor, and though they run like tonic resolutions through the record’s many episodes, they sound most saliently on its final song, 'Magic Mountain', an engagement with Thomas Mann’s famous novel of the same name. For her, making any work feels like scaling a mountain, but from the perch of 'For Melancholy Brunettes', she surveys the future.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: It's a wonderfully satisfying thing to hear Michelle Zauner's songwriting in a more hi-fi recording, with her effortless mastery of melody and tension coming through even more beautifully. That's not to say her previous outings haven't been astounding, but to have such a talented songwriter so wonderfully presented in widescreen is something to behold.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Here Is Someone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Orlando In Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Honey Water
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Mega Circuit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Little Girl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Leda
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Picture Window
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Men In Bars
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Winter In LA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Magic Mountain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Horrors

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Night Life

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        After nearly 20 years making music, there are few bands who’ve created a canon as determinedly innovative and consistently critically-acclaimed as The Horrors. Emerging as zeitgeist-shaking garage-goths on their 2007 debut ‘Strange House’, before taking a sharp left turn for their Mercury-nominated follow up ‘Primary Colours’, since the beginning they’ve roamed freely between genres. 2011’s ‘Skying’ won the NME Award for Best Album; ‘V’ was heralded as “a triumph” in a five-star Guardian review, while 2021’s pair of EPs - ‘Lout’ and ‘Against The Blade’ - marked a new chapter with their most industrial, uncompromising output yet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Whilst the end results have changed, however, at their core has always been the same unbending commitment and bloody-minded allegiance to the cause. The Horrors are not and will never be a band that approach the job lightly. They’re musicians who’ll funnel everything they are into the process, at the expense of health, wealth and sometimes sanity. And so, whilst sixth album ‘Night Life’ sees the band once more shapeshift into a new form, with a new sonic outlook and - this time - a new line up, in some ways The Horrors are still as they ever were.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Ooof, Horrors go industrial. I know there's always been a background hum of machinated, clanging electronica and glitchy jagged instrumentation to The Horrors' sound, but 'Night Life' pushed even further into that sound world. Bristling with atmosphere, and still resplendent with melody, it's a perfect mix of the profound and the melodic from one of the most chameleonic bands around.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        SIDE A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Ariel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Silent Sister
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. The Silence That Remains
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Trial By Fire
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. The Feeling Is Gone

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        SIDE B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Lotus Eater
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. More Than Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. When The Rhythm Breaks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. L.A. Runaway 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Rude Films

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Rude Films

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Hailing from our back-yard, Manchester's very own Rude Films are one of our big tips of 2025. Massive tracks, lots of noise and plenty of reverb, Rude Films' mix of post-punk shoegazey post-rock is absolutely mega and we couldn't wait to get our hands on it. Now it's here and it's class - check it!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Liam says: Big one this! One of our favourite bands coming out of Manchester at the minute, this debut from Rude Films is properly mint. Little bit of shoegaze, little bit of post-punk, we couldn't wait to get our grubby little mitts on this. One of my tips of the year - mega!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Where Have You Been Lately?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Mort Subite
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Death Hex
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Serenity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Blood On The Tracks
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Religion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Wide-Eyed Boy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. You're The Image I Can't Forget
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. A Lonely Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Black Snow

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Greentea Peng

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tell Dem It's Sunny

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ‘Tell Dem It's Sunny’ is an introspective album, that explores elements of London artist Greentea Peng’s personality and lived experiences in a record that seamlessly weaves together an array of genres from Hip-Hop to Jazz, Neo-soul, Trip Hop, Ragga, Rock, Dub and Drum & Bass, all anchored by her signature sage vocals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            First single 'Tardis' is an excellent barometer of how far Greentea Peng's sound has come since 2021's brilliant 'Man Made' with a more serious, widescreen sound anchoring her inimitable flow and renewed lyrical focus. 'One Foot' takes the formula and moves effortlessly through 90's R&B, nu-soul and classic hip-hop before landing in a beautiful middle ground between downbeat and soul. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A wonderful development from Greentea Peng, and a suite of songs that move together beautifully, no matter which way they're facing. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: A high-octane ride through classic hip-hop, 90's R&B with hefty elements of ambient and electronica woven through these intricate pieces, all topped with Wells' perfectly paced vocals and socially focused lyrics. A triumph, and a perfect follow up to her brilliant 'Man Made'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Bali Skit Part 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. TARDIS (hardest)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. One Foot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Nowhere Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Glory
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. My Neck - Greentea Peng Feat Wu-Lu
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. CREATE OR DESTROY 432
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Green
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Raw
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Stones Throw
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. The End (Peace)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. Whatcha Mean
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            13. I AM (Reborn)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            14. Bali Skit Part 2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Annie & The Caldwells

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Can’t Lose My (Soul)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Annie & The Caldwells are a family that plays a powerful disco soul from West Point, Mississippi, led by Annie Caldwell (who sings) and her husband of the last fifty years Willie Joe Caldwell, Sr. (who plays guitar).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Annie is backed by daughters Deborah Caldwell Moore [Pronounced de-BOR-ah, or BORA, not debra, you white ass] and Anjessica Caldwell and goddaughter Toni Rivers; their eldest son Willie Jr. is on the bass and youngest son Abel Aquirius is on the drums.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              'Can’t Lose My (Soul)' is their new album 40 years in the making … and it’s already gotten rave reviews in MOJO and The Guardian even before it’s been announced.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Bold, bright soul music that's thoughtful but jubilant, full of orchestral swells and huge, powerful vocals. While the music is decidedly different from the equally celebratory William Onyeabor LP, also on Luaka Bop, they definitely share an uplifting air. A wonderfully rich, hugely enjoyable listen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Wrong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Can’t Lose My Soul
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. I Made It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Don’t You Hear Me Calling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. I’m Going To Rise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Dear Lord

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Benefits

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Constant Noise

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                After a succession of different line-ups, Benefits have now settled as a two-piece made up of Hall and electronic virtuoso Robbie Major. “We’re still angry” says Hall, “just angry in a different way to before. If the previous record was black and white, we wanted this to be technicolour. ”The first taste of this new musical direction came in the form of 'Land Of The Tyrants', which saw the band delving into bass-heavy, dance inflected rhythms and subtle industrial undercurrents.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Follow-up single ‘Relentless’ featured The Libertines’ Peter Doherty and saw the band move further into ambient electronic atmospherics. Doherty is just one of the collaborators on the new record, Zera Tønin, the singer of queer pop-electro duo Arch Femmesis, Neil Cooper of Therapy?, and Middlesborough rapper Shakkall make cameos. In addition to the guest musicians, the album also features production from James Welsh (Phantasy Sound), and James Adrian Brown (ex-Pulled Apart By Horses) who helped to guide the new direction. The result is an album that gleans as much from the likes of Underworld and Leftfield as it does the likes of The Streets or Beastie Boys in their pomp, or even the 90s /early 00s Indie Sleaze-era.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: Now we're talking. I was always a fan of Benefits, but I think the more nuanced, ambient influenced flavour of electronica we find in 'Constant Noise' mixed with the recognisable vocals and grit of their music past is particularly satisfying. There's a lovely saturation to the production too, with James Adrian Brown's trademark otherworldly distortion creeping in at the edges. Ace.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Constant Noise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Land Of The Tyrants (feat Zera Tønin)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. The Victory Lap
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Lies And Fear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Missiles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Blame
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7.* Continual
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Divide (feat Shakk)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Relentless (feat. PeterDoherty)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Terror Forever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Dancing On The Tables
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Everything Is Going To Be Alright
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. * The Brambles
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                14. Burnt Out Family Home

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                (* Not On Vinyl, Inc. With Download) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                So-Do

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Studio Works '83-'85

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The story of So-Do is both familiar and completely unique. A classically trained multi-instrumentalist with a poet’s sensibility and a passion for folk music meets a worldly bar owner with a love for psychedelia, post-punk and dub in the small town neither could bring themselves to leave. Over two years, they play dozens of shows in independent live houses across Japan, cut and self-release three singles – two 7”s and a 12” – and leave behind just eight tracks, all of which are set to be reissued for the first time forty years on.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  So-Do’s "Studio Works ’83-’85" collects the full output of this iconoclastic post-punk phenomenon, whose sparse, syncopated arrangements were infused with a dubbed-out flair that owed more to Dennis Bovell’s productions of Orange Juice, the Jah Wobble basslines of Public Image Limited or Adrian Sherwood’s live dubs of Mark Stewart than even they knew at the time.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Because for lead songwriter Hideshi Akuta, music offered an escape from the existential malaise of small-town life, folding a melancholy nihilism into tracks like ‘Kakashi’ and ‘Hashiru’ (which translates as ‘run’), or taking aim at the inequalities and creeping apathies of the middle classes, as he does on ‘Get Away’ and ‘Nothing’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  And if Talking Heads had CBGBs, Sex Pistols had the Roxy, then So-Do had Buddha. Influenced by Buddha venue owner and amateur producer Atsuo Takeuchi, Akuta turned So-Do’s sound towards dub, crafting playful, ironic and funky compositions that crackle with live energy at the vanguard of Japan’s nascent independent music scene.“So-Do is hard to explain,” Takeuchi says. “It’s been a struggle for years to try to find the words for our music.” The answer perhaps, is just to listen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Both familiar and completely unique, So-Do extend Time Capsule’s genre-defining exposition of Japan’s reggae-inspired music of the ‘70s and ‘80s, as collected on the label’s two critically acclaimed Tokyo Riddim compilations, and London-based live outfit Tokyo Riddim Band.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Embracing the rip-it-up-and-start-again ethos of the early ‘80s, So-Do burned bright for a short time and then burned out. Their legacy is about to be reignited. Expect it to catch alight once more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  All songs are written & composed by Hideshi Akuta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Produced by Atsuo Takeuchi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Artwork by Ben Arfur
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Liner Notes by Anton Spice, Ayana Honma, Kay Suzuki
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Curated by Kay Suzuki
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Licensed from Atsuo Takeuchi (Oregano Cafe)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tape Restoration and Mastered by Mike Hillier at Metropolis Studios, London, UK




                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Matt says: Another winner from Time Capsule, this time focussing on the funky, disco-not-disco, slightly post-punk delights of So-Do. A proper eastern curio just waiting to be explored!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A1. Get Away (1985)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A2. Kakashi (1984)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  A3. Hashiru (1984)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B1. So-Do (1983)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B2. Nothing (1985)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B3. Natural Wave (1983)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B4. Morning (1985) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lonnie Holley

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tonky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    There are poets like the great Mary Oliver, who might suggest that one’s primary function when moving through the world, for as long as they have life and the ability to move through the world, is to play close attention to that which others may foolishly call small, or quotidian. The brain and heart are both containers, with as much space as you wish for them to have, and to live is to create collections of found affections. Sounds from your beloved and familiar blocks, movements of the trees and the people beneath them, the way someone you adore may hold you for a few lingering seconds before releasing from a hug and vanishing into a crowded crosswalk. To think of our living, our making, and our loving in this way means that, at least for some of us, we may be propelled forward by the prospect of what’s next. What moment we can hold and place in our overflowing pockets. The work of Lonnie Holley is, for me, a work of this kind of accumulation and close attention. The delight of finding a sound and pressing it up against another found sound and another until, before a listener knows it, they are awash in a symphony of sound that feels like it stitches together as it is washing over you.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Tonky' is an album that takes its name from a childhood nickname that was affixed to Holley when he lived a portion of his childhood life in a honky tonk. Lonnie Holley’s life of survival and endurance is one that required – and no doubt still requires – a kind of invention. An invention that is also rich and present in Holley’s songs, which are full and immersive on 'Tonky', an album that begins with its longest song, a nine minute, exhaustive marathon of a tune called 'Seeds', which begins with a single sparse sound and then expands. Chants, faint keys, strings, and atop it all, Holley’s voice, not singing, but speaking plainly about working the earth when he was young, the violence he endured in the process of it all, going to bed bloodied and in pain from beatings. The song expands into a metaphor about place, about the failures of home, or anywhere meant to protect you not living up to what it sells itself to be, even if you tirelessly work at it, work on it, work to make something worthwhile of it. 'Seeds' not only sets the tone for an album that revolves around rebirth, renewal, and the limits of hope and faith, but it highlights what Holley’s greatest strength as a musician is, to me, which is a commitment to abundance, and generosity. He is an incredibly gifted storyteller with a commitment to the oral tradition, such that many listeners (myself among them,) would be entirely content sitting at the feet of a Lonnie Holley record and turning an ear to his robust, expansive storytelling. But 'Tonky' is an album as expansive in sound as it is in making a place for a wide range of featured artists to come through the door of the record and feel at home, no matter how they spend the time they get on a song

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: A fascinating and deeply evocative collection that touches on pieces of pretty much every genre you can think of, and while it initially sounds like a soup of rhythms and melody, the more you listen the more reveals itself. Avant composition and sound source selection wrapped around a deeply cinematic, cumulatively melodic core. A fascinating, transformative journey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Seeds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Life (with Mary Lattimore)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Protest With Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. The Burden (I Turned Nothing Into Something) (with Angel Bat Dawid)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. The Same Stars (with Joe Minter And Open Mike Eagle)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Kings In The Jungle, Slaves In The Field
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Strength Of A Song (with Alabaster De Plume)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. What’s Going On? (with Isaac Brock)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Fear The Machine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. I Looked Over My Shoulder (with Billy Woods)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Did I Do Enough? (with Jesca Hoop
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. That’s Not Art, That’s Not Music
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Those Stars Are Still Shining (with Saul Williams)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. A Change Is Gonna Come

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    My Morning Jacket

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Is

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      For more than 25 years, My Morning Jacket have achieved an incredibly rare feat in rock & roll, upholding a long-established cultural legacy while sustaining the curiosity and creative hunger of their earliest days. For their 10th studio album the band teamed up with GRAMMY Award-winning producer Brendan O’Brien (Springsteen, Pearl Jam) for what may be their most masterfully realized work yet, once again expanding the limits of their sound while elevating their artistry to unprecedented heights

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: 'Is'? IS WHAT!? Fortunately, is good.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Out In The Open
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Half A Lifetime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Everyday Magic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. I Can Hear Your Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Time Waited
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Beginning From The Ending
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Lemme Know
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Squid Ink
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Die For It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. River Road

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Swami John Reis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Time To Let You Down

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Celebrating 55 years in the music business! Swami John Reis is back with his second LP in eight months. Time To Let You Down is a savage blast of junk shoppe punk that kicks you in the ding ding. This eleven track LP is chock full of fist pumpers, head bumpers, stinky dumpers, meaty thumpers and toe stumpers. The tempos are often breakneck and the dense arrangements tumble like bricks into hot cheese. The undeniable sonic girth barges at will into lathered ear tubes allowing these barbaric anthems to echo in hollow domes. Feel the whip crack break skin on the acne scarred backs of our cultural oppressors. The sound is tough. The songs are a bitch. Incite your expectations with the single “Fed To The Dogs” or the title track. Salty leather and wobbly chain link fences can’t contain its rebel intent.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        These recordings took place Oct. 2024 and features Swami John Reis on guitar and vocals with contributions from Jason Sinclair (Hot Snakes), Joey Guevara (Swami and the Bed Of Nails), Jacob Turnbloom (Mrs. Magician) and Glen Galloway (Truman’s Water). The record was produced by John Reis, engineered and mixed by Ben Moore and mastered by Dave Gardner.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Time To Let You Down is pressed on virgin, Egyptian pellets and available in limited, colorful vinyl that have been hand-swirled. You’ll not only clearly hear the difference, you will see it as well.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        For fans of Hot Snakes, The Marked Men, Buzzcocks, The Spits, Judas Priest, The Damned, The Dickies...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Time To Let You Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Basement Envy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Boomer Rang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. King Of The Jungle VS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. The Boogie Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Fed To The Dogs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Prince Of The Parade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Radio Silence/Radio
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Vengeance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Kamen Rider Theme
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Because I Stink
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Cold Feet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Heartbeats

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        François J. Bonnet & Sarah Davachi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Banshee / Basse Brevis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          FRANÇOIS J. BONNET ‘BANSHEE’
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (21:38)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Banshee is an ear directed towards the edges of the old world, where these infinite fines terrae cut and fractalize into coasts, harbours, fjords, peninsulas and archipelagos. Drawing its raw material from recordings made in the Inner Hebrides, Banshee tightly weaves a fabric where the sonic avatars of fauna, flora and climate merge with the human presence, its tools and its culture. Thus, a small boat cleaving through a loch becomes the voice of the mountains and wilderness, and the howling of the wind on the moors becomes the lament of a Banshee, harbinger of death, messenger of the Other World.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The piece unfolds in seven interwoven moments:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I Subharmonics (An Uaimh Bhinn)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          II Seabirds & fiddle (Rubha na h-Eist)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          III Impacts & Melancholy (Bodach an Stòrr)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          IV Spectre (Quiraing)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          V Cailleachan / Corryvreckan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          VI Distance (Loch Bracadail)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          VII Banshees

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          SARAH DAVACHI ‘BASSE BREVIS’
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          (18:11)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Co-commissioned by Radio France and INA grm, Basse Brevis by Canadian composer Sarah Davachi was premiered at the Présences 2024 festival, which was dedicated to Steve Reich. Drawing on her own minimalist approach, Sarah Davachi explores, with extreme care, the weavings and complex relationships between the timbral, spatial and durational components of music. Using developments that can be appreciated over time, the composer manages to create music that is extremely precise, subtle and lively. But what is striking, and particularly evident in Basse Brevis, is that such an approach, both abstract and restrained, is nonetheless at times utterly poignant. The work combines moments of formal exploration with moments of pure emotion in a perfectly mastered fashion, creating a gentle tension as it swings between two modes of listening that navigate indecisively within both instrumental and concrete approaches, tracing, in parallel, a diagonal of sound that unfolds around perception, sensation and feeling.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Francois J. Bonnet - Banshee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2 .Sarah Davachi - Brasse Brevis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          It’s a decidedly busy time at INVINC HQ at the moment with the 10-year anniversary looming in May. The six months preceding this date are peppered with a flurry of releases every couple of months, which started with the Mondo Ritmo EP that came in October, the Gamma Knife LP in December and now this brand new album by Sordid Sound System, which lands early March before a rather promising sounding 2xLP compilation lands in May to mark the occasion. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          It’s been a good few years since something by Sordid Sound System aka Stuart Evans has been released on the label and it’s a welcome return. In our opinion it's some of Evans’ best work and so it’s a pleasure to have him back on board the good ship Inc. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Remarkably, this music is even harder to pigeon-hole than usual...even for Stu, who’s known for his raw, analogue, live takes that veer between dub and post-kraut this is definitely quite "different": part surf acid, part dub, part psych-exotica, part motorik...and that's just the A-side. The B-side leans more towards ambience but of the oddball experimental soundtrack variety...a thoroughly enjoyable ride.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Enjoy the trip.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: There's no project as quintessential to our shamanic section as Sordid Sound System and indeed, Invisible, Inc. Here, he dips into Datura-laced post-punk and eastern-inspired, tabla driven revelry. It's a heady, experience from start to finish.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A1. Wired Wyrd
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A2. Tah-Tah-Kle’-Ah
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A3. RF Conga
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A4. Inanna
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B1. UFO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B2. Gimme Fever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B3. Riding With Deat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B4. The Ocean

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Kassian

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Channels

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            With their debut album "Channels" on !K7 Records, Kassian (Joe Danvers-McCabe and Warren Cummings) have come full circle, focusing on the warmer, sample-based, and house-inspired sonics that brought them together. Kassian periodically revisited these initial pieces throughout the last five years until they felt able to journey deeper, using their rapidly developing craft and refined production techniques to build a debut album that momentarily steps away from some of their more club-focused excursions. 'As we were writing, we realized that all the tracks had the unique potential to tell a story,' reflects Cummings, with "Channels" leading the listener through a series of different atmospheres and emotional terrains.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Essential to "Channels" is Kassian’s focus on time’s ability to reorient human perspective. Kassian worked on the album over an extended period, with instrumentation, field recordings, and percussion first constructed and then subsequently stripped away and refined.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            "Channels" contains their early love of tube warm, sample based sounds and live instrumentation as the foundation for this album. The working process for these rippling pieces used both sequenced workflow and improvisational arrangement, live instrumentation inspired by an array of deeper emotional content. Both members of Kassian experienced great personal loss during the period of making this album, and a tenderness is felt throughout the record.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            This record is an earthy thing, its naturalistic track names evoking recognisable and cyclically familiar moments, Kassian have provided a map for the listener at the forefronts of their minds. "Channels" features Ezra Collective’s Joe Armon-Jones on keys, and Timothy Kraemer on cello distilling this body of work into a deep stream between the organic and improvised, and the sequenced and planned.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Matt says: Kassian present a fully realized vision of their sound after whipping up a loyal fanbase through some beautifully produced 12"s. Sounds daft but the sleeve design perfectly visualises the feels I get from the LP. Like emerging from a clear blue ocean invigorated and refreshed.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A1. Mockingbirds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A2. Aeolian Harp
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A3. Invision
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A4. Metro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A5. Channels
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B1. Spring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B2. Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B3. Joss Bay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B4. Sunset Park
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B5. Peech Blue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B6. Limoncello

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Daniel Brandt

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Without Us

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Doomsday Clock currently sits at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest the big hand and the little hand have come to signalling our total destruction since the conceptual chronograph was incepted back in 1947. If we’re dancing on the brink then we might as well make sure that the music is great. Step forward Daniel Brandt, of lauded German electroacoustic outfit Brandt Brauer Frick, who leads the apocalyptic rave with his third solo album 'Without Us'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “The idea for this project began with a small but unsettling experience in South London,” he remembers. “I was looking to buy a single avocado, but every store I went into only seemed to offer them in plastic wrapping, packed in pairs with a little cardboard base. I remember thinking: ‘but the avocado already comes in its own perfect packaging? And I only want one.’ It struck me as absurd that, despite our awareness of the damage plastic causes, unnecessary packaging like this still persists.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The scenario turned into a farrago - Brandt went from store to store discovering the same nightmare in every shop where every avocado was wrapped in superfluous packaging: “As a touring musician, maybe I have to admit my own carbon footprint is questionable,” he admits, “but it’s countries and corporations that need to quit with the half measures that avail the planet nothing, usually under pressure from powerful, short-termist lobbying groups.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              He continues: “Without Us is about the helplessness of the individual in the climate crisis and the apparent need to take radical global action to change the trajectory of the current threat of a climate disaster. It’s about the despair and inability to be able to properly contribute to change as an individual, even though the general idea is that everybody can play their part. But this part that each individual is supposed to take responsibility for is so small compared to the scale of what is needed. The responsibility must not be with the individual when we’re suffering from decisions by global corporations aiming to get rich quick.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Paradise O.D. Feat. Hatis Noit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Lucid
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Addicted
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Steady
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Soft Rains
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Resistance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. PNK
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Persistence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Nothing To Undo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Peter Harris / Fritz Catlin / Lee Scratch Perry

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mercy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “One of the most compelling and complex releases of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s post-Black Ark canon, Mercy is the fruit of a long and complex working process that has yielded exceptional results. Spearheaded by the maverick artist and musical outlier Peter Harris with Fritz Catlin, the drumming co-founder of industrial funk dub act, 23 Skidoo, Mercy’s experimental sonic occupies its own space.” David Katz (People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee “Scratch” Perry).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “I always saw Lee as a performance artist rather than a musician in the traditional sense, so this conceptual backing feels like a more accurate setting for his stream of conscious performance art,” Peter Harris explained. “There is an attention to Lee’s history here too, something that elevates the musical collage with the echoes informed by albums like Super Ape where earlier tracks were recorded over again. In ‘Big Fish,’ the lyrics pay homage to Bob Marley’s ‘Small Axe’ and the tune references Perry’s version of ‘Sugar Sugar,’ which he recorded with the Silvertones.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Although the structure might seem chaotic, the songs were crafted over a long period of time and the approach was the same as making a painting, where foundations are worked on then painted over and over until it is full wrested.” Nathan Saoudi (founder Dash The Henge/Fat White Family) boils it down. “It’s kind of quintessential outsider music - I can’t explain what they are doing, but they have a why, and that’s enough. That’s why I needed to get involved.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1 Whale:Fisherman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2 This Is Hell
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3 Tiny Victory
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4 Promised Land
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5 Big Fish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6 Devilish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7 Clutch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8 Reggae Poison 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Gnod & White Hills

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Drop Out III

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Manchester’s Gnod and New York’s White Hills stand as titans of Psychedelic & Space Rock. Together they bend the very notions of what rock can do, seemingly suspending our sense of time. Their alchemical chemistry and a fateful session at the Dropout Studio in Camberwell gave rise to the legendary, ongoing series of records under the moniker 'Drop Out'. The records became an influential and sprawling series of extended pieces that remain touchstones of contemporary psychedelia. Having been called “absolutely essential,” “best I have heard – ever,” “A masterpiece,” the Drop Out series finally gets its definitive edition.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Drop Out III' is a wholly new iteration of Gnod & White Hills’ collaboration, the “director’s cut,” if you will. 'Drop Out III' is replete with sounds recorded in the “Drop Out era” that have never been heard before. The double LP features a cornucopia of expanded versions of essential songs complete with new arrangements, mixes, and instrumentation. Classics like 'Run-A-Round' and the eponymous 'Drop Out' maintain their motorik drive and fizzing melodies with a new shine. The set also features a full LP of pieces never before included on vinyl, including the beautifully serene 'Air Streams' in its original droning arc. The album comes with a download of a full album’s worth of bonus material, all crafted around the 'Drop Out' era. White Hills’ “Decorating Time” showcases the depth of the band’s subtlety, rich with minute turns and a twist of psychedelic ambience. “Nothing NEU! Under the Sky” captures the invigorating pulse and dynamics of Gnod’s live performances. Together, this expansive body of work epitomizes the sense of possibility each band exudes, and the potency of their expertly crafted brand of Transatlantic psychedelia.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15 years after the series began, 'Drop Out III' is an essential album for lovers of contemporary psychedelic rock, a testament to the power of this collaboration.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Drop Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Run-A-Round
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Wellhang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Spaced Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Elka
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Undressing Time
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Air Streams
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Unify

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Don Leisure

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Tyrchu Sain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Don Leisure has cemented his name as one of the most forward-thinking and experimental beatmakers & producers within the current musical ecosystem. As well as being 50% of Darkhouse Family (alongside Earl Jeffers) he has collaborated with the likes of Angel Bat Dawid, Gruff Rhys, DJ Spinna and First Word label-mates Amanda Whiting & Tyler Daley (Children of Zeus). Garnering serious support from Lauren Laverne, Tom Ravenscroft, Huw Stephens, Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan, The Vinyl Factory, Clash, Uncut and many more. Following the release of ‘Cynnau Tân (feat. Carywyn Ellis)’ (which gained support across BBC Radio from Tom Ravenscroft, Zakia & Huw Stephens) Welsh beatmaker Don Leisure announces the release of a new album ‘Tyrchu Sain’) as he returns with a new single ‘Tyrchu’ due for release on 22nd January 2025. ‘Tyrchu’ features the soft-spoken vocal stylings of Gruff Rhys over a gently rolling, tape saturated and expertly chopped instrumental, creating (in Gruff’s own words) ‘Shiny new beat-treasures with ghostly reflections of Welsh pop’s past - skillfully dug from Sain Records’ deepest veins’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A dedicated student of music, over the years, Don has amassed a vast encyclopaedic knowledge of music genres and subcultures, including a fascination with Welsh psychedelic folk music from the mid-20th century. This introduction was made by respected musician, producer & selector Andy Votel’s 2005 two-part compilation series ‘Welsh Rare Beat’ (in collaboration with Gruff Rhys and Don Thomas), comprising twenty-five tracks from Sain Records’ back catalogue. Now the oldest independent record label in Wales, Sain is a wildly influential bastion of home-grown Welsh talent, co-founded by Welsh-language folk singer Dafydd Iwan, whose music has seen a cultural resurgence in recent years with his 1983 song Yma o Hyd (We’re Still Here) becoming a huge anthem for Wales football fans. Set up in the Welsh capital, many of Sain’s early releases were recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouthshire, but in the early 1970s the record company moved to the Caernarfon area and opened their first recording studio in 1974 near Llandwrog. Announcing a huge digitisation project throughout 2024, Sain Records took on the mammoth task of painstakingly digitising their entire back catalogue spanning 55 years, working in partnership with the National Library of Wales the resulting archive then be submitted for to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, preserving them for future generations to enjoy. Taking this period of rediscovery as an opportunity to reimagine their impressive inventory, Sain invited Don Leisure to dig into their musical treasure chest, creating a sprawling sonic tapestry from the dusty gems within. On this exhilarating excursion, Sain Records founder Dafydd Iwan explains: ‘Imagine someone gave you access to over 50 years of Welsh popular music – almost all of it unknown to you before. It would be a strange experience of discovery, an unknown territory which could baffle and excite. This happened to Jamal (Don Leisure) – and he was captivated by a world of music he barely knew existed, and when he was asked to distill the experience into one album, he immediately warmed to the idea. And this is the result – a kaleidoscope of sounds to encapsulate a half century of Welsh music. To call it unique would be superfluous: no-one could ever recreate this album. Listen, and enjoy.’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The resulting product is ‘Tyrchu Sain' (translating to ‘Digging Sain’), a fearless and exploratory album, which sees Don put his signature unparalleled and unpredictable skills to work, weaving together moments of forgotten beauty into celestial and otherworldly compositions. The record features appearances by artists from Wales who have a similar obsession as Don Leisure in these classic Welsh rarities including Gruff Rhys, Carwyn Ellis, Earl Jeffers Amanda Whiting and Boy Azooga. A shimmering patchwork quilt of sound, ‘Tychru Sain’ traverses a shifting landscape of acid folk, eerie vocal melodies and interstellar soundscapes, propelled forth by crisp, head nod-inducing drums and grainy textures. Breathing new life into compositions lost to time, and paving a path for new listeners to discover the magic that lies within.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Y Dechrau (feat. Boy Azooga, Jessy Allen, Earl Jeffers, Andy Brown & Amanda Whiting)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Chware Teg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Thema Osian
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Tyrchu (feat. Gruff Rhys)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Dŵr Y Mynydd
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Geiriau
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Tynged
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Trac Piano
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Cynnau Tân (feat. Carwyn Ellis)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Anturiaethau Pellach Capten Idole
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Pino Ar Y Bâs!! (feat. Darkhouse Family)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Brân Swît
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Thema Nia (Ahmed)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. Sidan Torri
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Erlid Y Ddraig
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. Dwyrain Cymru
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    17. Un I Dewi (feat. Andy Brown)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    18. Maen Llia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    19. Tad A Mab (feat. Dafydd Brynmor Davies)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    20. Diolch A Nos Da (feat. Dafydd Iwan)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Prism Shores

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Out From Underneath

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Prism Shores are Montreal janglers with one foot planted in ramshackle C86-indebted indie pop and the other in the shimmer of early English shoegaze. Their sound is reminiscent of perennial genre reference points (Sarah, Creation, Flying Nun) while leaving its own idiosyncratic stamp.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'Out From Underneath' finds the band widening their sonic palette by combining live-to-tape performances with atmospheric overdubbing and studio experimentation, confidently settling into more ambitious textures and arrangements. Lyrically, the album tackles young adult ennui and the adjustment of settling in an unfamiliar city, detailing the growing pains experienced during a time of upheaval. It is contemplative and chock-full of emotional depth — a nighttime album that channels self-reflexive melancholy into some form of catharsis.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Overplayed My Hand
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Holding Pattern
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Southpaw
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Tourniquet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Killing Frost
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Sudden Sting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Fault Line
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Weightless
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Drawing Conclusions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Unravel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Heather Nova

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Breath And Air

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Heather Nova’s 13th album, "Breath and Air" is a collection of evocative songs that are rich in melody, lyric and arrangement, with Heather's signature vocal as strong and ethereal as ever. The album enfolds you in a timeless atmosphere; Inviting you to forget everything for a moment, while simultaneously coming home to yourself.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        "As I get older I notice I have repeated patterns my whole life, even the ones that don't serve me: Thought patterns, relationship patterns…. We repeat the cycles until we truly learn what our core wounds are and how to heal them. Songwriting in itself is a search for meaning and clarity about ourselves and the world we inhabit."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Heather wrote the songs on "Breath and Air" over the past 2 years and spent 4 weeks in the Devon countryside (UK) holed up in an enchanting studio with Chris Bond (Ben Howard) putting down the tracks.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        "It was mostly just the 2 of us, with Midori Jaeger coming down from London for a few days to play her beautiful cello. Out the window was a field. I would watch the light change there throughout the day. There was a rare albino pheasant that would come and go. I took it as a good sign!"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Breath and Air, Ebbs and Flows, Butterflies and Moths: these are some of the titles of the songs: "The duality of nature and of being alive is something I explore in my songs. Two things can be true at the same time - that's something I came to realise as I got older. Accepting and balancing this duality is what leads to a deeper understanding of relationships. We can't have light without dark, we can't have joy without pain. Simple stuff, but I constantly need to remind myself.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A lot of the songs are about love and loss and longing. Repeating themes through my life - the search for wholeness, healing and meaning. I keep coming back and looking at it from different angles, through time and through music. It's an ongoing journey that shows no sign of reaching a destination. My songs are documents of that journey"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Phil Cook

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Appalachia Borealis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In the Fall of 2022, Phil Cook found himself living alone in a small home at the edge of field and forest in North Carolina’s Piedmont. For most of Cook’s life he lived near the hearts of the towns he had called home, near the groan of traffic and hubbub of coffee shops. Such close quarters helped make the gregarious Cook a prolific collaborator, from co-founding Megafaun to working with The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger, and endless others. But Cook’s closest neighbor now was a trailhead, so he went and listened, enraptured first by the stillness and then by the manifold birds. He began leaving his windowsill slightly cracked each night, so that the dawn chorus greeted him. Cook began recording these tangled bird songs, and he slowly joined them. With the sun finally high, Cook would listen to the day’s recordings and improvise in real time on the instrument that remains the first and most steadfast love of his musical life, the piano.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          When Cook left that cabin after a year, he moved into a home of his own in Durham, with plenty of space for his two boys to play and for something he’d never actually owned—a proper piano. Over the next several months, Cook spent untold hours drilling down on these pieces. During lessons with the Southern gospel great Chuckey Robinson, the pianist had challenged Cook to sustain fewer notes, to stop clouding and crowding his melodies by using the instrument’s pedals as crutches. His music suddenly had more clarity, with the sounds and the feelings they ferried given more room to function. Cook dug into the danger and delight, into the idea that we twist our bodies into knots trying to understand what is best for our hearts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In April 2024 Cook returned to Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley where he was raised. His lifelong friend and bandmate, Justin Vernon, had just finished an overhaul of April Base, the studio compound where Cook has worked on more than a dozen records during the last 15 years. Cook asked Vernon to produce Appalachia Borealis as simply as possible—merely to listen and offer feedback in two extended afternoon sessions, to talk about the right takes and make sure that they’d captured the heart. It, of course, got more complicated, as they experimented with the process. Vernon would add or subtract the bird songs to Cook’s headphones, seeing how they impacted his playing. Or they would route his notes through a massive reverb chamber, Cook responding in gossamer improvisations. Appalachia Borealis is a deeply poignant and personal set of 11 piano meditations, built with the emotional range of a full and open existence. Inspired by those windowsill improvisations, it reflects not only the turmoil and sadness of a fraught time for Cook but also the hope, light, and joy of looking for the other side. You can sometimes still hear the birds whose tune and time helped to inspire so many of these songs. Even when they’re not within earshot, their essence remains.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Rise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Running
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Two Hands In My Pocket
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Wescott
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Thrush Song
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. I Made A Lovers Prayer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Dawn Birds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Buffalo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Reliever
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Ambassador Cathedral
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Appalachia Borealis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Lottery Winners

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          KOKO

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Welcome to ‘KOKO’, Lottery Winners’ most adventurous album, while also home to their most infectious songs yet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Short for Keep On Keeping On, ‘KOKO’’s 12 captivating tracks include a beautiful ode to friendship, a deliriously catchy duet with Reverend And The Makers’ Jon McClure about being unhealthily obsessed with your ex, a literally escapist chantalong funk anthem, a power ballad featuring Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, a tender song of regret, plus the most uplifting, celebratory songs about panic attacks, ADHD and being expelled from school you’ll ever hear. There’s even a dance routine.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Following on from The Lottery Winners’ third album ART (Anxiety Replacement Therapy) reached No 1 in May 2023, this is set to be another big release.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Superpower
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            You Again (Feat. Reverend And The Makers)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Panic Attack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            UFO
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Ragdoll (Feat. Chad Kroger)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Struggling

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side B

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Turn Around
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Monaco
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Three Wishes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Dirt And Gold (Feat. Frank Turner)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Ceiling (Feat. Shed Seven
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Keep On Keeping On

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Bonus 7” - Dinked Edition Only
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side A // Letter To Myself (Again)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side B // Belong (Demo)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Guy Hamper Trio Feat. James Taylor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Goddess Tree

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Guy Hamper Trio was formed by Billy Childish, after a chat with his friend James Taylor (Hammond organ). Billy and James had played respectively in The Milkshakes and The Prisoners, often sharing the same bill in the early 80's, leading to Billy's blues ensemble The Natural Born Lovers being the support act for the early shows of The James Taylor Quartet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Guy Hamper Trio is: Billy Childish on guitar, his wife Julie on bass and Wolf on drums - who as it happens was the drummer in the original incarnation of JTQ - and of course features James Taylor on Hammond organ.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Guy Hamper Trio provide a bottom end, Blues-influenced instrumental mayhem for those unafraid of dirt, germs and true grime. With no particular wish other than to be recognised as the best at playing badly, they refuse to obey the usual rules of combat and music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              This long playing record proves that The Guy Hamper Trio and James Taylor are a perfect team. The fourth in this ‘series’ of finely crafted compositions, listen out for several tracks also featuring Bash Brand and Tub Johnson as stand in rhythm section (in effect Thee Headcoats). Let’s hope there’s plenty more from the leaders in jazz/pop mayhem!



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Bo Pug
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Shapes Of Things
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. The Goddess Tree
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. The Cuckoo's Cuckoo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. If The River Was Whiskey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. 2 Minutes From 10am
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Chatham's Burning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Rock All The While
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. The Magpie's Flown
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. For Your Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. I'll Carve Your Name
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. Modern Terms Of Abuse

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Jeffrey Lewis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The EVEN MORE Freewheelin' Jeffrey Lewis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                'The EVEN MORE Freewheelin’ Jeffrey Lewis' was recorded in just four days in Nashville, by Roger Moutenot (long-time producer of Yo La Tengo, and the previous Jeffrey Lewis album Bad Wiring), and features the Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage touring band of Brent Cole on drums, Mem Pahl on bass and Mallory Feuer on violin and keyboard. Jeffrey’s style of “anti-singing” continues to reach for the humanity behind the artifice, mirroring the nudity of the album cover. Speaking of which: One snowy February day in 1963, Bob Dylan and Suze Rotolo were photographed in New York City for the cover of 'The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan' LP, around the corner from Dylan’s 4th Street apartment. 60 years later, lifelong 4th St resident Jeffrey Lewis had the idea to try to take the same chilly photo but with no pants on, to prove himself “even more” freewheelin’ than Bob! This plan was foiled by global warming, as New York City winters no longer offer snowy street photo ops, but at least Jeffrey tried.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Do What Comes Natural
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Movie Date
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. DCB & ARS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Sometimes Life Hits You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Tylenol PM
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Just Fun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Relaxation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Inger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. 100 Good Things
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. The Endless Unknown

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Krautrock Eruption

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Agree to disagree: A selected Krautrock discography

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Krautrock, what is it anyway? A genre, a derogative term, a song by Faust, … or: a welcome (and recurring) opportunity to talk about all of this. The music associated with the term in question has eagerly been canonized. From the enthusiastic and idiosyncratic ramblings of Julian Cope’s 'Krautrocksampler' to encyclopaedic approaches like Alan and Stephen Freeman’s 'Crack in the Cosmic Egg', there are plenty of books to read and lists to discuss: Who’s in, who isn’t? The quarrels and disputes surrounding the terms "Krautrock" and "Kosmische Musik" are a testament to their enduring relevance and fascination. I won’t get into the weeds discussing how to separate one from the other – for all those who do want to, the book 'Krautrock Eruption' by Wolfgang Seidel addresses some of those questions. In this book, you will find an annotated discography of fifty albums. Out of these fifty, we are presenting an even narrower selection of tracks from twelve albums on this compilation. Lists and compilation track listings inevitably see tracks missing and being left out. In our case, the compilation was produced in cooperation with the label Bureau B and therefore has a partial focus on some of their back catalogue. That said, the list is meant to inspire repeated or further listening, to spark discussions and – potentially – to provoke new lists, perhaps your own! It’s all part of the fun. Music is made for enjoyment in the first and for friendly debate in the second place, after all.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Conrad Schnitzler - Ballet Statique
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Faust - I’ve Heard That One Before/Watch Your Step
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Eno Moebius Roedelius - Foreign Affairs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Harald Grosskopf - Emphasis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Cluster - 21:32 (bureau B Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Moebius & Plank - Rastakraut Pasta
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Roedelius - Glaubersalz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Pyrolator - Minimal Tape 3/7.2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Riechmann - Himmelblau (bureau B Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Kluster - Kluster 2 (Electric Music) (bureau B Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Günter Schickert - Apricot Brandy II (bureau B Edit)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. Asmus Tietchens - Falter-Lamento

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Horse Meat Disco Presents: Disco & Boogie From Brazil Vol. 1

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13 years in the making, Mr Bongo proudly presents a new compilation of beloved Brazilian disco and boogie finds from the legendary London disco connoisseurs, Horse Meat Disco

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A labour of love, it showcases a tantalising cross- section of disco, funk, boogie, samba and MPB, from past to present. Unearthing tracks from the seemingly endless gold mine of Brazilian gems, the compilation features legends such as Jorge Ben, Gretchen, Marcos Valle and Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti, alongside unsung heroes including Ze Carlos and Carlos Bivar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Over 20 years ago, the Horse Meat Disco crew (James Hillard, Severino Panzetta, Jim Stanton and Luke Howard) began their weekly residency at Eagle London back in 2003. That same year, Luke made his first visit to Brazil, beginning a musical love affair that is still going strong. "I had always wanted to go to Brazil since I was a kid, and when I finally had the opportunity to go with Princess Julia, I was just blown away. I've visited Rio every year since 2003, and in that time, I've learned Portuguese and tried to discover as much as I can about Brazilian music and popular culture. I learned to dance samba with the Paraiso School of Samba in London and paraded three times at Rio Carnival. Brazilian music was a brand- new world for me to explore and get excited about--a whole universe of genius musicians, singers, and styles." 9 years later, Mr Bongo invited Luke down to their Brighton HQ for a listening session of some of his favourite Brazilian boogie and disco 7" finds. A compilation was greenlit, but multiple licensing delays and the release of other HMD compilations meant that it lay dormant for years. Fast forward to 2024, and with the help of esteemed, Rio based record collector Tee Cardaci, along with suggestions from HMD's James Hillard, the dream of an HMD Brazilian compilation finally materialised.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It's a carefully curated collection that includes the electronic-boogie/italo-disco-esque 1984 groover 'Venha (Remix)' by the singer Ze Carlos, two cuts by Luiza Maura taken from her sought- after Deixa Girar 7", and Gretchen's sultry 'Ela Tem Raca, Charme, Talento E Gostosura' written by Jorge Ben. At its core, this compilation captures the excitement and sense of discovery that won over Horse Meat Disco's heart more than 20 years ago.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A vibrant mix of feel-good favours, it homes in on a sun-soaked strand of disco and boogie that has been enriched with the spirit of a nation where music serves as a central pillar of life.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Harmony Cats - Harmony Cats' Theme
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Luiza Maura - Sorriso Vermelho
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Gretchen - Ela Tem Raca, Charme, Talento E Gostosura
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Coisa Quente - Edmundo (In The Mood)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Ze Carlos - Venha (Remix)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti - Suspira
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Os Carbonos - Passaro Selvagem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. San Rodrigues - Fofa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Marcos Valle - Parabens (Danca Do Daniel)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Lafayette - Sol De Verao
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Roberto Cesar - Fevereiro (O Bamba)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Arlete - Quero Ser Sua Mulher
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. Waldirene - Queima Como Fogo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. Luiza Maura - Deixa Girar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Jorge Ben - Rio Babilonia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. Carlos Bivar - Elo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Edwyn Collins

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Edwyn Collins is back with his 10th solo album, 'Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Out on his own AED Records, the 11-track album was recorded at his Clashnarrow Studio in Helmsdale,North East Scotland and was co-produced by Edwyn with Sean Read & Jake Hutton, who all play on the album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      It's a beautifully melancholic album, pulling on Edwyn’s long standing influences everything from rock’n’roll to country and through to Northern soul. Edwyn has always had his own distinct style from his playfully eloquent Orange Juice days and on into his solo career. His stroke in 2005 naturally changed both his songwriting and delivery: He lost his speech completely for a period and since then his songs have been lyrically more direct as he has adjusted to his new limitations. But this directness and his distinct vocal delivery make this album all the more poignant, reflecting as it does, on his life and all the changes and challenges he’s faced but along with the melancholy, there’s optimism too, a feeling that love and perseverance can and will prevail.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Perfectly displaying Collins' mastery of thoughtful, melancholic jangle, his tenth studio album 'Nation Shall Speak...' is rich with beautifully warm melodies and his crisp distinctive vocals. Folky without being slow, and contemplative without being drab, Collins swims through a beautiful selection of indie-adjacent anthems.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Knowledge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Paper Planes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. The Heart Is A Foolish Little Thing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. The Mountains Are My Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Strange Old World
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Sounds As A Pound
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. The Bridge Hotel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. A Little Sign
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. It Must Be Real
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Rhythm Is My Own World

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Coyote

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Wailing To The Yellow Dawn

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        In the words of Hamlin Garland....I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees. The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets. It has given me blessed release from care and worry and the troubled thinking of our modern day. It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful. Whenever the pressure of our complex city life thins my blood and benumbs my brain, I seek relief in the trail; and when I hear the Coyote wailing to the yellow dawn, my cares fall from me - I am happy. Coyote wail away all your troubles. Their dub sensibilities to the fore and supported by ambient textures and chunky bounding percussive rhythms. Another unique listening experience from the IIB overlords.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mine says: Coyote are back with more lush, dubbed out downtempo beats, conjuring up vast landscapes from the comfort of your own sofa.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Side 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. "Is It Real"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. "Zen Sponge"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. "Naturally"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Side 2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. "We Did Okay"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. "Misty Start"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. "That's Life"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Circuit Des Yeux

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Halo On The Inside

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Experimental composer and world class vocalist Circuit des Yeux (Haley Fohr) will release ‘Halo on the Inside,’ her adventurous new album on March 14th, marking a thrilling new era for the celebrated artist. Less a departure than an evolution, ‘Halo on the Inside' finds Fohr channelling the dark orchestral folk of her previous work through the prismatic lens of dark-wave and industrial music, creating a sound that maintains the poetic heart of her songwriting while pulling it through new worlds & sonic textures.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: Circuit des Yeux brings together beautifully the worlds of tentative, brittle acoustic guitar and anthemic gothic rock. It's wonderfully athletic, with Fohr's voice beautifully riding atop the underlying instrumental waves, and extremely impactful throughout. Hugely unique in both atmosphere and performance.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Megaloner
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Canopy Of Eden
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Skeleton Key
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Anthem Of Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Cosmic Joke
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Cathexis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Truth
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Organ Bed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. It Takes My Pain Away

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jim Ghedi

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Wasteland

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            On his new album Wasteland, Jim Ghedi has created something huge. Intense, brooding, bold, at times apocalyptic, and remarkably vast. A profoundly bold sonic statement that is some of the most rich, far-reaching and ambitious work that Ghedi has created to date - pushing the boundaries of what folk music can be in 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Wasteland is a record that is unafraid to plunge into the darkness of the modern world and embrace the weirder, edgier and more unnerving moments that come from doing so. It is an album that captures all the enormity of life from the micro to the macro, zooming in on the personal as well reflecting on broader societal issues.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Wasteland is about the idea of a place once known or familiar that is now broken down and unrecognisable,” says Ghedi. “It’s about exploring the process of watching someone’s surroundings and environment collapse.” And within that you have a lot going on. “It also explores death, personal loss, grief, mental health and how the natural world provides solace and meaning for that loss and how these worlds blur into one another.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Ghedi has always been an artist that in many ways perfectly encompasses folk music in its purest form but he is also someone that frequently pushes the boundaries of that label and no more so is that apparent than on this record. As like previous albums, such as 2018’s A Hymn for Ancient Land and 2021’s In the Furrows of Common Place, Ghedi uses traditional folk songs as a means to explore contemporary issues via modern and experimentally-leaning music. “With the traditional material on this album I wanted to find songs with content that resonated with me,” says Ghedi. “But also that were based roughly around the north of England.” This is a central underlying theme to the album for Ghedi. The feelings of loss, erosion, and degradation are often most pronounced in working class communities and this was something he wanted to weave in. “It was important to voice and choose material that represented or expressed issues that correlated with things going on around me.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            However, as remarkable as some of the traditional material is, some of the most arresting work on the album is Ghedi’s entirely original compositions. Lead single ‘Wasteland’ is a stunning piece of work that while rooted in an environment being corrupted and broken – “there’s violence on these hills” Ghedi sorrowfully sings, before claiming this is no longer somewhere that can be called home – it is also a stirringly beautiful composition that soars and glides as it opens up, as sweeping strings swoop and in and out of Ghedi’s twangy electric guitar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The decision to incorporate more fuller sounds, such as electric guitar and huge drums, results in a notable shift and evolution in tone for Ghedi. “The lyrical content needed something more band-driven and loud to deliver them,” he explains. “Incorporating the electric guitar in my songwriting was also a big part of opening the sound up, using drop tunings pushed me to use my voice in a wider range, which forced me to use falsetto a lot which I haven’t previously done before. That then opened the sound up and gave me creative ideas for bigger arrangements and to sonically really push things.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Recorded over 2 years at Tesla Studios in Sheffield, with David Glover engineering and producing, it also features a wide cast of musicians such as David Grubb (fiddle), Daniel Bridgwood-Hill (fiddle), Neal Heppleston (bass), Joe Danks (drums), Dean Honer from I Monster (synths), Cormac MacDiarmada from Lankum (vocals), Ruth Clinton from Landless (vocals) and Amelia Baker from Cinder Well (vocals).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            What Ghedi has done in creating his masterpiece is construct a remarkable space where deeply intimate and personal feelings coexist with reflections on environment, place and society, while also interweaving historical context via traditional songs. Wasteland is as much of a world to explore and exist in as much as it is an album, with Ghedi carving out his distinctly unique sonic language and voice to explore that singular environment.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: A beautifully evocative, bucolic album that's as grand as it is intricate. Wisps of melody and slow building crescendos break into barely audible water droplets or a toppling, powerful waterfall. Constantly surprising, endlessly enthralling and unsurprisingly beautiful.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Old Stones
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. What Will Become Of England
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Newtondale / Blue John
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Wasteland
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Just A Note

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Sheaf & Feld
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Hester
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. The Seasons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Wishing Tree
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Trafford Road Ballad

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Slow Readers Club

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Out Of A Dream

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A kaleidoscopic collection of 10 songs spanning dark but danceable guitar pop, euphoric electro and low-fi introspective ballads. Lyrics explore themes of self-identity and the notion of truth in a bewildering world where our lives are lived increasingly online. A collection of abstract visions that question reality, celebrate love and long for connection. The Slow Readers Club announce the release of their upcoming seventh album, Out Of A Dream following a run of largely sold-out UK & Ireland Tour dates at the tail end of this year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Bright dancefloor electronic indie business from Slow Club on their latest epic, 'Out Of A Dream'. Gritty distorted chords and brittle, paddling guitar arpeggios swarm around beneath the haunting, otherworldly vocals. Beautifully produced too, a pop-indie triumph.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A1 Technofear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A2 Animals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A3 Little White Lies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A4 Dear Silence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A5 Know This I Am
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B6 Boy So Blue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B7 Pirouette
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B8 Puppets
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B9 Loved You Then
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B10 Our Song Is Sung

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Throwing Muses

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Moonlight Concessions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ‘Moonlight Concessions’ goes back to basics, a return for Throwing Muses to their esoteric off-kilter best courtesy of Kristin’s pin-sharp sketches and their suitably abrasive musical arrangements. The album follows their acclaimed ‘Sun Racket’ from 2020, a heady set filled with tough and tender tales spiked with surreal imagery.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Produced by Kristin Hersh at Steve Rizzo's Stable Sound Studio in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, ‘Moonlight Concessions’ is a collection of snippets from everyday life writ large - think Raymond Carver Short Cuts, overheard conversations, recounted happenings and telling one-liners, all sewed together to illustrate the times as they slowly mature, fully peppered with original Muses’ vim and vigour.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ‘Drugstore Drastic’ is a kerbside soliloquy caught en route to a more alluring rendezvous. Built on a brisk acoustic strum with a guitar sub-melody underpinning proceedings, it’s an unfolding tale of social awareness from a blurred sub-conscious. ‘Summer Of Love’ began as a bet with a guy for a dollar that revolved around the idea that the seasons don’t change us. The album opener, it’s a haunting baroque overture, bowed and brooding. ‘Libretto’s strings offset the acoustic ambience, the hot and cold of longing at the very heart of it, a thematic driver filed with warmth in a safe haven lubricated by tequila.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Written in the differing South Coast environs of The Gulf Of Mexico and Southern California, ‘Moonlight Concessions’ pulls from the star clusters that light both, generating optimism and hope in varying degrees. Hersh explains, “In New Orleans the stars look greenish-blue, as it’s below sea level and swamp-lit. But on Moonlight Beach, they glow icy white. All these songs were written in these two glowy places, which helped our sonic technique find itself.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: Guttoral baritone guitar passages and drunkenly staggering drum loops sit beneath the Shellac-adjacent instrumental harmonies and Hersch's distinctive, perfectly engaged vocals. Hazy, half-remembered fever dreams, rendered by a unique musical voice.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Summer Of Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. South Coast
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Theremini
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Libretto
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Albatross.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Sally's Beauty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Drugstore Drastic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. You're Clouds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Moonlight Concessions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Steven Wilson

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Overview

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Steven Wilson releases his eighth studio album, 'The Overview'. The two track, forty-two-minute album is his most audacious to date, inspired by the “overview effect” experienced by astronauts looking back at the Earth from space.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'The Overview' sees Wilson return to expansive, progressive music, a genre he helped redefine and repopularise with both his solo and Porcupine Tree releases. The two wildly ambitious tracks are each made up of distinctive musical sections that flow from one to the other, playing out as unique and continuous pieces. Wilson’s 21st-century progressive music updates the classic ‘prog’ musical palette to incorporate everything from glistening electronics to post-rock and beyond, which brings the genre right into the beating heart of the current musical landscape.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: It's a thematically massive concept isn't it, the ol' space. The concept album also isn't something Wilson is averse to (If you haven't heard Porupine Tree's 'Sky Moves Sideways' or 'Up The Downstair' you need to) but rarely has his work been as overwhelmingly evocative and as beautifully poised as this. The Man's a genius.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Objects Outlive Us
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. The Overview

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Courting

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lust For Life, Or: 'How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story'

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Lust for Life, Or: How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story', is centred around duality. The intention is to bring together everything Courting have created thus far into a succinct, direct, record.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Each song on the album is 'twinned', with another, existing within the same type of world. Take for example the opening and closing bookends of the record, both featuring the same string melody but with the first serving as an orchestral introduction, and the second as a speeding dance punk track. Tracks 2 and tracks 8 interpolate the same drum and string samples but shift them into completely different beasts. The first sitting somewhere between 2010's dubstep and a noise band covering a small faces track, and the latter being a multi part, auto-tune crooning ballad with a striking saxophone solo. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The aim is clear as Courting balance the indie & pop songwriting of their previous records with their most experimental moments, each detail more refined than the last time.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: Tastefully lurching between angular, funk-adjacent garage rock and anthemic pop-punk, Courting's sound has never been so meticulously balanced and as seamlessly smooth as this. A band keen to defy convention, the juxtaposition of these pieces is as fascinating as their fluidity and variety.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Rollback Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Stealth Rollback
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Pause At You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Namcy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Eleven Sent (This Time)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. After You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Lust For Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Likely Place For Them To Be
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Rollback Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Stealth Rollback
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Pause At You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Namcy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Clipping.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Dead Channel Sky

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      On 'Dead Channel Sky', Clipping texture-map the twin histories of hip-hop and cyberpunk onto an alternate present where Rammellzee and Bambaataa are the superheroes of old; where Cybotron and Mantronix are the reigning legends; where Egyptian Lover and Freestyle are debated endlessly, and Ultramag and Public Enemy are the undeniable forefathers; where the lost movements of 1980s and the 1990s are still happening: rave, trip-hop, hip-house, acid house, drum & bass, big beat—the detritus of a different timeline, the survivors of armed audio warfare. Clipping are no strangers to sci-fi: two of their records were nominated for Hugo Awards (one of science fiction’s top literary prizes), and a novella spun-off from their music was nominated for a third. On 'Dead Channel Sky', Clipping’s co-conspirators include everyone from the guitarist Nels Cline, to their labelmates Cartel Madras, rapper/actor Tia Nomore, and wordsmith Aesop Rock. Diggs is known for intricate lyrics and rapid-fire rapping, and the tracks that Snipes and Hutson build in the background are no less complex. All of the above serves to give us a glimpse of an adjacent possible present, where hip-hop and cyberpunk are one culture.Binary stars are often perceived as one object when viewed with the naked eye. Like those twin sun systems, it’ll take some special equipment and some discerning attention to pull the stars apart on this record. As Diggs barks on the fire-starting 'Change the Channel': Everything is very important!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: A blazing new transmission from raucous noise-hop electronic powerhouse, Clipping. Startling political and societal discourse atop snaps of industrial glitch and roaring, hi-nrg acid. A hell of a return.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Intro
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Dominator
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Change The Channel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Run It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Go
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Simple Degradation (Plucks 1-13) (with Bitpanic)*
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Code 8.Dodger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Malleus (with Nels Cline)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9.Scams (ft. Tia Nomore)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10.Keep Pushing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11."From Bright Bodies" (Interlude)*
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12.Mood Organ
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      13.Polaroids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      14.Simple Degradation (Plucks 14-18) (with Bitpanic)*
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      15.Madcap
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      16.Mirrorshades Pt. 2 (ft. Cartel Madras)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      17."And You Called" (Interlude)*
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      18.Welcome Home Warrior (ft. Aesop Rock)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      19.Ask What Happened

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      *CD-only

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimşek

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Yarin Yoksa

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Big Crown Records is proud to present Derya Yildirim & Grup Şimşek’s latest album 'Yarin Yoksa'. The show stopping intensity of Derya backed by the psychedelic soul of Grup Şimşek with production by Leon Michels has yielded a stand out record that challenges genre with a broad appeal and a powerful message.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        They refer to themselves as “outernational” over international as they say it suggests a sound that’s more inclusive or “beyond borders.” Derya, who sings and plays the bağlama, is German born to Turkish parents. Drummer Helen Wells is Berlin-based by way of South Africa while keyboard player Graham Mushnik and guitar/bass player Antonin Voyant are both French. The collective influences they bring to Anatolian music make for a completely unique and fresh sound that both pushes the genre forward and champions its rich heritage. 'Yarin Yoksa' which translates to If There Is No Tomorrow delves into deeply personal pain and collective resistance with a central thread of loss, longing, and hope for change running throughout. The lyrics are poetic and rely heavily on symbolic language, metaphors, and storytelling while the music shifts track to track making each tune stand out on its own but work together perfectly as an album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'Cool Hand', the first single released on Big Crown in September of 2024, is a beautiful juxtaposition of intensity and light-heartedness over a thoroughly infectious groove. The message is poetic and complicated, repeatedly declaring “I love you, I’m crazy about you” but ultimately finding a sense of peace through accepting a broken heart. “Direne Direne” is a protest song that embodies the struggle and tireless pursuit of justice encouraging people to resist oppression.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Derya’s lyrics soar over the psych-soul musical backdrop as her story of personal struggle transforms to a universal call for resilience and strength. The slow and weighty vibe of 'Yakamoz' lets onto the meaning of the lyrics even to those who don’t understand Turkish. It is a deeply moving song that captures the profound emotions connected to displacement and loss without knowing if you will ever return. The steady groove of the band, along with the anguished vocals paint a vivid picture of the devastation experienced by the protagonist who ultimately realizes that her roots are within her and anywhere she goes is her home.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Nine of the tunes on the album are original compositions but they also take on three Anatollian folk songs with their own inimitable approach. The acapella introduction of 'Misket', a folk song from Ankara/Türkiye, will stop you in your tracks. The tune deals with death and how the living cope and continue a relationship with those who have passed away. Another traditional tune from Sivas that they put their signature sound to is 'Hop Bico', a tune about a playful character named Bico who is a symbol of vitality and spirit. The synth intro grabs your ear from the first note and the earworm chorus encouraging Bico to lead the group in celebration and embrace life through dance has the same effect on everyone who hears it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The band has taken a big step forward that you can hear on this record. Derya’s passion and authenticity is front and centre and the music is too moving to deny. Yarın Yoksa is sure to captivate the hearts and minds of all those who hear it, and just wait till you hear them play it live…

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Airy, dynamic psychedelic music that's as rich in Turkish tradition as it is innovating beyond the confines of Turkish or even French or African music, which are both hinted at extensively here. It's beautifully paced, with soaring instruments and heady psychedelic vocals, and deep while undeniably uplifting.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Çiçek Açıyor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Cool Hand
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Yakamoz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Hop Bico
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Bilemedim Ki
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Yüz Yüze
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. İstanbul’un Kuşları
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Direne Direne
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Ceylan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Misket
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Güneş

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        WRWTFWW drop the first ever vinyl release of the highly-sought after original soundtrack from 1987 cult horror movie “Dolls” by multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, music man extraordinaire Fuzzbee Morse. The limited-edition LP is a miracle of lost-then-found VHS era film scores and is housed in a heavyweight 350gsm sleeve with a bloody cutout sticker and exclusive composer notes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Directed by Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Robot Jox...) and released by Charles Band’s infamous Empire Pictures (which later morphed into Full Moon Productions), “Dolls” is 80s campy VHS horror in all its glory, a fan-favorite with all the attributes needed for a frightening popcorn night, including one hell of a soundtrack with a very welcomed heavy dose of menacing synths, thunderous orchestrations, and quirky interludes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The haunting score comes from master Fuzzbee Morse who composed it in Richard Band’s garage with a Yamaha QX-1 sequencer, an arsenal of vintage synthesizers, and a wide array of instruments. The result is a must-have (and never released before!) soundtrack that blends horror tropes with influences ranging from Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring to Bernard Herrmann, Frank Zappa, Beethoven, Charles Ives and Eleanor Rigby!


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        - For fans of soundtracks, horror, cult, synth, ambient, classical, 80s, VHS, Charles Band, Full Moon Productions, Stuart Gordon, John Carpenter, b-movies, sci-fi, Gremlins, toys, evil toys, Toys R Us, the good old days, toys you can play with at 33rpm, Christmas presents.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        - First ever release for the soundtrack of cult horror movie Dolls (1987), with cut out sticker and composer notes.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: It's exactly as creepy as you'd think from looking at the sleeve, yes. What it also is though is a deliciously syrupy suite of syrupy 80's digital synthesis and wobbly FM pads. Lovely, Ciani-esque synth dreams (Isabel & Judy / Judy & Dolls). Ace.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A1. Main Title
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A2. Stuck
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A3. Teddy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A4. The House
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A5. The Basement
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A6. Judy And Dolls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A7. Mr. Punch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A8. Dark Hallways
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A9. Gabriel’s Workroom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A10. Toys For Us Kids
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A11. The Rooms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A12. Isabel And Judy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B1. The End Of Isabel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B2. The Dolls Attack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B3. So Long, Shortstuff
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B4. Toys Are Loyal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B5. Trapped
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B6. End Title

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Dark Entries welcomes back the Brussels brothers Jean-Marc and Pierre Pauly for this superb collection of B-sides and unreleased tracks. Formed in 1981, Parade Ground pioneered a more emotional take on their homeland's signature electronic body music sound by blending drum machines, icy synths and guitars with Jean-Marc's powerful vocals. The Hidden Side spans 1982 to 1989 and explores their cold, dark aesthetic from menacing coldwave tracks to danceable cuts like 'Hollywood (The Sexiest Fish') to magically melancholic freakouts like 'Looking Through Keyholes'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Mine says: On "The Golden Years", which has been repressed to coincide with the first time release of "The Hidden Side", Dark Entries unearth the Belgian post punk duos singles and big hits (if you can call them that) while this compilation focuses on their b-sides and previously unreleased tracks and is definitely darker/eerier than its companion... goths of the world unite!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. "Riddle In The Stained Glass Windows"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. "When The Fever Stops"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. "Looking Through Keyholes"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. "This Luxury"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. "The Net"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. "Snake"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. "Off Balance"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. "The Chosen One"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. "Hollywood (The Sexiest Fish)"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. "Marble Mind"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Speckman DJ & producer hailing from Hamburg. Co-founder of the tastemaking partyseries Dreamteam and resident at the legendary Golden Pudel Club is finally presenting his new album titled "Noisemaker" on Public Possession. His eclectic style as a DJ is perfectly represented by the music on the record, sitting comfortably between tech-house, indie, new rave and electronica; it could probably be best described as a pretty epic take on electroclash in a fully updated, reloaded 2025 version. Well executed party music with a nod to the past yet fully in the present and not taking itself too seriously. The mellow, deeper episodes are the topping on the bright, pink cake. Speckman is going to jump out of it and right at you. Find him soon in a DJ booth close to you, no matter if he is supporting The Dare on his EU Tour or holding controls at the Golden Pudel Club. It’s going to be wild and full of surprises.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Matt says: Nooiiice n tidy LP from the bar tender of the Golden Pudel who's absorbed bare talent from the rotating assembly of stars that have graced the club. Moving through synth, bass and house stylings with an effortless charm and silky finesse, Speckman comes through with what could be one of the biggest surprise hits of the year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A1) A Question (feat. Andreas Raser) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A2) All Again (feat. Maya Lempelius)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A3) Wet Fingers 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A4) Say What 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        A5) Hell Of A Night (feat. Yung Palo) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B1) Non Stop 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B2) A 2nd Question 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B3) The Sound 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B4) Rolling Back (feat. Andreas Raser) 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        B5) My Eyes (feat: Alexis) 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson & Sam Wilkes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes' is the debut album from Gregory Uhlmann (SML, Anna Butterss, Duffy x Uhlmann, Perfume Genius), Josh Johnson (SML, Jeff Parker ETA IVtet & New Breed, Meshell Ndegeocello, Anna Butterss, Leon Bridges), and Sam Wilkes (Sam Gendel, Louis Cole, Chaka Khan). The three improviser/arranger/producers' impressive individual credits encompass such a wide stylistic pendulum swing that a collection of group music from the trio could mine any number of musical territories with masterful results. In these 11 instrumental songs, the trio explores a spacious lyrical curiosity that could be described as a jazz-informed take on progressive electro-acoustic chamber music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Conceived during two live shows at ETA and a session at Uhlmann's house in Los Angeles, the album maintains a focus on beauty, melody, and rhythm as the pieces unfold, with the trio pushing their instruments and highly-dialed effects to sculpt otherworldly sounds with the collective sensibility of a rhythm section. The ethos of these instant compositions is arrangement-minded improvisation that showcases the mournful beauty of Uhlmann's fingerpicked electric guitar, the hybrid rhythm-lead of Wilkes' bass chording, and the textural harmonic world building of Johnson's effect-laden alto saxophone.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Marvis
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Fumarole
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Arpy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Frica
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Hoe Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Jicama
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Unsure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Fields
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Shwa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Rewinded
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. The Fool On The Hil

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Intrusion

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Seduction Of Silence [Remastered]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A timeless Echospace classic featuring Tikiman on vocals and Rhodes - coming up on nearly 20 years since the original release and the very first time this LP has collectively been available on wax (over 15 years since last in circulation).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          This edition was remastered to analog perfection from the Grammy award winning ears @Stardelta Mastering. Paying close attention to every finite detail - this album has never sounded so alive!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A multi-dimensional sound experience; it's like taking a swim in an analogue ocean and being immersed into the deepest end of the Mariana's Trench. Sonic Submersion of the Highest Order!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Credits:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Written & Produced by Steven Hitchell.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Vocal & Rhodes Performance by Paul St. Hilaire (Tikiman), courtesy of false tuned. Published by Basic Channel Publishing. (BCP)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Additional Mastering, Mixing and Engineering by Mark Richardson @ PrairieCat/Metropolis Mastering, Chicago, USA. (2007-2009)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Remastering and Lacquer cutting by Stardelta, UK. (2024)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Steven Hitchell & Tikiman?! What's not to like?! Completely essential for anyone with even a passing penchant for Rhythm & Sound's vast dubwise catalogue. The added dubbed-out ambient tracks cocoon the vocal tracks in sumptuous electro-static. Unmissable stuff.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A1. Montego Bay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A2: Twilight 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B1. Angel Version W/ Paul St. Hilaire 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B2: Seduction 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C1: Tswana Dub 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          C2: Reflection I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D1. Intrusion Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          D2: Little Angel W/Paul St. Hilaire 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          "Northern Michigan Snowstorms" is an auditory journey that captures the serene beauty and introspective magic of stormy winters nights in the countryside. Each track transports listeners to cozy cottages nestled in tall pines. Music that mirrors the serene solitude of a snowy evening, where time slows, allowing the listener to be enveloped in a cocoon of sonic wonder. Ambient layers mimic the gentle whispering of the wind through snow covered branches. Eight tracks of blurry loops, soft pads, and recordings of snowfall in the forest. An immersive experience designed to transport you to the hear of nature's winter wonderland, all white nestled in the comfort of your favorite retreat. Another monumental work by Detroit’s dub-techno / ambient pioneer: Rod Modell aka Deepchord.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: Suspended frozen soundscapes from the dub-techno innovator Deepchord, operating under his own name for this totally beatless ambient excursion. As you'd expect, it's as rich and as detailed as his more techno-orientated tracks - enveloping us in a rich sonic mist that takes you right into the heart of winter.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Au Train Bay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Naubinway
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Blaney Park
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Copper Harbor
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Epoufette
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Gwinn
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Brevort
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Snowstorm In Munising

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Anoushka Shankar

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Chapter III: We Return To Light

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Anoushka Shankar, the acclaimed sitar player, producer and composer, has confirmed details of the third and final instalment of the trilogy of mini-albums she began with Chapter I: Forever, For Now in October 2023, and followed by the GRAMMY-nominated Chapter II: How Dark it Is Before Dawn in April 2024.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ‘Three chapters, three geographies,’ Shankar scribbled in a diary at a café in Goa on New Year’s Day two years ago, manifesting an ambitious trilogy that she hoped would span multiple geographies with nods to her roots, across continents and collaborators. Looking back now, it’s safe to say that the 11-time GRAMMY Award nominee has outdone herself. Chapter I was recorded in Berlin acknowledging Shankar’s European heritage (she was born and lives in London), while Chapter II was captured in California, where she moved aged 11 and lived for over 15 years. Central to Chapter III is the mindfulness of India at the root of all her music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Shankar studied Indian Classical music in a deeply immersive fashion from her father Ravi Shankar. She also attended the British School in New Delhi as a kid. But it was only later as a teenager – when she found herself surrounded by friends from the music and fashion scene – that she forged more personal connections with the people and the land. This included a fascination for Goa Trance – India’s electronic music export to the rest of the world. In her twenties, Shankar escaped to the beach state to disappear from her touring and public life every New Year’s. She chased dance floor epiphanies in secret forest raves, participating with wild, youthful abandon, accompanied by its sibling feelings of positivity, hope, connection and joy. Think Inside Out: Millennial Goa Psy Edition.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            That sets the template for Chapter III, where Shankar also holds steadfast in her desire to work with a different producer on each mini-album. Here, that responsibility falls to London-based, Indian multi-instrumentalist Sarathy Korwar, one of the most original and compelling voices in the British jazz scene. Shankar also decided that Korwar would help to ground the release and round out the symbolism around working with the album’s third key collaborator, composer and sarod player Alam Khan, son of the famed Indian classical guru, Ali Akbar Khan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Let’s shift the weight of history out of the room first: Anoushka Shankar and Alam Khan belong to two of India’s most legendary – there’s really no other word for it – musical families. Their fathers, Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, were both renowned disciples of the legendary guru Baba Alauddin Khan (he is regarded as one of India’s greatest ever musicians). They trained side-by-side within the rigorous Maihar gharana tradition. Their electrifying, soul-stirring performances set a foundation in Indian music history, soundtracking the emergence of a fledgeling nation. Shankar and Khan established their own influential legacies, developing a unique vocabulary for their respective instruments.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Anoushka and Alam have witnessed this swirl of Indian classical and contemporary music history at close quarters. They’ve known, or at the very least, contemplated at an early age that this moment would arrive when they’d have to broach the C word (collaboration): think of it as a carefully nuanced coming-of-age musical narrative, at least in the eyes of their late fathers. Chapter III goes beyond the portraits of the spaces their fathers occupy. It’s circling back to and honouring their roots without being overshadowed by them.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Daybreak, the opening song, sets the joyful tone with its repeating grooves and rhythms, for the listener to really sit in that celebration. It’s the upward curve of an emotional cycle, moving into a new space where old triggers have lost their impact. Hiraeth, the first song the trio worked on together, features looping melodies and backwards sarod lines, an idea seeded by Khan and developed with Korwar and Shankar. For keen listeners, it features an Easter egg in the form of Raga Palas Kafi, created by Ravi Shankar. Similarly, Dancing on Scorched Earth sees the artists locking into each other’s rhythms, radiating a collective intensity built on a foundation of hypnotic simplicity. “I discovered my love of a POG pedal on this track to really enjoy that lower octave crunchiness on my sitar,” says Shankar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            On Chapter III, Shankar fully embraces these kinds of techniques. Looping and bending sound through technology has enabled her to add another dimension to her voice. Shankar has been pushing and reclaiming a distinctly Indo-futurist vision of the sitar. She operates outside of Western definitions of ‘neoclassical’ and even further away from sub-continental norms of ‘fusion’, a dated, catch-all banner for collaborative, experimental music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            We Burn So Brightly picks up the heat from Dancing on Scorched Earth – it’s the energy of alchemy that burns through the heat of the morning to bring about change through the act of dancing, shouting and movement. The trilogy closes with We Return to Love, based on one of Shankar’s favourite ragas, Manj Khamaj, played on a beautiful major scale with a twinge of nostalgia. It was made famous by Shankar and Khan’s fathers who famously concluded many concerts and recordings with it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            This is where the story ends, where the music returns to ancestral echoes while carving a path for modern Indian sounds, where all three artists step into a space of deep-rooted celebration. If the lasting image of Forever, For Now is the memory of that enchanting afternoon in Shankar’s garden, her son drowsy in her lap, We Return to Light’s final frame is of someone stepping out from a forest rave into the quietude of a shoreline. The feeling is a mix of nostalgia and renewal. It echoes Shankar’s journey through those Goa raves where all you could do was follow a sign and a person, except it’s now Shankar who is signposting the listener. In We Return to Light, our feet meet the water, marking the end of a journey, a return to love, and a place of rest—a perfect, radiant conclusion to the trilogy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Shankar hits a perfect mid-point between psychedelic, beat-driven Goa psytrance and propulsive indian dance music. With Sarathy Korwar at the helm, it's a perfectly relayed fusion that hits all the right receptors. Lovely.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. DAYBREAK
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. HIRAETH
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. DANCING ON SCORCHED EARTH
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. WE BURN SO BRIGHTLY
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. AMRITA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. WE RETURN TO LOVE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Loft

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Everything Changes, Everything Stays The Same

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Return Of The Loft!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Loft notched up an impressive list of firsts for Creation Records' artists back in the mid-80s. First Creation band on TV, first to hit the top of the indie singles chart, first to be invited on to a major UK tour and first Creation band to record a coveted BBC radio session - for Janice Long's Radio One show in 1984. Then they split up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Since that infamous onstage tragedy; splitting up mid-song, at the Hammersmith Palais in front of 3,000 people when on the verge of Big Time indie greatness, the band has reunited. Just as their status as one of the UK's most influential guitar bands of the 80s continues to grow and to influence a host of younger artists, and thirty nine years after that acrimonious split, it seemed the time was right to record their debut album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Last year, after a sell-out show at London's MOTH club and their heralded appearance at the Glas-Goes Pop festival, the group was invited by BBC 6 Music's 'Riley & Coe' to record its fourth BBC session, at Maida Vale's famous Studio 4. Within 6 months the session was rush released by Precious Recordings of London on glorious ten inch vinyl. Enter Hamburg based, Tapete Records, who, hearing rumours about new Loft material, snapped up the album and signed the band without hearing a single note.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The album was recorded in Hackney in August and produced by Dexys' Sean Read with the original Loft line up of Pete Astor (guitar /vocals) Andy Strickland (guitar), Bill Prince (bass) and Dave Morgan (drums).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Joni Void

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Every Life Is A Light

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Montréal producer and sound collagist Joni Void returns with their warmest and most welcoming album yet, wedding their sampledelic songcraft to rubbery and percolated downtempo beats. 'Every Life Is A Light' expands on Void’s recent stylistic turn towards more languorous and mellow lo-fi production, foreshadowed by the drifting looseness and ambient bricolage of their preceding experimental sound-art record. This transitional sensibility now shapes more defined song structures and styles, with loops are given time and space to unspool, and rhythms shot through the softer-focus lens of trip-hop and dub. 'Every Life Is A Light' swaps the twitchy insistence of Void’s acclaimed early albums for a newfound lightness and suppleness, still imbued with all the restlessness, sonic detailing, and emotional resonance that made their name. The neurotic broken machine kinetics of earlier Void, summarized by Sasha Geffen as “drawing despair and wonder from within the vast unfeeling of digital communication” in an 8.0 Pitchfork review, may be chilling out, but Void is becoming an ever better conjurer of hauntological feeling. 'Every Life Is A Light' summons this in a comparatively buoyant, benevolent, head-nodding journey more open to tenderness and modest joys. Perhaps it’s the sound of Void at greater peace with themselves and the world, despite the bittersweet cost: even as it channels grief, memorializing comrades and companions recently deceased, this album wants light.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Void’s raw materials continue to draw heavily from samples (their own Walkman cassette field recordings and songs by others) and from a wide community of musical guests. Vocalists Haco on 'Time Zone' and Ytamo on 'Cloud Level' help levitate what could be lost tracks from a mid-90s Too Pure Records compilation of skewed-lounge electronica. Canadian musician Sook-Yin Lee sings on lead single 'Vertigo', a sinewy 80bpm tape-loop and bassline groove propelled by psychedelically-layered lyrics that eventually turn the song in on itself entirely, like Grace Jones’ 'Nightclubbing' covered by Animal Collective. One of Void’s greatest hip-hop loves is the Ruby Yacht collective; charter member Pink Navel drops some brilliant verses on 'Story Board'. The album’s two minimal tracks, an extended piano loop set to a slow beat and shimmering electronics on 'Muffin–A Song For My Cat' and the languid sampled bass riff and breakbeat of 'Event Flow', are perhaps most overtly ‘lofi chill.’ Indeed the whole album could be said to sit adjacent to those viral (if not already AI-generated) genre trends, which maybe begs the question on a lot of our minds: can specificity and authenticity of musical materials still be heard, still meaningfully signify substance and difference, still matter? Perhaps a question that fades in comparison to the career break Void could catch by landing on generic streaming playlists. More likely, these tracks remain too off-kilter, too genuinely lo-fi and ineffable, and too disqualified by the status of its peasant rights-holders, to catch the algos. Context remains the poor cousin of content. Meanwhile Void marches on, as a tireless organizer of local music events, bouncing around and often living in DIY venue, depending on the latest apartment eviction. With an ubiquitous polaroid camera in tow, they also document each communal happening with a single shot (and often blinding flash bulb): a memory and metaphor for lives illuminated preciously, singularly, ‘imperfectly’ in the moment. Dozens of these polaroids adorn the album’s back cover and inner sleeve art in grid-like montages, as a fitting analog for the careful construction, grainy intimate materiality, and ephemeral feeling of these songs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                'Every Life Is A Light' is Joni Void’s most coherent and congenial record while relinquishing none of their experimentalist acumen as a producer or emotional attunement as a composer. Instead these qualities flourish, on an album that lights a humble flame for the fragile promise of homespun creative collaboration as unalienated labour and therapeutic communion, making an enchantingly idiosyncratic contribution to downtempo sample music along the way. Thanks for listening.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Everyday - A Sequel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Du Parc (with N NAO)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Time Zone (with Haco)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Cloud Level (with Ytamo)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Muffin - A Song For My Cat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. L'Empire Des Lumières
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. In-Between Places
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Event Flow - A Sequence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Story Board (with Pink Navel)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. Vertigo (with Sook-Yin Lee)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. Death Is Not The End
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. Joni Sadler Forever

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Neal Francis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Return To Zero

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The latest album from Neal Francis, 'Return To Zero', emerged from a kind of visionary fever dream. Facing countless moments of creative frustration eventually gave the album its title. “I was cutting a lot of the vocals at home,” Francis explains. “Every time I needed to start over I’d press this button that says 'RTZ', which stands for 'Return To Zero'. I was doing take after take but no matter how frustrated I got, I just told myself to remain calm and take inventory, and then begin again.” The album is a mix of timeless rock & roll and ’70s-era dance music.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Need You Again
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Don’t Wait
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Broken Glass
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Back It Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. What’s Left Of Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. 150 More Times
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Dance Through Life
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Dirty Little Secret
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Already Gone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Can’t Get Enough
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Return To Zero

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Charles Moothart

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Chaotic Shimmer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    'Chaotic Shimmer' is a collection of songs that vary in texture and genesis. The A side has a stronger sense of familiarity with the more rocking numbers, while the B side stretches out in more exploration. Some of the same electronic elements of 2024's 'Black Holes Don't Choke' can be found in songs like 'Music For The People' and 'Caught Waiting'. There is also a subtle nod to Minor Threat in the lyrics of 'Caught Waiting'. The track 'Path I'd Like to Follow' is dreamy and meditative - channeling JJ Cale or late sixties San Francisco fog. The opening track is a rocket ship waiting to escape the dull confines of this singular consciousness, and it creates a space for the title track to transcend at will. All of the songs were recorded by Charles Moothart at his studio in Los Angeles. He wrote, performed, recorded, and mixed everything heard on this album. Reserving the right to do as thou wilt is rock and roll 101. The world is chaos, and chaos is creativity. To accept and embrace this is to tap in to the 'Chaotic Shimmer' - a transcendent energy. Music is for the people.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Charles Moothart is a multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. He plays guitar in bands like FUZZ and Primitive Ring, as well as drums in GØGGS and Moonhearts. He was the touring drummer for Ty Segall's Freedom Band, as well as the Ty Segall and White Fence collaborative tours. Moothart has also released solo work under his initials CFM.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Carried In The Wind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Chaotic Shimmer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. The Path (I'd Like To Follow)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Bring To Bloom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Caught Waiting
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Music For The People

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    T. Gowdy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Trill Scan

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      T. Gowdy returns with a major statement and luminous stylistic expansion on his third album for Constellation. 'Trill Scan' is an exquisite suite of songs literally and figuratively about alchemy, where Gowdy melds his background in choral and medieval music with his trademark analogue electronics. Following the acclaimed 'Miracles' (Bleep Album of the Week / Albums of the Year 2022), Gowdy’s bar-raising new LP centers human voice for the first time. Choral set-pieces and solo lead vocals, along with his own lute playing, are novel elements in Gowdy’s work, and draw on strains of Middle Ages polyphony and the Baroque “broken style” to further distinguish 'Trill Scan' from anything in his discography to date.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Gowdy sees “the modal language of medieval Europe as a less distant cousin to indigenous traditional music practice” compared to a Classical-colonial “patriarchal order of tonality that honours a system of domination.” The 12th century Notre Dame School of choral music and 17th century style brisé each carry tonal materiality, heterodox technique, and cultural-historical symbolism central to 'Trill Scan’s conceptual and compositional alchemy. Gowdy coheres these beautifully into his palette of serpentine slowburn electronics, a minimal analogue-driven techno shaped by aleatory strategies and tinged with post-punk grit. Gowdy’s sound has been aptly described as “gently transportative, flickering like a busted halogen lamp” and his overriding pursuit of psychoacoustic immanence likened to “getting your brain massaged” and praised as “blissful work that bristles with effervescent energy, like brain waves coming in and out of focus.” Trill Scan expands this sonic sensibility with more conspicuous harmonic complexity, stylistic variety, and humanistic narrative arc. Alternately sacramental and intimately personal vocals, sometimes wordless and sometimes lyrical, are worked into superlative instrumental tracks, yielding a warmly immersive concept album that’s equally Gowdy’s most musical.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Gowdy sings explicitly of alchemy on the hypnotic album centerpiece 'Novus Lumen' with lyrics that gesture at these medieval processes of material investigation. The tension between the scientific and esoteric is crucial; the separation and synthesis of physical substances in medieval alchemy maps onto his fixation with the interplay between the materiality of sound and psychoacoustics. Gowdy follows the Jungian interpretation of classic alchemical texts as an historical bridge to theories of the psyche, where consciousness itself is treated as materiality and similarly subjected to methodical analysis and experimentation, to deconstruction, dissolution, transformation, reintegration, metamorphosis. Song titles like 'Arislei Bone' and 'Materiadiscipuli' further reference these mythopoetic throughlines from medieval alchemy to modern psychology.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Gowdy chooses disruptive forms from the history of Western music that symbolize and prefigure the modern psychological subject and its struggle for/against order, even as they also evoke liturgy and the Renaissance court. The sacramental adds a potent dimension to his pursuit of psychoacoustic activation, meditation, and transcendence, as choral passages intersperse with electronic drone and pointillism throughout the album. His gorgeous Fennesz-meets-lute rendition of the Baroque composition 'Courante' by François Dufault offers idiomatic salon-secular counterpoint. Album closer 'Strewn' is bookended by a final recurrence of choral invocation, with pulsing earworm motorik techno in between, over which Gowdy whisper-sings a dreamlike vision quest of mythic-alchemical imagery: “as I washed my eyes they turned to metal / and the memories melted to the metal / the metal of my heart.” A mesmerizing final song that explicitly invokes Gowdy’s search for materialized abstraction and substantive musical immanence wrought from his own psycho-therapeutic subjectivity, and encapsulates the album’s turn towards more harmonic, historicized, and humanistic elements. 'Trill Scan' commingles empyrean and earthly electronic songcraft to genuinely original and absorbing effect. Thanks for listening.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Anonymous IV
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Blest Age!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Richmond Rd
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Courante
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Anonymous V
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Materiadiscipuli
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Novus Lumen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Pentaarc
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Flit
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Arislei Bone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Strewn

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      KEG

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Fun's Over

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Showcasing whip-smart spikiness remains, and a gorgeous weirdness matched by very few others, it's easy to see why wonk pop 7-piece KEG are one of the most talked about bands of 2024. Soon they'll be THE band of 2025.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Their debut album Fun’s Over represents the culmination of KEG's initial forays into life, and as such leaps all over—from the melodic to the demented with all the enthusiasm of a very lively bean salad. Sharp angling guitarwork that would be at home both on a Fugazi or a Wilco record. Cascading synths and drums, pepperings of trombone and lyrics which invite you into a baffled man's brain full of joy and anxiety.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Contrary to the previous releases the album takes its time, allowing Keg to showcase the orchestral leanings of the band, melding textures and battering-ram rhythms, whilst all the time managing to hone their carefully manipulated balance of chaos and order.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Recorded between the studio and home, Keg have refined their DIY approach this time around, producing the record themselves with engineering help from Pozi’s Toby Burroughs and mixed by Connor Simpkins.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Offsetting the braggadocious shredding and bombastic instrumentation the lyrics on the album take a much less cocksure approach—beckoning you into a yearning for suburban living, slightly embarrassing admissions of inadequacy, the feeling of creative failure freeing the imagination, taking pleasure in the mundanity of an unsure mind, bathing for freedom, and just a couple simple love songs. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Soul Jazz Records Presents: Secret Superstar Sounds

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Soul Jazz Records’ new ‘Secret Superstar Sounds - Scraping Bubblegum Off My Soul 1977-80: Punk - Powerpop - New Wave - DIY’ brings together a wealth of incredibly catchy tunes from late 1970s / early 1980s British groups that you have probably never heard of! Power pop mixed together a love of lyrical and melodically beautiful 1960s pop and garage sounds, together with the energy and attitude of 1970s punk. Almost completely out of kilter with the fashions of the day (punk, new wave and post-punk) these bands managed to fall between the musical cracks at almost every step of the way, leaving them practically unknown to all but a few.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Inspired by the DIY messaging of bands like The Desperate Bicycles, Sniffing Glue fanzine and early UK punk labels like Stiff, Chiswick and Rough Trade, these bands chose mainly to go into a studio and make their own private press / DIY records themselves - then try to work out everything else (promotion, marketing, etc.) afterwards. As mainly outsiders to the mainstream music industry, and usually unable to make any inroads into it, save for sending their own record to John Peel, most of these bands fell at the first hurdle.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          These records remain both beautifully crafted three-minute musical gems and long-lost micro-histories of an essentially hidden genre.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Featured bands here include The Squares, The Meanies, The Monitors, Plummet Airline, Tours, Gobblinz, Krypton Tunes and more. Most of these records were selfpublished DIY releases made in very limited editions and were often the only tracks ever released by these groups.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Gooblinz - London
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Plummet Airlines - It’s Har
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Xdreamysts - Right Way Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Tours - Language School
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Squares - No Fear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Monitors - Compulsory Fun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Meanies - It’s True
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jeff Hill Band - Something’s Wrong With My Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Squad - 24 Hours
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Krypton Tunes - Limited Vision
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Zeros - Hungry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Wardens - Do So Well
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Letters - Nobody Loves Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Tunnelrunners - Forever Crying At Love Songs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Comic Romance - Cry Myself To Sleep

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Mizik Maladi: Disques Debs International Vol. 3

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Strut introduces the highly anticipated third volume in the Disques Debs International series, diving deeper into the archives of one ofthe greatest French Caribbean labels, Disques Debs, based in Guadeloupe. Founded by the visionary Henri Debs in the late ‘50s, thelabel and studio operated for over 50 years, releasing more than 300 7” singles and 200 LPs, making it a cornerstone of Caribbean music history.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            By the dawn of the 1980s, Henri Debs had already established himself as a prolific producer, with a record of releases unmatched in Guadeloupe and Martinique. From its humble beginnings with a 2-track tape machine in the back of a clothes shop, Disques Debsevolved into a powerhouse, boasting a state-of-the-art studio in downtown Pointe-à-Pitre, retail shops for records and musical instruments in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Paris, a nightclub in Gosier, and international distribution deals reaching Europe, the U.S.,and South America.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Disques Debs played a pivotal role in shaping modern Caribbean music. The label bridged traditional genres like biguine and gwoka with contemporary styles like cadence, compas, and zouk, the latter becoming a global phenomenon in the 1980s with contributions from iconic acts like Kassav’ and Zouk Machine. The period also saw Disques Debs champion a new generation of artists while maintaining ties with legendary figures from earlier decades.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Volume 3 in this series spotlights one of the label’s most dynamic and influential periods as it expanded its global reach during the1980s. Across 2 LPs, the release features a curated selection of tracks from the Disques Debs circle, highlighting both emerging talents and established artists who defined the era.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            This collection not only celebrates Henri Debs’ unmatched legacy but also offers a snapshot of Caribbean music’s golden age, cementing Disques Debs as a cultural institution.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Sadi Lancreot – Dou Se Vou Ki Siwo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Max Et Henri – Sé Pou Demen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Dominique Panol – Come On Baby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Mariz – Si On Jou
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Jocelyn Mocka Et Kassav – Mizik Maladi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Christian Yéyé – Misyé Zanndo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Ramon Pyrmée – An Mwe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Expérience 7 – Bel Toubonman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Ka Lévé – Apre Nou Byen Cheche
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Horizon - Neg Mawon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            11. Ti Celeste – Testaman
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            12. Yo – Fo’w Maye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            13. Alex Rosa – L’appel Des Champions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            14. Gwo Siwo – Bèlè

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pale Blue Eyes

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            New Place

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The third album from Pale Blue Eyes is called 'New Place' – invocation of fresh horizons; swapping creamy Devon for the synth central of Sheffield. The album arrives on the back of extensive and emotional transit. For PBE, 2024 started with a wonderful tour of 12 European countries with Slowdive. Over 12,000 kilometres. Snow and deep cold in Norway and Poland. Drought-stricken landscapes in France and Spain. On and on, joyously so. The year’s end brought more movement for the married couple at the core of Pale Blue Eyes, singer and guitarist Matt Board and drummer and synth queen Lucy Board. Sadly, family tragedy catalysed a move from South Devon to South Yorkshire.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “Change is a theme throughout the new album,” says Lucy. “It’s about being in a new place, starting again but reflecting on the journey and what and who got us to this place. It's a celebration of making it to this point and starting again.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              That new start is fully manifested on Pale Blue Eyes’ new album, released on the band’s Broadcast Recordings label. Return single 'How Long Is Now' brought uplifting synth carousels and was titled after a Berlin mural and art installation. On 'Pieces Of You' gorgeously deliquescent guitar ripples out over Matt’s distinctive tenor voice. Be There is meditative, delicate, with guest vocals from Rachael Swinton of Glasgow electronic-rock duo Cloth. Aubrey made his own fretless bass. It features on the track 'Seven Years'. Several tracks have input from two musicians who have featured in the PBE live line-up – Tom Sharkett, music producer and guitarist with W.H. Lung, and music producer and musician Lewis Johnson-Kellett.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “The new album comes with a new landscape,” says Matt, summing up. “We were in new surroundings with new city sounds – a bit overwhelming for me, but also exciting. I hope the result is uplifting, driving, a perpetual forward motion." There are new sounds but also a steadfast Krautrock influence, alongside some of the band’s other favourite moods and flavours. The album reflects the end of an era and embracing new beginnings in a new place.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Beautifully rich shoegaze soundscapes with shimmering chorused guitars and dreamy, lysergic vocals swimming over the top. There are echoes of classic 90's 'gaze here, but it's accomplished with an injection of modern sounding pop song structures and a keen production ear. Wonderfully hazy, but without being muddied, Pale Blue Eyes take the best elements of shoegaze, synth and pop and bring them together perfectly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. How Long Is Now
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Scrolling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Pieces Of You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. On The Surface
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. The Dreamer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Travel Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Rituals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Our Lost Words
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Now And Again
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. Be There
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Half Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              12. Seven Years 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Tubs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Cotton Crown

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                RIYL: Richard Thompson, The La’s, The Charlatans, Aztec Camera, Superchunk, The Chills, Felt, The Smiths, Pentangle.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Tubs' second album, Cotton Crown, sees the Celtic Jangle boyband venture into darker, more personal territory while continuing to hone their highly addictive brand of songcraft. It’s a true level up album which sees the band expand their sonic palette to take in a kaleidoscopic range of influences: everything from soulful pub rock (Chain Reaction) to Husker Du aggression (One More Day) to melancholy sophisto-pop (Narcissist) gets a look in. As Pitchfork noted, The Tubs see jangle as a ‘vast world of moods and muses’ and Cotton Crown sees them continuing to explore this world and creating a distinctly Tub-ular sound in the process.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This is in no small part down to Owen ‘O’ Williams’ vocal performance- often compared to a young Richard Thomson- and his frank, bleakly funny lyric writing. Cotton Crown sees him delve further into his favourite themes of love-psychosis, unsympathetic mentally ill behaviour, and the humiliations of being a musician in London. This time around, however, there’s a palpable sense of risk in his self assessments / confessions. No more so in the track’s closing track Strange- an accounting of the clumsy, intrusive, well-meaning social interactions that took place in the period following the suicide of his mother (the folk singer Charlotte Greig.)  As Williams says: “I’d tried a few times to write a song about it. The result had always seemed either mawkish, simplifying or like I was hawking my trauma. But then this one came out, and it felt right because it looked at something smaller: the weird, unsatisfying, strangely funny ways everyone, including myself, acted after the dust settled.” The album artwork features an image of Williams as an infant being breastfed by Greig in a graveyard- a promotional shot taken around the release of her debut album (the re-issue of which was featured in The Guardian in 2023.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The essential trick Cotton Crown plays is to offset Williams’ lyrical bleakness with joyous, hook-laden blasts of pop perfection. This is largely down to the guitar work of George Nicholls, who, across the album, effortlessly slips between the virtuoso jangle of Marr, the driving folk-rock of Pentangle and the chorus-heavy hi-fi grooves of contemporary bands like Tops or The 1975. Add to that the breakneck rhythm section of Taylor Stewart (Drums) and Max Warren (Bass)- who attack each song with power-pop ferocity, recalling Guided by Voices at their drunken-yet-tight best- and you’ve got yourself a recipe for indie rock greatness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The band’s debut ‘Dead Meat’ was a word-of-mouth sensation that saw the band earn accolades from Pitchfork, The Guardian, MOJO, SPIN and more. They even gained some celeb fans: the inimitable Mark Proksch (The Office (US), Better Call Saul, What We Do in the Shadows) starred in the video for their “Round the Bend” single & punk legend Iggy Pop has praised them on his BBC 6Music radio program. Standing in opposition to the UK norm of post punk, and hookless high-minded indie prog, the album was described by Kitty Empire (Observer) as a “shot in the arm for indie rock”. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: Though there is a darker undertone to the lyrics here, the music itself oscillates from their bombastic punk-adjacent throb and driving distorted power chord groove to nuanced, jangling indie melodicism and soaring, memorable harmonies. Wonderfully dynamic, packed with moments of surprising juxtaposition and every bit the progression of a band who will stay on our radar for as long as they keep making music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. The Thing Is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Freak Mode
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Illusion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Narcissist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Chain Reaction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Embarassing
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. One More Day
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. Fair Enough
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Strange

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Alabaster DePlume

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole' is the latest album from London-based composer-poet-activist-improviser Alabaster DePlume, his first major work following 2022’s 'GOLD' and 2020's 'To Cy & Lee: Instrumentals Vol 1'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The 11-song album covers all of DePlume’s musical touchstones: lush and gentle instrumentals informed by ghostly ancient folk melodies; groove-focused rhythm explorations as a bed for self-searching spoken declamations; sweeping and beautiful string arrangements (in this case by Macie Stewart) set against his trademark vibrato-infused tenor sax whispermoan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Most of all, 'A Blade...' finds Alabaster DePlume at his most purposeful and direct yet, building on foundations laid through years of writing and touring to craft this ambitious work. Here lyrical explorations of healing, dignity, and struggle set the tone of the music itself—the mysterious and tense sensuality of the Melody Nelson-like strings on 'Form a V'; the playful and idiosyncratic echos of the 1960s British Folk scene on 'Invincibility'; the golden-era Elvrum level of vocal intimacy on 'Too True' - it’s all handed over with such familiarity and intention that the album’s full sonic grandness reveals itself at an IV-drip-pace.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  "A blade, because a blade is whole, it has forgiven itself, and because it will take a small piece of our opposite, for us to be complete. A blade has marked out these former selves on my hand, a blade made the lines that divine us and the blade is whole. A blade. While I forgive myself, and heal, and lead us in healing. We can only forgive each other once we forgive ourselves. We can only heal eachother while we heal ourselves." - Alabaster DePlume

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Immediately reminiscent of some of the more off-piste Constellation Records excursions (Matana Roberts, Eric Chenaux etc), Alabaster DePlume's music is rich in jazz tradition but also swims with avant garde folk influence, with Plume's voice providing a welcome counter to the deep, oft dissonant instrumental element.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Oh My Actual Days
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Thank You My Pain
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Invincibility
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Form A V
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. A Paper Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Who Are You Telling, Gus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Prayer For My Sovereign Dignity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Kuzushi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Salty Road Dogs Victory Anthem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Too True
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. That Was My Garden

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Jason Isbell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Foxes In The Snow

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Jason Isbell is one of the most respected and celebrated artists of his generation. The North Alabama native possesses an incredible penchant for identifying and articulating some of the deepest, yet simplest, human emotions, and turning them into beautiful poetry through song. Isbell sings of the everyday human condition with thoughtful, heartfelt, and sometimes brutal honesty.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This album showcases his song craft at its purest roots with just his voice and an acoustic guitar.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: 'Foxes In The Snow' showcases Isbell's most tender leanings, with athletically plucked acoustic guitar and gravelly, perfectly pitched vocals sitting comfortably together, showcasing a beautiful LP that unsurprisingly, lands somewhere between classic country and uplifting folk-rock. What's most unimpressive is how full these unadorned pieces sound, and how in keeping with Isbell's impressive canon it is.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Bury Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Ride To Robert’s
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Eileen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Gravelweed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. Don’t Be Tough
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Open And Close
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Foxes In The Snow
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Crimson And Clay
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Good While It Lasted
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. True Believer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Wind Behind The Rain

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Moreish Idols

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    All In The Game

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Moreish Idols have carved out a unique position for themselves in the burgeoning London scene. Whereas their debut material showcased a restless, jerky, jagged and rhythmically centred sound that bore the influence of energetic post-punk, their second EP showcased an entirely different side to the band. This evolution saw the group stitch together a looser constellation of ideas, combining swooning tremolo guitars, prickly melodic riddles, erudite saxophone improvs, and flexible rhythms, sounding like Watery, Domestic-era Pavement one second and the bucolic Canterbury Scene the next, but always, always like Moreish Idols most of all.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'All In The Game' is filled with Dan Carey’s eccentric production ideas, largely inspired by the concept of time. For the title-track, Carey asked Humphreys to play the same saxophone part at different tempos, recording onto tape which was itself moving at different speeds. He also suggested splitting one of the demo tracks in half, with the first half played as the opening track 'Ambergrin', and the second as the slower, less saturated outro 'Time’s Wasting': designed to sound like a memory of the former. A nod to their debut EP “Float” – which can be played on a continuous loop – the return of the track in this more ethereal, ghostly form captures how ideas, stories and observations are changed by the process of remembering.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: Grooving psychedelic guitars and echoing vocals, snappy percussion and off-piste blips and swirls all over the stereo field help to give these roaring blues-rock pieces a sense of intangible otherworldliness. Like aliens have discovered the Black Keys and are trying to play them on their own instruments.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Ambergrin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Railway
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. All In The Game
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Sundog
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Pale Blue Dot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. ACID
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Slouch
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Out Of Sight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Tiny Flies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Dream Pixel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Time's Wasting

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      SASAMI

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Blood On The Silver Screen

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Two Sasamis exist in harmony. First is Sasami Ashworth, the conservatory-trained classical French horn player, producer, and composer - an artist with a studious approach to craft. And then there is all-caps SASAMI, the fearless performer and protagonist of her three increasingly audacious albums. For 'Blood On the Silver Screen', these two sides fused for her most epic and realized music to date: the all-out Sasami pop record.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        After establishing herself with the poised melancholia of her eponymous 2019 debut, Sasami embraced volume and control on 2022’s 'Squeeze' - touring with a metal band—but her goal on Blood On the Silver Screen was to speak her truth with conviction by singing. Working with producers Jenn Decilveo and Rostam, with Sasami as sole writer, each 'Blood On the Silver Screen' track viscerally captures a different thread of love, sex, power, and embodiment. “Pop music is like fuel,” Sasami says. “It’s just invigorating.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Across 'Blood On the Silver Screen', Sasami’s lyrics narrate the ecstasies and agonies of being “a modern lover,” she says—writing about “big city dating endeavors” even as she found herself relocating, on a whim, from Los Angeles to rural Northern California. The anthemic 'For the Weekend' explores “modern intimacy, where you can get deep without the relationship being defined,” while the irrepressible 'Just Be Friends' bottles the dizzying longing that can overtake those in-betweens.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        “I wanted to go all out with this album,” Sasami continues. “I wanted to, in my tenderness and emotionality, have the bravery to undertake something as epic as making a pop record about love. I hope it makes people feel empowered and embodied, too. It’s important to not box yourself in.”


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: Absolute shimmering synth-pop perfection from Sasami, with the melancholic minor-key and shadowy electronics and throbbing distortion of 'Honeycrash' eschewed for shimmering pads and uplifting arps, all topped with her powerful syrupy smooth vocals.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Slugger
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Just Be Friends
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. I'll Be Gone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Love Makes You Do Crazy Things
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. In Love With A Memory Fear. Clairo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Possessed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Figure It Out
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. For The Weekend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Honeycrash
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Smoke (Banished From Eden)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Nothing But A Sad Face
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Lose It All
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. The Seed

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        D.D. Mirage

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Exotic Illusions

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          After releasing their well-received 7” and 12” singles ‘Night Time’ and ‘Feel It / So Hot’, Isle of Jura is pleased to present 'Exotic Illusions', the debut album from D.D. Mirage, the Sydney-based duo of Josh Dives and Disky Dee.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Having first played music together during the mid-2010s in the indie-psyche and punky-shoegaze bands King Colour and SCK CHX, the two Australian musicians/DJs came up in the warehouse party scene that fermented in the wake of the Sydney lockout laws. While organising mixed media events under the Yeah Nah Yeah brand, they discovered the joys of disco, dance-punk and the Balearic beat through Pender St Steppers’ DJ mixes and reissue releases and found themselves changing direction in response.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Written and recorded with a range of vintage keyboards and preamps, instruments and digital studio software, 'Exotic Illusions' is a cosmopolitan love letter to the immaculate blend of Italo disco, Neopolitan funk, Nigerian boogie, cosmic house, synth-pop, UK street soul and lovers rock sounds that have inspired D.D. Mirage since they began this iteration of their ever-evolving musical relationship.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          “The name Exotic Illusions refers to our fascination with all of this music made in other parts of the world,” they explain. “During lockdown and thereafter, we indulged in these exotic sounds as an antidote to our lack of travel. This fascination continued as the world opened up again, and we started working on tunes together. It’s also a way of acknowledging that we feel like tourists partaking in these styles and established sounds. They aren’t ours and weren’t born out of the place we’re from, but we hope we’ve been able to add something unique to them.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          In recognition of this, rather than just reinterpreting genre motifs through an antipodean lens, D.D. Mirage opened up lines of communication with some of their favourite musicians from the Neapolitan scene, bassist Daniel Monaco (Rush Hour, Periodica Records) and drummer Andrea De Fazio (Parbleu/ Nu Genea), who recorded the rhythm section for ‘So Hot’. They also wrote to the Manchester-based singer/producer Private Joy, who graced ‘Night Time’ with a smoother-than-silk street soul vocal that helped the single secure crucial plays on NTS and BBC Radio 6.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Opening with the tropical melodies, post-disco machine beats and jilted art-punk singalong chants of the title track, 'Exotic Illusions' unfolds as a series of sturdy, internationally-minded dancefloor excursions. ‘Piranesi’ is boogie with a South American shuffle. ‘So Hot’ is Neapolitan funk with a Leichhardt strut, and ‘Antenna’ (featuring Jofi) is D.D. Mirage’s love letter to ‘80s drum machine bossa nova from Brussels.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          On ‘Feel It’, the duo hit a sparking groove that reaches into an eternal sunset of the mind before throwing out a bubbly disco-not disco spoken word bounce on ‘Cat’s Cradle’, featuring psychedelic-pop singer Jermango Dreaming. From there, D.D. Mirage bring it home with a cheeky Aussie drawl on ‘Living Upside Down’ and the nocturnal excellence of ‘Night Time’, making a case for themselves as a significant new force from Australian music to the world.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          full sleeve artwork from Bradley Pinkerton.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Matt says: DD Mirage know what's up! Taking the best bits of Neopolitan disco, UK street soul, lover's rock and giving it all a Balearic shine that instantly makes you feel like you're on holiday. Extra props for 'em signing MCR songstress and producer Private Joy too.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A1. Exotic Illusions (Feat Hotel)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A2. Piranesi
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A3. So Hot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A4. Antenna (Feat Jofi)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B1. Feel It
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B2. Cat's Cradle (Feat Jermango Dreaming)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B3. Livin' Upside Down
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          B4. Night Time (Feat Private Joy)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Max Cooper

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          On Being

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Powerful works of art have traditionally sprung from some source deep within an artist and, if they strike the right tone, resonate with an audience to leave a lasting mark. But what if that equation were reversed: what if an artist were to draw their inspiration from deep within their audience, and use that to reflect those ideas, emotions, hopes, fears, pains and aspirations back to us?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Over a two year journey, audio-visual artist and electronic innovator Max Cooper has inverted the creative process by collecting hundreds of anonymous quotes, posing deep but open questions such as "What would you like to express which you cannot in everyday life?" and "What is it like to exist inside your head?"

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Matt says: Stunningly impressive and expansive long player from long serving UK stalwart Max Cooper. Drifting between ambient synthscapes, pounding techno, futurist electronica and cosmic cybernetic dance; it's a frankly quite overwhelming experience that completely envelopes your being.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A1. On Being Ft. Felix Gerbelot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A2. Peace Exists Here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A3. I Am In A Church In Gravesend Listening To Old Vinyl And Drinking Coffee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B1. A Sense Of Getting Closer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B2. Exist Inside This Machine Ft. Aneek Thapar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            C1. My Choices Are Not My Own Ft. Tawiah And May Kaspar
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            C2. The Sun In A Box
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            D1. True Under Certain Conditions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            D2. When I Am Alone With My Thoughts. I Am Crushed Ft. Aho Ssan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            E1. You Couldn't Love Me Enough And I've Spent My Whole Life Making Up For It Ft. Niels Orens
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            E2. My Mind Is Slipping
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            F1. Mother Nature Must Have A Different Plan For Me Ft. Tom VR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            F2. The Missing Piece
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            F3. It's Up To You, What You Do In The Void

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Synth-pop duo Marina Zispin return with their highly anticipated album “Now You See Me (Now You Don’t)”, out on taste making London label Scenic Route (Nourished By Time, Great Area etc).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Now You See Me, Now You Don't” is the continuing journey through the ever evolving sound of Marina Zispin AKA Bianca Scout and Martyn Reid. As with their previous EP - the recurring themes of life and death loom heavily over the 10 album tracks. With support from 6 Music, Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, METAL, Dummy, The Line of Best Fit, Boomkat, and more, Marina Zispin further reinforces their reputation for crafting lush, melancholic soundscapes paired with surreal storytelling and ice-cold synth pop.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Since their formation in 2018, bridging Newcastle and London, Marina Zispin have quickly captivated audiences with their ethereal blend of dreamlike melodies and avant-garde textures. Their 2023 debut 12” on Night School paved the way for a successful UK tour, a BBC 6 Music session, and a memorable performance at Bucharest’s Collisions festival.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Bianca Scout, acclaimed for her solo album Pattern Damage (with praise from The Quietus, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Pitchfork, Stereogum, Bandcamp, The Wire, and more) continues to push sonic boundaries with her unique fusion of sound collage, post-punk, and poetic lyricism. Recent shows across Europe, including at Poland’s Unsound Festival, underscore the duo’s expanding influence.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            With “Now You See Me (Now You Don’t)”, Marina Zispin invite listeners on a captivating journey through a signature blend of fantasy and reality. 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Matt says: Cool-as-you-like, electro-indie-disco-synth-pop greatness, snapped up by the hottest A&R in the country right now - Scenic Route.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A1. Death Must Come
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A2. Piece Of Mind
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A3. The Tudors
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A4. Deep Blue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            A5. Venus Decadence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B1. Penthouse Samba
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B2. Mimes Calling In The Dark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B3. Venus Opulence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B4. The Bells
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            B5. The Scythe 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            N1_Sound

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Din Sync Dub

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              "Din Sync Dub" is an exploration of communication through sound. Six tightly packed experimental dub tracks use bass-heavy vibrations to rattle both body and mind, pushing the limits of self-expression in the hope of fostering deeper human connection.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The drive for more efficient and precise communication tools - whether between man and machine or machine and machine - has been a foundational force in the evolution of technology. This duality, the way we interface with computers and the way we speak to one another, is at the heart of "Din Sync Dub". For this album, N1_Sound looks back to 1980, drawing inspiration from Roland’s Din Sync - a 40-year-old synchronization technology once used to link musical machines in perfect harmony. While connecting machines to produce precisely sequenced music is nothing new, it’s the tension between perfection and imperfection - the mistakes of both man and machine - that gives "Din Sync Dub" its voice, its emotional rawness.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The journey begins with “Horizontal Hang”, which crashes through the door with a relentless bassline and crystalline synths. “Such Love” introduces a throbbing, guitar-driven groove, while “Intuition Dub” channels the spirit of Jah Shaka, offering a rhythmic pulse that echoes dub’s deep roots. “Us All” provides a moment of introspection with its sparse, three-dimensional melodies, before “Joy” reintroduces chaos, creating a post-dubstep soundscape that dismantles everything in its path. The album closes with “Mauzy” , a hopeful yet fragmented conclusion, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of technology and connection.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By the mid-to-late 1980s, Din Sync was superseded by the more widely adopted MIDI, yet obsolescence is built into the nature of all technology. Just as our relationship with machines shifts and fades, so too does our understanding of how those changes shape us. Before we can grasp the impact, the world has already moved on.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              "Din Sync Dub", the first full-length LP from Spiritual World, pulses with energy, on the edge of malfunction - a manifestation of the tension between the digital and the organic, the past and the present.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Matt says: Hefty digi-dub stylings inna fresh flavoured, highly synthesized electronic soup. Plenty of wub and crunch, while delicate synthlines drizzle and dazzle in a stoned lilt. Very good.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A1. Horizontal Hang
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A2. Such Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A3. Intuition Dub
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B1. Us All
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B2. Joy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B3. Mauzy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              For their first release of 2025, Incienso present “Gnosis”, the debut album from San Francisco-based musician Raven. Dripping in warped synthesizer tones and flickering drum patterns, “Gnosis” is a bold and new exploration into Raven’s timeless and immersive world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Matt says: Rich, thick, futuristic sonics full of swirls, arpeggios and drifting atmospheres. A real heady experience that leaves you in a state of suspended bliss, long after the record's climax.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A1. Gnosis Theme
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A2. Endless Edition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A3. Infinite Red Roses
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A4. Jupiter
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B1. Infinite Edition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B2. In Loving Memory
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B3. Unlimited Edition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B4. Final Fade Sync

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Infinite Sonore - Compiled By Princess P

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Massive 3x12" compilation curated by Swiss Underground Icon - DJ Princess P. This features hard-to-find gems from a Spacemen 3, Atypic, LFO, Mimi Majick (Irdial), Marco Passarani, Cyclone and more. Includes liner notes from JD Twitch (Optimo).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                This is a journey, not a compilation, it’s an immersive journey into the depths of sonic exploration, lovingly selected by Swiss underground DJ Princess P. Known for her ability to craft deeply emotive and genre-blurring DJ sets, she takes you on a transcendent musical voyage, hat moves effortlessly between euphoric dancefloor moments and introspective soundscapes. From the pulsating echoes of Spacemen 3 to the ethereal tones of Natalie Beridze, while unearthing hidden gems from Atypic, LFO and Irdial Discs' Mimi Majick, her selection spans over decade of blending electronic dreamy soundscapes with ecstatic rhythms. This selection offers a rare glimpse into the mind of an artist who masterfully bridges the gap between ambient introspection and club euphoria.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ABOUT THE ARTIST:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Princess P is a staple of the Swiss underground scene, renowned for her unique approach to DJing that combines deep cuts, rare finds, and her love for blending unexpected genres. Her sets are journeys, meticulously crafted to take listeners on emotional and sonic adventures, from hypnotic basslines to celestial synths. Princess P has become a cult favorite, frequently playing intimate underground venues while also gracing selected major festivals with her eclectic, forward-thinking sound. This release is a reflection of her wide-ranging musical tastes and deep knowledge of electronic music history.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: Intriguing compilation that ties together a wide range of music into a somehow coherent body of work that's far greater than the sum of its parts. Princess P finely showing off the range of her digging talents.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A1. Spacemen 3 - Big City Remix - 10:45 (1991, UK)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A2. Love Spirals Downwards - Sunset Bell - 5:46 (1998, USA)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B1. Anaconda - Ideas For Virtual Reality - 10:54 (1993, Netherlands)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B2. Cyclone - Beautiful Minds - 4:51 (1991, UK)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C1. Fred Gianelli - 1st Premonition - 9:18 (1993, UK)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C2. Marco Passarani - Zep Teti - 5:28 (2000, Italy)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D1. Nail - Volterage - 10:41 (1994, UK)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D2. TBA, Natalie Beridze - Forever Has No Shadow - 5:57 (2011, Georgia)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                E1. LFO - Loop (Journey Mix) - 10:52 (1996, USA)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                E2. Mimi Majick - Mimi‘s Majick Utilities One - 6:07 (1996, UK)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                F1. Atypic - Otaku - 8:54 (1993, UK)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                F2. Tek Jam & Inzekt - Driver - 7:54 (1999, Switzerland)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Clara Mann

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Rift

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  One of the UK’s most exciting new singer-songwriters and multidisciplinary artists, Clara’s evocative debut album ‘Rift’ navigates the fractured environment of the in-between - those liminal spaces exposed between light and dark, growth and remorse, loss and reclamation. It is a record that makes a strong case for hope, those luminescent silver linings in the dark.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mann’s music reflects the people and places that have shaped and held her - physically, emotionally, and creatively. Raised in the Lot Valley in rural France before moving to the UK for her teens, these formative years provided her with a deep sense of belonging, identity, and growth. Yet, it is in motion, in placelessness, that Mann feels most at home: “Just the sun above me and my keys and my car.” Her new record is a testament to this state of in-betweenness, inviting you to step into a place that has always existed within yourself.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  After releasing her second EP ‘Stay Open’ in 2022, the time and space between then and now has culminated in ‘Rift’, Mann’s first album, which vividly gestures toward the fractures and ruptures that define our lives. Yet, it is more than just an album; it captures the journey and strength it takes to look inward and to move forwards through the pain of it all. Its first track, ‘It Only Hurts’, begins in a place of hopelessness, stemming from the loss of a relationship and, in turn, a future. It is a blank space that stretches out before you, where the landscape is torn apart like icebergs cracking and drifting. But hope remains a beacon of light throughout the album, a lighthouse guiding you across tumultuous waters.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Influenced by artists like Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, Judee Sill, and Tom Waits, Mann has a deep love and care for songwriting. Her lyrics are vivid and visceral, and her approach to songwriting is not one of purging emotions but rather of composting them—digesting life’s experiences and cultivating them into something meaningful, tangible, hopeful. She is also a talented visual artist, and this often plays an integral role in her songwriting process. Using the intricate and sweeping motion of illustrating with ink, charcoal, and sometimes watercolour, she can evoke thoughts and poetry onto the page, offering a way of making sense of things and to communicate in a way that words alone cannot.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  For Mann, the album is a tangible expression of her entire world—a snow globe raised in her palms for the world to see, in all its layers and complexities, containing all her love, relationships, memories, and experiences. It is this sheer transparency that has allowed her to relinquish and accept all parts of herself—the guilt, pain, and beauty of it all—like “swallows in the morning air, circling the dam.” Its truthfulness is its strength, not shying away from the painful experiences of life but embracing them as essential to the human experience and as part of our tapestry.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  With ‘Rift’, Clara Mann acknowledges the cracks through which both despair and hope can seep. It is a deeply personal record, yet it is universally resonant, holding the mirror up to herself and to the world around her. It is a record that reflects on embracing our fault lines, navigating the ruptures that can erupt from them and moving forwards, in motion, with a renewed sense of self and aliveness. Mann’s debut album, ‘Rift’ is all of her - her past, her present, her emotions, her experiences - and now, it is for you.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Side A:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  It Only Hurts 3:14
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'Til I Come Around 3:04
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Driving Home The Long Way 2:49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Stadiums 3:56
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Reasons 2:32

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Side B:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Remember Me (Train Song) 3:08
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Doubled Over 2:32
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rift 3:15
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Oranges 2:52
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Dream 3:37

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Bob Mould

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Here We Go Crazy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Alt rock legend Bob Mould returns with his new album. The legendary former frontman of Husker Du and Sugar delivers 11 slices of anthemic, emotional driving alt rock. Featuring singles “Here We Go Crazy”, “When Your Heart Is Broken” and “Breathing Room” the album finds Bob on top form.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Here We Go Crazy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Breathing Room
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Neanderthal
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Hard To Get
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. When Your Heart Is Broken
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Fur Mink Augurs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. Lost Or Stolen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Sharp Little Pieces
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. You Need To Shine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. Thread So Thin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Your Side

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Divorce

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Drive To Goldenhammer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      For Nottingham quartet Divorce, home is a feeling. Initially meeting as teenagers through the city’s close-knit DIY scene, the band – completed by members Tiger Cohen-Towell (vocals / bass), Felix Mackenzie-Barrow (vocals / guitar), Adam Peter Smith (guitar / synth) and Kasper Sandstrøm (drums) - came together as Divorce in mid-2021, releasing a slew of genre-defiant singles that quickly caught the attention of tastemakers the world over.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Sonically rich and lyrically open-hearted, 'Drive to Goldenhammer' sees Divorce assemble a shelter for themselves amid the chaos and leave the front door open to everyone. This album pays homage to seeking place and home; one of the great human levellers. Much of life feels at odds with this particular need. And to Goldenhammer; you are a reason to keep driving. We will find you again and again!



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Bhajan Boy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Bhoy On The Wire

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ajay Saggar is BHAJAN BHOY. "With BHAJAN BHOY, Saggar synthesizes all of the stylistic approaches he’s explored over the years, swirling them into an intoxicating musical blend, with an earthy spirituality. Even the project’s name reflects the dual aspects of Saggar’s upbringing coming together in harmony. In Hindi, a “bhajan” is a devotional song, sung in the mandir, or temple, while “bhoy” is a Scottish and Irish derivation for a young man. There’s a searching quality to Bhajan Bhoy, as if Saggar is still hunting for transcendence with each track, whether through an expansive drone, an orchestral facility on the piano, or an electronics-augmented raga that threatens to dip into noise” (Erick Bradshaw / writer and WFMU DJ). This album presents a rich and varied set of compositions that showcase Saggar’s skills as an incredibly talented and accomplished composer and musician. With each and every Bhajan Bhoy LP, you are are carried to a higher place.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        With ‘Bhoy On The Wire’, the 35 minutes laid out unfolds like a cosmic tapestry, an extraordinary exploration that shimmers and reverberates with newfound vibrancy. The songs were broadcast as part of a session on Steve Barker’s “On The Wire” radio show in April 2024. They were a gift to Steve and his team for 40 years of broadcasting. “On The Wire” is simply the greatest radio show in the world.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        As Ajay explains in his own words : “In September 1984, I started a degree course at the University of Lancaster. On a wet and soggy Sunday afternoon towards the end of September, I sat in my room staring out at the grey Lancashire landscape, and decided to alleviate the boredom by seeing if there was anything to listen to on the radio. Most of the stations I tuned into were as dull as the weather outside. However, as I neared the end of the FM dial (and was about to give up hope), I chanced upon a station where I was taken by the music being played. That show was “On The Wire”, introduced by Steve Barker. From there on in, every Sunday, between 2-5pm, I tuned into Radio Lancashire to listen. Steve’s shows had an incredible and wide reaching selection of music and genres, that thrilled your ears and left you wanting more. Tied to that, his deep knowledge of the material he played helped the listener dig into the sounds even more, and also left you in admiration of this trait. In 1985, I started putting on DIY shows in Lancaster (inviting the likes of Bog-Shed, bIG fLAME, The Membranes, The Wedding Present, etc etc) and Steve was kind enough to mention the shows on-air, which helped in getting people from different parts of the county to come to the shows. At the tail-end of 1985, he invited me to the studio to come and hang out. When in 1988, the group I was in, Dandelion Adventure, released our first (demo) cassette, it was Steve, who not only played tracks off it, but invited the group to the studio for an interview. Now if you’re a young band, that is a massive thrill! And in 1990, when Dandelion Adventure did a John Peel session, I actually used “On The Wire” jingles (that Steve had put on a cassette and given to me a few years before) on the track “All the World’s A Lounge”. Since then, the show has been a mainstay for me, and so many others around the world, to get turned onto incredible sounds from around the world. And over the course of 40 years, Steve has always supported my music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        These six tracks are a 40th birthday gift to the “On The Wire” team (Steve, Michael “Fenny” Fenton (an absolutely critical part of the show), and Jim Ingham (engineer who keeps the technical side of things going)) for sharing so much amazing music, and making the world a better place. They were originally broadcast as an exclusive session in April 2024 on “On The Wire", and are here for your listening pleasure. Music like shower”. Artwork by Jake Blanchard

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        SIDE A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1) The Milkman (Blackburn)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2) Campus Blues (Lancaster)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3) Castle Bandstand (Clitheroe)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        SIDE B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1) What Lurks Behind Those Illuminations? (Blackpool)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2) Pass The Sushi Pon The Lef? Hand Side (Burnley)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3) Caribbean Club (Preston)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Franc Moody

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Chewing The Fat

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Chewing The Fat' marks the start of a new era for Franc Moody. It’s a deep dive into the recesses of the duo’s creative nooks and crannies, a tearing up of the rulebook, and a reinvention of the Franc Moody sound that shows a more mature side than their previous offerings.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Recorded in part at the LA 64 Sounds Studio and at Damon Albarn’s Studio 13 in West London, the sonics of the album are heavily influenced by Albarn’s synth collection (in particular a few of the Russian models lying around), as well as live shows by Massive Attackand LCD Soundsystem, making this an offering with perhaps a little less disco, but with a sense of grunge, grit, and attitude.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Driving On The Wrong Side Of The Road
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Square Pegs In Round Holes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Space Between Us
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Bloodlines
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Going Through The Motions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Chewing The Fat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Henges (Interlude)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Pressure Makes Diamonds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Swallertrip (VINYL ONLY)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Can’t Find The Words
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. The Light You Bring

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Basil Kirchin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Mutations - Unreleased Basil Kirchin Film Music From 1968-1974

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Recently discovered lost and unissued score by Basil Kirchin to wild surreal freak horror movie from 1974. Plus bonus unissued spooky TV score with groovy Eastern vibes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            So, here we are again, with more super sounds from the Basil Kirchin archive. As usual, it’s a shame Basil is not here to share in our love for his music or to fill us in a bit on who was playing what, when and why.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            I can tell you for sure that the music for The Mutations dates from 1974, and was the score to the bizarre Jack Cardiff film starring Donald Pleasence and Tom Baker. It’s a pretty freaky film with Pleasence playing the part of a deranged scientist genetically crossing humans with plants, and ultimately causing all sorts of unpleasant issues for everyone, including the makeup department.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            As for Journey Into The Unknown, this is a tape from the archive with just “Journey Into The Unknown” written on it and very little else. This dates from 1968, and is from a series of spooky British TV dramas with supernatural twists and the occasional American guest star, like Barbara Bel Geddes, Stefanie Powers and Roddie McDowell. Seems like a forerunner of Tales Of The Unexpected. There were 17 episodes in all over a year and a half, and Basil scored two - Episode 7 The Madison Equation and Episode 11, The Indian Spirit Guide. Other composers drafted in for scoring duties throughout the run included David Lindup, Bernard Ebbinghouse and the ubiquitous John Scott. There is no theme here as the series used a whistling one written by the Scottish composer Harry Robinson that was used throughout the series. Robinson had previously worked on TV shows such a Six-Five Special and also went on to write the music for Twins Of Evil for Hammer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The score we have here from the two episodes comes as a series of vignettes and longer more experimental cues that dip into Kirchin’s music vocabulary (or bottom drawer) and will be oddly familiar at times to anyone with an ear for his brilliant past work. Thrilling to hear it all now, like staying hello to Basil all over again. Brilliant.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side One:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Mutations 1 - 10
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side Two:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Mutations 11 Journey To The Unknown - Unreleased TV Score

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Knats

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Knats

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Knats is the band’s much anticipated self-titled debut album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              It comes on the heels of an incendiary year for the band including supporting Geordie Greep (black midi) and playing as the backing band for R&B legend Eddie Chacon on UK tours. They also played a sold out Jazz Refreshed headliner, supported Str4ta at a sold Jazz Cafe, and performed at the BBC Proms.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Led by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle, Stan Woodward (bass) and King David-Ike Elechi (drums), Knats pride themselves on making "Geordie Jazz", with sophisticated arrangements, strong melodies and danceable grooves. Their infectious energy has seen the band develop an enviable word-of-mouth ascent, earning Spotify playlist covers and plaudits from the likes of the Guardian, Jazzwise, and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In its entirety, this album is dedicated to Knats’ loved ones; Stan’s composition and recent single "Tortuga (For me Mam)" shows his love and appreciation of his Mam, while "Se7en", a darker tune, expresses his emotional relationship with his Dad, formerly "DJ Se7en". "Adaeze" is a tribute to King’s late sister, taken from a gospel folk tune, incorporating West African percussive breaks and instrumentation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle is not to be overlooked.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “they gleefully rewire jazz with a hard-as-nails rhythm section, drum’n’bass energy and punk aggression.” - The Guardian.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “jaw-dropping brilliance” – Jazzwise.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A1. One For Josh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A2. Miz (featuring Anatole Muster)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A3. 500 Fils (featuring Parthenope)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A4. Black Narcissus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              A5. Rumba(r)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B1. Makina Thema (Interlude)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B2. Tortuga (For Me Mam)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B3. Se7en (featuring Tom Ford)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B4. In The Pitt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              B5. Adaeze

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Melin Melyn

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mill On The Hill

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On their debut album Mill On The Hill, Melin Melyn move effortlessly between surf-rock, country, prog-rock and psychedelia with the grace and skill of a band with numerous records under their belt, held together by an efficacious and fantastical thematic principle. Melin Melyn translates to ‘Yellow Mill’ in Welsh, and on this album the Welsh six-piece invite the audience into the world they have quite literally built around them. Mill On The Hill transports the listeners to the utopian ‘Melin Village’, a Seussian world where townsfolk “bask in the beauty of song.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “Croeso! Welcome, one and all to the magical world of the Mill On The Hill. The yellow mill that sits on top of a hill, looking down on Melin Village and all of its wonderful occupants. Everyone is welcome here.” says Chief Miller Gruff. “Don’t be deceived, this is no ordinary mill. Our duty is to create music inside the mill for all the occupants of Melin Village, and anyone else who’d like to listen. Because, after all, who could imagine a world without music?”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Melin Melyn are more than just a band. They’re world-builders; storytellers absorbing various elements of the increasingly strange times around us and using them to create fables that ruminate on grief, love, and hope.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Side A:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mill On The Hill (Intro)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Vitamin D
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Promised Land
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Fantastic Food
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Dail
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Derek

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Side B:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mill On The Hill (Reprise)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Pigeon And The Golden Egg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                18-30
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Masterplan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Running On MT
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mill On The Hill (Outro)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                HotWax

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Hot Shock

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  HotWax are a band set on experiencing life at its most intense.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In the past two years, the Hastings-via-Brighton trio - comprising Tallulah Sim-Savage (vocals/guitar), Lola Sam (bass) and Alfie Sayers (drums) - have toured the world over, clocking up over 150 dates, including shows with Royal Blood and Frank Carter, and major festival appearances at Reading & Leeds and All Points East. Out of all this comes debut album Hot Shock (due March 7 via Marathon Artists), a record of adrenaline-jolted anthems about abandoning fear and leaping boldly towards the future.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  HotWax worked with an all-female production team at the prestigious RAK studios, Catherine Marks (Boygenius, Wolf Alice) and Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Let's Eat Grandma), as well as additional recording with Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint in Joshua Tree, California.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  These songs were made to be played to a crowd, loud and with abandon. But there's also a beating pulse of vulnerability underscoring the album. It's an honest, moving sentiment sure to propel HotWax towards becoming the UK's next big crossover rock act - and beyond.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. She's Got A Problem
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Wanna Be A Doll
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Strange To Be Here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Dress Our Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Hard Goodbye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. One More Reason
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. In Her Bedroom
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Lights On
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Chip My Teeth For You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Pharmacy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Immersion / Suss

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Nanocluster Vol 3

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Colin Newman & Malka Spigel’s Immersion project sees the 3rd Volume of their Nanocluster collaboration series.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The third album in the Nanocluster series is a mid-Atlantic melting pot of ideas that have created a brand new third way. The album sees a collaboration between the European post-punk electronic discipline of Immersion meeting the American ambient country band SUSS and their big sky, new world, Americana cinematic soundscapes to create a perfect Nanocluster! It’s a perfect combination that fits the Nanocluster vision. Immersion’s open-minded approach sees their music spark new textures with the American band who were once described by UNCUT magazine as “Eno’s Apollo Atmospheres crash-landed in America’s Sonoran Desert,” and by Pitchfork as “Neither rawboned nor ramshackle … their elegantly composed brand of ambient country stands as tall and clean as a brand-new pair of cowboy boots.” Suss are composed of veteran musicians Pat Irwin (the B-52s, Raybeats, 8 Eyed Spy), Bob Holmes (numun, Rubber Rodeo), and Jonathan Gregg (the Combine, the Linemen), SUSS combine Pedal Steel, National Steel Guitar, Mandolin, Harmonica, Baritone Guitar, and the Harmonium, which they weave with synthesizers and loops to create their big, lonesome sound.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Khamsin
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. In Between Us
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Luminous
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Cross Pollination
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. In The Far Away
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. The Nameless
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. State Of Motion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Altitude

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Da Googie & Cara Tivey

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Golden Thread

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Rambling on about the brilliance of Deb Googe and Cara Tivey is no difficult task - spot either of their names on a record’s sleeve credits and you’re guaranteed listening worthy of your time . . . and hard-earned cash!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Deb joined My Bloody Valentine during its ascent to legend, filled a temporary void in Primal Scream, aids in Thurston Moore's late-period artistic high, formed Snowpony with Stereolab’s Katharine Gifford and plays bass in ex-Fall guitarist Brix Smith’s all-female band.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Cara’s may be best known as a longtime Billy Bragg collaborator, but she’s played with an array of other outstanding artists, among them Everything But The Girl, Blur, Lilac Time, Au Pairs and the greatest living genius of the West Midlands, Robert Lloyd of Nightingales fame. Incredibly, despite decades of stellar work, neither Deb nor Cara has ever released an album under their own names until now with 'The Golden Thread', their full-length debut, made under the name Da Googie + Cara Tivey. The album was wholly recorded in Deb’s home studio and performed exclusively by the duo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The album is preceded by a video for 'Dumb', an indictment of the sad state of the modern western world, which serves as a fine point of an entry into the album’s seemingly contradictory sonic elements: thick-yet-minimal soundscapes, the openness of dub put across in a densely claustrophobic style, a bass-driven sound melding effortlessly into moments of delicate piano, and lyrics which convey vast depths of meaning with only a mere handful of words.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      'Dumb' is available on YouTube as a fantastic video (by Deb herself) from absurdities captured in animated (and public domain) footage - a rodent army, ape-like men alongside man-like apes, brainless birds . . . as well as their even sadder human equivalents, captured in film. By the time you read this, a second video, 'Bad Habits', will likely already have appeared.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Bad Habits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. The Longest Wait
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. You Take It With You When You Go
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Rant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Dumb
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Mad Mike (Mark My Words)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. The Last Tear Falls
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Secret Place

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Lust For Youth & Croatian Amor

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      All Worlds

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        In June 2023, Lust For Youth and Croatian Amor shared the stage at the iconic Sydney Opera House during the Vivid Live Festival. This encounter reignited their creative partnership, laying the foundation for their collaborative new album 'All Worlds'. Drawing inspiration from the 'Golden Record' sent into space as humanity’s message to the unknown, 'All Worlds' mirrors this longing for connection and understanding. Each track captures a fragment of emotion, culture, or memory, offering a kaleidoscopic view of the human experience. The album’s title reflects the idea of collecting fragments from disparate places, feelings, and stories. Each song unveils a unique “world,” contributing to overarching themes of exploration and introspection. These “worlds” represent the inner landscapes we carry, shaping our identities. The title also gestures toward connection — as if these worlds float through space, waiting to be discovered and understood. Ultimately, 'All Worlds' embodies the quest for belonging and meaning.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Through a sonic journey of isolation, resilience, and wonder, introspective lyrics intertwine with lush, evocative soundscapes. Retaining the dreamy atmospheres characteristic of both Lust For Youth and Croatian Amor, the album’s reverb-drenched production lends it an ethereal, nostalgic quality. While themes of melancholy and longing are central, energetic beats and uplifting arrangements introduce a bittersweet harmony that oscillates between vulnerability and euphoria.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The album marks a shift in tone, moving away from Lust For Youth’s synth-driven post-punk roots. Instead, All Worlds embraces a dance-oriented aesthetic, weaving pulsating rhythms and techno-inspired motifs with layered vocal samples. The result is a textured soundscape—an exploration of emotional fragility through shimmering production and introspective melodies. Celebrating twelve years since their 2013 ambient-industrial album 'Pomegranate', 'All Worlds' reflects the evolution of Lust For Youth and Croatian Amor. This album serves as both a response to their earlier work and a progression informed by a decade of growth and change. It deepens their exploration of sound and meaning, speaking directly to the present moment.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Like the 'Golden Record' adrift in space, 'All Worlds' is a collection of moments waiting to connect with those who choose to listen. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Friendzone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Passerine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Dummy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Akkadian
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Lights In The Center
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Kokiri
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Nowhere
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Fleece
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Velella Velella Wind Sailors
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Still Here

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Antony Szmierek

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Service Station At The End Of The Universe

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Manchester-based poet, writer and producer Antony Szmierek has announced the release of his debut album, Service Station At The End Of The Universe. The past few years have been a wild ride for the artist. Cutting his teeth on the Manchester spoken word scene and gaining notoriety for his seamless flow skewering everything from the hardships of contemporary British life to finding the unexpected beauty in the everyday, it was the 2023 release of his single ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Fallacy’ that kicked off his meteoric ascent. The earworming track soon found its way onto the BBC 6 Music airwaves and led Szmierek to be named an Artist of the Year 2023 by the station. There followed appearances on Later… with Jools Holland, a BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session, multiple triumphant Glastonbury sets and a flurry of comparisons: to the pavement prose of The Streets, the poetry of John Cooper Clarke if he found himself at the Haçienda, or like Jarvis Cocker for the UK Garage generation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Yet, with the release of his 2023 indie-influenced EP Poems To Dance To and now his banger-filled, dancefloor-focused debut album, Service Station at the End of the Universe, Szmierek cements his sound as one that is distinctly his own. While the album provides a culmination of the deep dancefloor poetry that began with ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Fallacy’, it also showcases a new side to Szmierek’s writing, producing moments of downbeat, dark poignance. The album produces a cohesive and infectious journey through pop melodic hooks and thumping dancefloor orchestrations.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Barry says: FINALLY the debut album from Manchester's favourite downward facing class traitor. Wry, perfectly formed lyrics that will draw obvious comparison to The Streets, but for me Szmierek's work is even more full of cleverly applied production moments underpinning those perfectly penned passages. ALSO, Lancaster service station on an album cover? SIGN ME UP.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Side 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Service Station At The End Of The Universe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. Rafters
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. The Great Pyramid Of Stockport
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Big Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Yoga Teacher
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Crumb

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Side 2:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Fallacy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Passingthru
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Take Me There
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Restless Leg Syndrome
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Crashing Up
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Angie’s Wedding

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Doves

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Constellations For The Lonely

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The Doves are back with their sixth studio album, 'Constellations For The Lonely'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            First emerging in 1998 with the release of their debut, vinyl-only 'Cedar' EP, Doves’ first album, 'Lost Souls' (2000), received both press and award-panel praise, before Number One follow-up, 'The Last Broadcast' (2002) provided the trio with a major breakthrough, offering with the hit singles, "There Goes The Fear" and "Pounding". Straight-to-Number One follow up, Some Cities (2005) and the difficult birth of the much-loved Kingdom of Rust (2009) appeared before an eleven year hiatus came to an end with Number One 'The Universal Want' (2020).  And now five years later the rejuvenated trio of Jez Williams, Jimi Goodwin and Andy Williams return with the epic and hugely anticipated 'Constellations For The Lonely'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Barry says: Doves return for their most progressive, nuanced outing yet. Though they have made their name as an 'indie' band, Constellations For The Lonely shows that their wheelhouse effortlessly expands with each release, crafting pieces that are wildly dynamic and enduringly unique and taking them well beyond the realms of their initial appeal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side A
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Renegade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Cold Dreaming
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. In The Butterfly House
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Strange Weather
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. A Drop In The Ocean

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Side B
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Last Year’s Man
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Stupid Schemes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Saint Teresa
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Orlando
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Southern Bell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Andy Bell

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Pinball Wanderer

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ride guitarist and songwriter Andy Bell’s third solo album pinball wanderer is an otherworldly collection of intergalactic wizardry that mixes psychedelic melodies, Can-via-The Stone Roses grooves and Arthur Russell-style experimental textures.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              With guest appearances from Dot Allison and Neu! legend Michael Rother on a cover of The Passions’ peerless post-punk classic ‘I’m In Love With A German Film Star’, it is perfect for both deep-listening headphones moments and cutting across the coolest, most understated dancefloors.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The loose-limbed rhythm tracks were the starting point and were laid down with the help of Andy’s old Oasis bandmate Gem Archer. The rest followed after an intense all-night session last summer, with the completed album being delivered the following morning. It’s Andy’s finest work to date; a quintessential nighttime record where you can slip through the gaps in the notes and revel in the moment.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Barry says: Another superb curveball from the brilliant Andy Bell here, effortlessly sashaying through funk, garage and Madchester grooves while retaining is firm grasp of melody and flawless musical pacing. There are hints of his more electronic excursions as there are flickers of ambient, but on the whole, it's a different ball game. All the better for it too, a hugely varied but cohesive journey.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Panic Attack
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I’m In Love…
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Madder Lake Deep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Apple Green Ufo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Pinball Wanderer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Music Concrete
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The Notes You Never Hear
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Space Station Mantra
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I’m In Love… (Justin Robertson’s Deadstock 33s Remix) – CD Only
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I’m In Love… (GLOK Remix) - CD Only
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I’m In Love… (Justin Robertson’s Deadstock 33s Dub) - CD Only

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Bdrmm

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Microtonic

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “I think this is the best thing we've ever done, it's a proper step up.” It’s immediately clear that the Hull band have broken new ground on Microtonic. “The last album was essentially like a bridge between the two albums,” the band say of 2023’s I Don’t Know. “With that one we knew what we were trying to do but with this one we've fully cracked it.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bdrmm’s trademark sound hasn’t disappeared by any means, the band's more guitar-heavy beginnings a blueprint and influence on many of the groups breaking through in the here and now, a time when shoegaze is enjoying its strongest revival since its inception in the 80s, but those guitars are now incorporated into a broader, more expansive and varied sonic palette.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                "Microtonic", recorded with long-term band collaborator Alex Greaves, features guest appearances from Working Men's Club and Olivesque of Nightbus.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Barry says: BDRMM aren't exactly afraid of pushing boundaries, and earned a lot more fans with their last LP 'Standard Tuning'. This time, the Hull foursome smash through a series of beautifully produced pieces, packed with industrial synths and woozy floating pads, shoegaze tentativeness and electronic bombast.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1 Goit (featuring Working Men’s Club)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2 John On The Ceiling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3 Infinity Peaking
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4 Snares
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5 In The Electric Field (featuring Olivesque)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6 Microtonic
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7 Clarkycat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8 Sat In The Heat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9 Lake Disappointment
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10 The Noose

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Charli XCX

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Brat And It’s Completely Different

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Released for the first time on vinyl, ‘Brat and it’s completely different’ is the reworked version of ‘BRAT’ which reached number 1 on the UK’s official album chart, and includes the number 1 single ‘Guess featuring Billie Eillish’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Avant-pop and electronic superstar Charli xcx has become an iconic figure in the arts, having helped expand the landscape of popular music over the last decade by seamlessly traversing the underground and mainstream with her artistic output.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Over the course of a trailblazing career, the multi-hyphenate creative has earned critical acclaim for her innovative style and entrepreneurial spirit and seen her forward-thinking approach reshape pop culture in the process.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  She released her sixth studio album ‘BRAT’ in June which stands as the most critically acclaimed album of the year and landed at Number 1 on the UK Official Album Chart in October.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ‘BRAT’ has well and truly made its mark on the cultural zeitgeist this year; the audacious campaign has seen Charli cause roadblocks around the world with her pop-up ‘PARTYGIRL’ DJ sets, break the internet with viral videos and surprise collaborations with the likes of Billie Eilish, Lorde, Addison Rae, Robyn, Yung Lean, Julia Fox, Chloë Sevigny, and Rachel Sennott and introduce a new tone of green to the social lexicon.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize 2024 while ‘Guess featuring Billie Eilish’ debuted at Number 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart, making Charli the first British artist to land at the top of the charts this year.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In October, Charli followed it up with ‘Brat and it's completely different but also still brat’ - a brand-new version of the critically acclaimed album featuring reimagined takes and innovative reworks of tracks from ‘BRAT’ featuring the likes of Julian Casablancas, Bon Iver, The 1975, Shygirl, Ariana Grande, Caroline Polachek and more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Her lasting impact was cemented last year when Charli was honoured with the Visionary Award at the annual Ivor Novellos in London, while she also received the Powerhouse Award at Billboard’s Women In Music ceremony in March, the ASCAP Global Impact Award in May and Wall Street Journal’s Music Innovator Award in October.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Barry says: Charli XCX brings us a remix LP of her brilliant and incredibly well received 'Brat' LP. Includes remixes by Von Dutch, Julian Casablancas, Billie Eilish and loads of others. Bangers, reimagined. We have the Green vinyl version too, not the one full of white powder.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. 360 Featuring Robyn & Yung Lean
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Club Classics Featuring Bb Trickz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Sympathy Is A Knife Featuring Ariana Grande
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. I Might Say Something Stupid Featuring The 1975 & Jon Hopkins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Talk Talk Featuring Troye Sivan
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Von Dutch A.g. Cook Remix Featuring Addison Rae
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Everything Is Romantic Featuring Caroline Polachek
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Rewind Featuring Bladee
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. So I Featuring A. G. Cook
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  10. Girl, So Confusing Featuring Lorde
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  11. Apple Featuring The Japanese House
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  12. B2b Featuring Tinashe
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  13. Mean Girls Featuring Julian Casablancas
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  14. I Think About It All The Time Featuring Bon Iver
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  15. 365 Featuring Shygirl
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  16. Guess Featuring Billie Eilish
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  17. Spring Breakers Featuring Kesha

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Kneecap (Original Soundtrack)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    With a string of glowing reviews and handful of awards already behind it, the Irish-language semi-biopic award-winning film is one of the most-acclaimed movie releases of the year playing in over 500 cinemas across the U.K and Ireland. The film was recently selected by the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) to represent Ireland in the Oscar International Feature Film category having previously scooped the ‘Next Audience Award’ at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and the ‘Audience Award’ at the Galway Film Fleadh in July.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Kneecap (Original Soundtrack) features tracks from the trio themselves alongside Bicep, Fontaines DC, Orbital plus the film’s incidental music composed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE interspersed with snippets of the film’s dialogue. The physical edition is available on double LP (featuring gatefold sleeve and colour vinyl) and CD.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Barry says: There are few bands that have made as much of an impact as Kneecap have, with their debut album hitting our end of year charts pretty heavily. Here we get the soundtrack to the film, following Kneecap around their scene and their peers and contemporaries. Including Kneecap (obv), Fontaines DC, Bicep and loads more.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. 'Every Fucking Story About Belfast Starts Like This' – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Parful – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. ITS BEEN AGES – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Run – Mikey J
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. ‘Nothing But A H.O.O.D’ – Marty Maguire & Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Civil Rights – Mikey J
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7. ‘A Wee Operation’ – Michael Fassbender & Cillian Kernan & Aidan McCaughey
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8. Dad's Gone – Mikey J
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9. Amach Anocht – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    10. ‘You Bring A Stolen Car Here’ – Michael Fassbender & Naoise O Caireallain      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    11. Ceasefire Babies – Mikey J
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    12. Guilty Conscience – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    13. ‘Love Affair With The Shniff’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    14. C.E.A.R.T.A – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    15. Arrested – Mikey J
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    16. 80% – Dirty Faces
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    17. 3CAG (ft. Radie Peat) – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    18. The A Minor Set – The Bonny Men
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    19. ‘No Need To Panic’ – Naoise O Caireallain & Gerry Adams      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    20. Thart Agus Thart – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    21. ‘What The Fuck Was That?!’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh & Jessica Reynolds
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    22. Glue – Bicep
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    23. Sick In The Head – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    24. Liberty Belle – Fontaines D.C.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    25. ‘Special Delivery’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh & Naoise O Caireallain & Adam Best & Cathal Mercer 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    26. Phone Booth – Mikey J, Gemma Doherty And Simone Kirby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    27. Ash Plant – Absolute Lilt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    28. Belfast (Fuck The Fuck Off) – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh & Kerri Quinn & Orbital
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    29. Better Way To Live (ft. Grian Chatten) – KNEECAP
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    30. Kneecapped – Mikey J
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    31. Fall In Love Again – Alanna Royale
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    32. Is A Bullet – Mikey J, Gemma Doherty And Simone Kirby
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    33. ‘The Irish For The End Is...’ – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh        
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    34. H.O.O.D – KNEECAP

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The Lathums

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Matter Does Not Define

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Defiance, vulnerability, pride and the excuse to let loose are all promised by The Lathums. Under no influence yet emerging into long shadows cast by comparisons to The Smiths and Arctic Monkeys, The Lathums brought light with debut album, How Beautiful Life Can Be in 2021 and shone brighter still on follow-up, From Nothing To A Little Bit More in 2023. The arrival of ‘Matter Does Not Define’, sees the opening credits roll on the four-piece’s third, thrilling season.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      ‘Matter Does Not Define’ was written by the band, comprised of Moore, Scott Concepcion (guitars, piano and vocals) Ryan Durrans (drums) and Matty Murphy (bass and vocals), in their native Wigan before recording at Kempston Street Studios, Liverpool in the company of long-term creative guide, John Kettle and producer, Chris Taylor. Proving prolific with a 12-song track listing, ‘Matter Does Not Define’ not only follows the band’s chart-topping second album, but their classic indie debut, 2021’s ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Honesty, hope and heartbreak feature in the poetry-laced music of The Lathums. Everything sung from the heart, four young men from an overlooked town in England’s north gathered as teenagers without ego or expectation and set about changing the lives of the people that gathered round them. From the earliest strains of ‘Fight On’ to the closing chord of ‘How Beautiful Life Can Be’, the words of shy indie icon, Alex Moore, coupled with the chiming riffs of guitarist, Scott Concepcion and restrained rhythmic back bone of drummer, Ryan Durrans and bassist, Matty Murphy, have sought to bring fervor to Saturday nights as much as soothe Sunday mornings. The Lathums have proved themselves to be a band for all times and all people.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Barry says: A step outside the comfortable indie-adjacent melodic business we've come to know from The Lathums. While we retain the obvious melodicism and anthemic drive of the earlier works, it's great to hear a band step into more off-piste sounds and ideas.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Leave No Stone Unturned
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Reflections Of Lessons Left
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Stellar Cast
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Heartbreaker
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Dynamite
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Unrequited Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. No Direction
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. Bitter End
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. Knocking At Your Door
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. The Jester
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Surrounded By Your Beauty
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Long Shadows

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Lola Young

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      This Wasn't Meant For You Anyway

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        “Here is my first-born child, a fuck you to all my exes, and basically me just trying to figure out some shit openly and honestly on record. First of many and if you don't like it, then this wasn't meant for you anyway.” - Lola Young.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        'This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway' marks a remarkable shift in Lola’s sound as an artist. Recorded in LA and produced by friend and collaborator Solomonophic (Remi Wolf, BROCKHAMPTON, Dominic Fike), 'This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway' is a multi-faceted, fearless concept. As irresistible as it is unexpected, Lola’s album is crackling with kinetic energy and lyrically fuelled by rage, passion, narrative flair and comedy derision. A contemporary break-up album, 'This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway' encapsulates the sound of what it means to be young and in constant romantic chaos. With exciting plans up Lola’s sleeve, her upcoming record will undoubtedly add to her musical trajectory. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Barry says: A superb effort, moving between garage rock and punk-adjacent melodicism, soulful passages and grooves with cleverly wrought lyrics and ceaseless energy. Brilliantly written, incendiary lyrics and superb performances all round. Lola Young is one to keep an eye on.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Good Books
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Wish You Were Dead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Big Brown Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Conceited
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Messy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Walk On By
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. You Noticed
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Crush
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Fuck
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Intrusive Thoughts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Outro

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Everything Is Recorded

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Temporary

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          'Temporary' features an incredible roll call of collaborators including Sampha, Bill Callahan, Noah Cyrus, Florence Welch, Maddy Prior, Berwyn, Alabaster Deplume, Jah Wobble, Yazz Ahmed, Laura Groves, Kamasi Washington, Rickey Washington, Roses Gabor, Jack Peňate, Samantha Morton, Clari Freeman-Taylor and Nourished By Time. Created over four years from 2020 to 2024, 'Temporary' was recorded at Russell’s own west London Copper House studio, alongside sessions in Tottenham, Cumbria, Dorset, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and is set to build on previous acclaimed releases including 2018’s eponymous, Mercury Prize-nominated debut album.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          On 'Temporary', Russell reboots his musical DNA: while his music had previously been about rhythm, words and melody in that order, on Temporary he swaps rhythm and melody, the rhythm taking up less space and the melody coming to the fore. Musically some songs are inspired by the sonic thought experiment “what if folk music had ‘gone digital’ in the 80s, just as reggae had?”, while spiritually and lyrically the themes encompass grief and loss. The results – elevated by an intriguing and diverse set of collaborators who sound like the best and freshest versions of themselves – are the most luminous and relaxed compositions of Russell’s career. Every song sounds washed in sunshine and graced by tenderness. More fragile and quieter than previous Everything Is Recorded output, it might be one of the gentlest records ever made about death. In Russell’s own words “making the album was joyous, a way of hallowing life.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. October
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. My And Me (feat. Sampha, Laura Groves, Ricky Washington And Alabaster DePlume)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Porcupine Tattoo (feat. Noah Cyrus And Bill Callahan)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Never Felt Better (feat. Sampha And Florence Welch)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Ether (feat. Maddy Prior)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Losing You (feat. Sampha, Laura Groves, Jah Wobble And Yazz Ahmed)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Firelight (feat. Florence Welch, Berwyn And Alabaster DePlume)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. The Summons
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. No More Rehearsals (feat. Roses Gabor, Jah Wobble, Jack Peñate And Yazz Ahmed)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. You Were Smiling (feat. Samantha Morton)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. Norm (feat. Bill Callahan)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Swamp Dream #3 (feat. Clari Freeman-Taylor)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. The Meadows (feat. Roses Gabor, Kamasi Washington And Ricky Washington)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          14. Goodbye (Hell Of A Ride) (feat. Nourished By Time)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Panda Bear

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Sinister Grift

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            On ‘Sinister Grift’, Panda Bear’s first solo album in five years, Noah Lennox has returned with another statement that feels equally cumulative and unprecedented in his catalog. While his solo records have ranged from starkly intimate expressions of grief to colorful, electronic opuses, his music has never before sounded so warm and immediate. Working in his Lisbon, Portugal home studio with Animal Collective bandmate Josh “Deakin” Dibb, Lennox transforms Panda Bear into something resembling an old-school rock ensemble, playing nearly all the instruments himself and inviting kindred spirits into the process such as Cindy Lee, Spirit of the Beehive’s Rivka Ravede, and—for the first time on a Panda Bear solo album—each of his Animal Collective bandmates.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Praise
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Anywhere But Here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. 50mg
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Ends Meet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Just As Well
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Ferry Lady
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Venom’s In
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Left In The Cold
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Elegy For Noah Lou
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Defense

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Mdou Moctar

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Tears Of Injustice

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              If 'Funeral for Justice' was the sound of outrage, 'Tears of Injustice' is the sound of grief.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mdou Moctar’s new album is 'Funeral for Justice' completely re-recorded and rearranged for acoustic and traditional instruments. It is an evolution of the band’s critically-adored breakout – the meditative mirror-image to the blistering original.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In July of 2023, Mdou Moctar was on tour in the United States when the president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was deposed by a military junta who made him prisoner at the presidential residence. They ordered the nation’s borders closed, leaving band members Mdou Moctar, Ahmoudou Madassane, and Souleymane Ibrahim unable to return home to their families. Plans to record a companion to 'Funeral for Justice' – then still many months from release – had been in the works already, but the idea now took on new urgency and gravity. Two days after the tour wrapped in New York City, the quartet began tracking 'Tears of Injustice' at Brooklyn’s Bunker Studio with engineer Seth Manchester.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              “We wanted to make a separate version of Funeral for people to hear,” explains the band’s US-based bassist and producer, Mikey Coltun. “We’re always playing around with arrangements at shows. We wanted to prove that we could do it on a record, too. And there’s a whole other side of the band that comes out when we play a stripped down set. It becomes something new.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              They chose to track Tears sitting together in one room, keeping the session loose, stripped down, and spontaneous. “We didn’t really work on the arrangements prior to going in,” recalls Coltun. “We’d just play, find the feel, and do the song.” Things came together quickly, with principal recording wrapped in only two days. The hypnotic 8-minute take of ‘Imouhar’ is actually two distinct passes through the song performed in quick succession – Moctar didn’t stop playing long enough to split the takes apart. After a month, the band was able to return home to Niger and, when they did, Coltun gave Madassane a Zoom recorder to take along. The rhythm guitarist used it to record a group of Tuaregs performing call-and-response vocals, which were later added into the final mix.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              On 'Funeral for Justice', anger at the plight of Niger and the Tuareg people is plainly expressed in the music’s volume and velocity.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              On Tears, the songs retain that weight sans amplification. They are steeped in sadness, conveying the grief of a nation locked into a constant churn of poverty, colonial exploitation, and political upheaval. It is Tuareg protest music in raw and essential form. “When Mdou writes the lyrics, he typically writes them with an acoustic guitar. So you’re getting closer to that original moment,” says Coltun. “It retains heaviness, but it’s haunting.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Funeral For Justice (Injustice Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Imouhar (Injustice Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Takoba (Injustice Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Sousoume Tamacheq (Injustice Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Imajighen (Injustice Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Tchinta (Injustice Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Oh France (Injustice Version)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Modern Slaves (Injustice Version)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              DJ Sotofett

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              DJ Sotofett & The Colours Of Computer Generated Instruments

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The singular and charismatic DJ Sotofett comes with a real treat - a 12-track album on Clone West Coast Series that showcases a playful take on electronic music. Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of "DJ Sotofett & The Colours of Computer Generated Instruments". With 12 electrifying electro tracks that blend a wide spectrum of rhythms with 80's Nintendo console vibes and holy grail analog vs digital synthesis, this album is a jubilant celebration of that sound. Prepare for an exhilarating journey filled with surprises, seamlessly transitioning from acid infected vibes and catchy electronic pop to groundbreaking avant-garde electro cuts. Each track intricately weaves together influences from over 40 years of electronic dance music, inviting listeners to explore the rich tapestry of genres that have shaped the landscape. As you delve deeper, you'll uncover the intricate layers and innovative production techniques that define Sotofett's distinctive style, transforming this album into more than just a collection of tracks - it's a true sonic adventure that beckons you to listen, dance and dream.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Matt says: Quirky and talented Sotofett helms his starship for another bit-reduced trip into intergalactic, electro-technoid bliss! Taking cues from previous acid / box jam masters such as Vibert, RX-101, Legowelt etc; but harnessing a control voltage all of his own!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 01 Phunk Baton
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 02 Take Me To A Silent Place Original Mix
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 03 Phantom Dubmix
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 04 MIDI Lightning
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 05 Transmission Interlude
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 06 Transmission Damaged
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 07 Morse Phunk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 08 Take Me To A Silent Place Exterior Mix
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 09 Forever Syncopation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 10 Mission Damage Trance
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 11 MIDI Blitz
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 12 Our City Is Never Utopia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 13 Transfusion
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 14 MIDI Voyage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              • 15 Take Me To A Silent Place Sun Mix

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Powerdance

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Powerdance II

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Legion of Boogie Down return for their second album inventively titled Powerdance II. It’s been 8 years since the critically acclaimed “The Lost Art of Getting Down,” was heralded by the Guardian of one of the albums of the year. This time the band of misfits add additional wonk to their future vision of music for night clubs and basements.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Formed as a collective by Luke Solomon back in 2017, the music was a reaction to the continuing evolution of genre. The latest album is a continuation on a theme. This time joined by musical partner Chris Penny, rising star Josh Ludlow and original band members Alinka, Lance Desardi amongst others, the live hybrid of fusing wild synths, drums and percussion from the legendary Holly Madge, the band take you in outer space with their trippy spin on disco, funk and house music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Long Live the Legion of Boogie Down.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF COMMENTS

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matt says: Super strong LP which skirts between house and disco camps like a pilled up festival floozy. Rock solid mixing and mastering for extended nightclub play. But stick this on during your next living room / kitchen disco and everyone's gonna be vibing.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A. Dancing In Outer Space
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                B. Powertime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C1. Icarus
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                C2. Things To Do
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D1. Body Music
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                D2. Mystery Love 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Marie Davidson

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                City Of Clowns

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Canadian DJ-producer Marie Davidson releases her sixth studio album 'City Of Clowns', made in collaboration with Soulwax and Pierre Guerineau (Essaie pas, L’Œil Nu, Feu St-Antoine), via Soulwax’s own Deewee label. Earlier this year, Davidson debuted on the legendary Deewee imprint with her single 'Y.A.A.M. (Your Asses Are Mine)', reuniting with the Belgian powerhouse Soulwax, who previously reworked Davidson’s acclaimed 'Work It' anthem. Her all-out blistering club cut “Contrarian” soon followed, evoking Davidson's heavier output.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  'City Of Clowns', marks a return to the club – but not as you know it. The techno thump and scathing spoken-word delivery of 'Working Class Woman' resurface at points, but the pop structures and melodic sensibilities of 'Renegade Breakdown' also remain. It’s a “strange” sonic blend even by Davidson’s own standards. “It’s definitely linking back to what I was doing pre-pandemic, but with a bit of an evolution,” she says. “I didn't want to just repeat myself.” The sound and the spirit of the album are shaped, too, by the fact that Davidson has a new antagonist. This time it’s not club culture that’s coming for her sense of self, it’s Big Tech.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Validations Weight
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Demolition
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  3. Sexy Clown
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  4. Push Me Fuckhead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  5. Fun Times
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  6. Statistical Modelling
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Y.A.A.M.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8. Contrarian
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  9. Unknowing 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Mytron & Zongamin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Congregate

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Zongamin and Mytron reunite on Multi Culti with an album of collaborations. Exploring the depths of leftfield outer nationalism these two mainstays of our global family serve up a colorful array of mind-altering disco and interdimensional dub. Tribal motifs merge with field recordings while synthesized animals call out over exotic hand percussion. Jams on vintage synths meet 8-bit sampling bounced onto spring reverbs and digital delays from the 80s. Started mid-pandemic, this collaboration ignored the surrounding havoc and social distancing, instead focusing on Good Vibes TM and positivity with a genre-defying approach belying trans-continental origins. The result is a playful symbiosis that is Phatter than the sum of its elements. Mytron is Jacek Janiszewski, a pan-European multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ, born in Poland, raised in Holland and Germany, and now living in London for the best part of a decade, his releases, for labels including XXX, Codek, Bordello A Parigi, Multi Culti, Nein and Les Yeux Orange, herald a similar nomadic spirit. Zongamin, Susumu Mukai is a composer, producer, and illustrator based in London. He has released records on Multi Culti, Flesh Records, XL recordings, Ed Banger, ESP Institute, and AD93, and has remixed for Air, John Cale, Trevor Jackson, Sandro Perri, and others. He is a member of groups Vanishing Twin, V/Z, Holy Tongue, and Stalactite.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A1. 08932168
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A2. Arboretum
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A3. Alchemy II
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A4. Conjunction With Reality
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B1. GHX
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B2. Alchemy III
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B3. Calliope Omniglot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    B4. Congregate

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Richard Norris

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Music For Healing - Colours Volume One

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Richard Norris has now been releasing Music For Healing ambient tracks every month for five years. This latest vinyl outing features four tracks from the Music For Healing 'Colours' series - long, meditative pieces of deep listening music to warm the heart and sooth the soul.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Ultramarine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. Chrome
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Volt
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. Liberty

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Darkside

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Nothing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ‘Nothing’ is the third album from DARKSIDE: nine transmissions of negative space, telepathic seance, and spectral improvisation.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        It fittingly started from scratch. On their first two reinventions, Nicolás Jaar and Dave Harrington entered the studio with a clutch of scattered ideas and loose melodic fragments to mould into what became the revered ‘Psychic’(2013) and ‘Spiral’ (2021). But ‘Nothing’ reflected a search for form borne out of spontaneous elliptical jams, acoustic riffing, and digital levitations. And in a fundamental shift from their first dozen years as a band, Jaar and Harrington recruited their longtime friend and collaborator, the drummer and instrument designer Tlacael Esparza, to become a full-time member.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The outcome is magnetic and hieroglyphic. This album slips through the cracks of convention with serpentine guitars, extraterrestrial static, and cavernous drums. Haunted rhythms, distorted vocals, and uncanny beauty. No band but DARKSIDE could have made ‘Nothing,’ and in no moment but now.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. SLAU
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. S.N.C
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Are You Tired? (Keep On Singing)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Graucha Max
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. American References
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. Heavy Is Good For This
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Hell Suite, Pt. I
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Hell Suite, Pt. II
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Sin El Sol No Hay Na

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Ichiko Aoba

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Luminescent Creatures

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          To listen to Ichiko Aoba is to be drawn into a world as intimate as a warmly lit home, but cosmic in scale. The Japanese singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, has taken a dedicated online fanbase built from TikTok sounds and critically acclaimed, and translated that into international tours spanning more than 20 countries. She was well known in Japan—collaborating with artists like Haruomi Hosono, Cornelius, and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto—but Windswept Adan earned the adoration of fellow musicians like Japanese Breakfast, Pomme and Weyes Blood. Aoba’s latest album, Luminescent Creatures, is the culmination of her 15-year long career and finds her deftly melding the jazz-infused folk with the orchestral world building. Available exclusively on eco-vinyl, the eco-friendly packaging reflects Aoba's deep commitment to environmentalism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. COLORATURA
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. 24° 03' 27.0" N 123° 47' 07.5" E
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Mazamun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Tower
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. Aurora
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. FLAG
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Cochlea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Luciférine
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Pirsomnia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. SONAR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. ƃ

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Yazz Ahmed

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          A Paradise In The Hold

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            'A Paradise In The Hold' is an album of yearning. It’s about Ivor Novello Award winning Yazz Ahmed’s dual heritage, drawing on traditional music and folklore as well as her own personal experience as a British-Bahraini woman. A sweeping epic where tradition meets innovation, she melds ancient rhythms with contemporary musicianship. The record is a tribute to the sorrowful songs of Bahrain’s pearl divers, the strength of Arab women, and the celebratory rhythms of women's traditional drumming circles, while also telling the story of Yazz’s own decade-long voyage of self-discovery.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The album also marks Yazz’s first foray into writing lyrics, in both English and Arabic, bringing a new dimension to her expansive sound. The project features an impressive roster of collaborators, including vocalists Natacha Atlas, Brigitte Beraha, and percussionist Corrina Silvester. 'With A Paradise In The Hold', Ahmed delivers a groundbreaking fusion of tradition and innovation, creating a contemporary jazz project that is set to make a lasting impact on the genre.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. She Stands On The Shore
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. A Paradise In The Hold
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Mermaid’s Tears
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Her Light
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Al Naddaha
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Dancing Barefoot
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Into The Night
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Though My Eyes Go To Sleep My Heart Does Not Forget You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. To The Lonely Sea
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            10. Waiting For The Dawn

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Deep Sea Diver

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Billboard Heart

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In the middle of July 2023 in a Los Angeles studio, Deep Sea Diver mastermind Jessica Dobson took a guitar solo but somehow felt nothing. Just days earlier, her Seattle band played a series of semi-secret shows for devotees at a hometown bar, de facto rehearsals for cutting a new record. The sets had gone well, but, almost immediately, the sessions didn’t. The songs’ essence seemed muddled, Dobson’s conviction lost somewhere in the 1,000 miles between Southern California and the home studio she shares with partner, drummer, and frequent cowriter Peter Mansen. On that first night in Los Angeles, she broke down, wondering what she was doing there, what her band could do to fix it. For the first time ever, Deep Sea Diver retreated, heading home without an album. Did they need to scrap it all, to begin again with new material?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Not at all: Following a brief break, Dobson found a renewed sense of self, a trust in her vision for her band and songs and her ability to capture them. After that Los Angeles hiccup, longtime collaborator Andy Park asked Dobson how the new stuff was going over an early fall dinner. She admitted she needed help. In that humbling confession, she soon found ways of working that helped her reimagine and reinvigorate Deep Sea Diver and led directly to the power and brilliance of Billboard Heart, Deep Sea Diver’s fourth album and first for Sub Pop. It is a coup, a triumph over self-doubt in which what first felt like failure became an opportunity to find new freedom, belief, and strength. You can hear it in each of these 11 songs, the beating heart that makes everything here feel like a new anthem for finding your own way forward.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The cocksure Bad Seeds swagger of “Shovel,” the tender mercies of “Loose Change,” the serpentine machinations of “Let Me Go,” where Dobson tangles with fellow guitar dynamo Madison Cunningham: Billboard Heart immediately puts Deep Sea Diver in the company of St. Vincent, TV on the Radio, and Flock of Dimes, bands that have found newly ornate and magnetic ways to make indie rock by discarding notions of how it must sound or what it must say. Dobson punches through her past here. As she howls during Billboard Heart’s rapturous title track, she is “welcoming the future by letting go of it.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Exactly three years before Dobson’s galvanizing dinner with Park, Deep Sea Diver issued its third album, 2020’s Impossible Weight, via ATO, the colossal indie imprint that has helped My Morning Jacket, Alabama Shakes, and King Gizzard build careers across the last quarter-century. It was a significant step up for a band that had self-released its first two LPs. The surge of resources resulted in a groundswell of exposure, even a spot on Billboard charts.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              That success, though, caused Dobson to doubt her impulses, to begin thinking about what an idea’s impact or reception might be as much the strength of the idea itself. During this period of second-guessing, she and Mansen sat near the wide windows of their Seattle living room, with her on piano as he hammered a guitar nearby. “See in the Dark”—a song about coveting your own notions, despite the occasional sense they’re slipping away—emerged in that single sitting, its gothic elegance and pop grandeur proffering a blueprint for what else could come.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              That moment of domestic creation proved essential for several reasons. Before Impossible Weight, Dobson and Mansen wrote many of Deep Sea Diver’s songs together; this was a return to that bond, which carried over to more than half of Billboard Heart. What’s more, the pair began recording more at home, too. They borrowed microphones and a small clutch of essential gear to capture guitars and vocals in their basement. When talks later began in earnest with Park following the Los Angeles debacle, Dobson began revisiting those earlier recordings, realizing that she had captured so much of that ineffable spark at home, where the atmosphere was of her own design. Mansen and Park helped convince her these weren’t just good enough to use but riveting in their realness. These early versions became templates and blueprints to build upon and frame, plus a way for Dobson to believe again in the material and, most important, herself.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              And from end to end, the material on Billboard Heart is astonishing. The title track is the one song Deep Sea Diver actually finished in Los Angeles. It’s a radiant and magnificent thing, the billowing synths of member Elliot Jackson and tunneling pedal steel of guest Greg Leisz pushing up an anthem for fearlessly advancing into the future, as best you can. “Emergency” links hardcore’s famous vim to electroclash’s instant allure, Dobson’s italicized voice racing like a gust of wind. Her brief guitar solo at the end is an all-timer, a few hiccupping notes suddenly moving like a sports car in terrifyingly tight corners. Tender and vulnerable, “Tiny Threads” is a sweeping anthem for anyone trying to hold anything together—life, love, themselves. “If it haunts me, let it haunt me,” Dobson sings softly over a stillness framed only by bass and noise. She lets her guitar careen into feedback, then steadily sculpts it into something tuneful. It’s a lifetime of anxiety and sublimation, crystallized into 10 seconds. Billboard Heart feels that way at large.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              For a minute there, Dobson let that mix of art and commerce we call the music industry cloud her judgment and interfere with her impulses, a common enough story for anyone whose decades of work suddenly yield success. She found her way out of that wormhole by embracing newness, whether that meant practicing songwriting as if it were collegiate homework, believing in her skills recording at home, or playing bass herself because the band had blown so much money during those aborted Los Angeles sessions. (N.B. The big but elastic bass lines are a consistent highlight here, so: good choice.)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Mostly, she let go of the fear that comes when we think about our jobs, no matter what they are, and remembered that making music is less work than a way of reckoning and playing with the world, of healing and finding other ways forward. Billboard Heart emerged when Dobson trusted her instincts, a personal breakthrough that prompted an artistic one. It is, in turn, the best Deep Sea Diver album yet, a defiant and brilliant exclamation mark at the end of a long period of wandering. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Billboard Heart
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. What Do I Know
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3. Emergency
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              4. Shovel
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              5. Tiny Threads
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              6. Loose Change
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              7. Always Waving Goodbye
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              8. Let Me Go (feat. Madison Cunningham)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              9. Be Sweet
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              10. See In The Dark
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              11. Happiness Is Not A Given

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Echolalia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Echolalia

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                There is something unique about Echolalia. Conjuring sonic magic in an ancient abbey off the English coast, this band of Nashville pros gathered far from the structures of Music City to create an alchemical haze of earthy audio adventures. Grounded in friendship and a sense of freedom to follow sounds through whatever windswept fields they found themselves in, the result of the collaboration is Echolalia. Pastoral and psychedelic, cosy and progressive, Echolalia is comfortable in its own oddness and creative in ways both familiar and unexpected.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “It was Jordan Lehning that decided to put it together,” says songwriter and pedal steel wizard Spencer Cullum, who performs alongside the likes of country super star Miranda Lambert and ambient jazz auteur Rich Ruth. “I told Jordan about this studio in a really desolate area on the Isle of Wight that a friend of mine runs called Chale Abbey. It's a beautiful old building from 1160 where monks used to live. The studio owners completely renovated it. Jordan had this idea - the four songwriters would have three songs and we'd work together to make a record of it”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                With the addition of multi-instrumentalists Eli Beaird, Juan Solorzano and Lehning’s brother Jason behind the board, the group gathered in Chale Abbey Studios for a very un-Nashville experience: no charts, no headphones, no isolation. No preconceptions, no expectations, just friends enjoying one another's talents, responding with a sense of joy. No obligations to corporate radio or shareholder value, no amp modelling and quantization - just musicians making music.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                “Destination records are my favourite records to make,” says multi-instrumentalist Jordan Lehning, whose collaborators include Rodney Crowell and Orville Peck. “You feel like you're the only person on planet Earth making a record when you're out in the middle of nowhere doing it. In Nashville you’ll go to lunch and run into 15 other people that are also making a record. Going out to the middle of nowhere, where the coast is a seven minute walk, and in the wintertime, it's cold and foggy and beautiful… there's really nothing like it”.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Drummer Dominic Billett and bass player Eli Beaird round out the band with a rhythm section as lyrical as it is propulsive. Juan Solorzano’s guitar and synth contributions add otherworldly textures, tethering songs to the firmament as they begin to drift beyond the veil. Jason Lehning’s engineering brings a clarity and focus that lets the room’s character be a part of the band.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The magic of Echolalia may be that the moons aligned to let busy friends with careers and kids and schedules and side hustles actually hang out in a way that adulthood rarely allows. In that special place populated by special people, the music was allowed to blossom in its own way, and now it makes its way into the world, unbidden by pretensions or preconceptions.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Dreams Of You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Odd Energy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3. Little Bird
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                4. Blood Moon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                5. Rainbow Road
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                6. Twisted Hemlock
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                7. Pterri
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                8. I’m Starving
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                9. Never Cry
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                10. For Your Love
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                11. The Fox And The Grapes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                12. In The Evening
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                13. In The Pub 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Rattle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Encircle

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rattle are Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley, they formed in 2011 after meeting on the live circuit whilst both playing in other bands. Katharine was a guitarist who had recently started playing drums in the band Kogumaza, whilst Theresa was the drummer in Nottingham band Fists. They’ve since released two long-players, 2016’s self-titled debut album Rattle (Upset The Rhythm / I Own You) and 2018’s Sequence (Upset The Rhythm) to much critical acclaim in the music press, and with James Acaster discussing the debut on his BBC Sounds podcast Perfect Sounds!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rattle have honed the four songs that make up ‘Encircle’ by playing them live over the last few years, adapting and stretching them into endlessly inventive new shapes, playing with the concept of time and expectation. ‘Encircle’ was recorded at Foel Studios, Wales, produced and mixed by Mark Jasper, and mastered at Liminal Audio by Shaun Crook. The stunningly colourful artwork was created by Martha Glazzard, who was also responsible for Rattle’s other mesmeric covers.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ‘All Burning’ opens the album, a live favourite of cyclical tumbling and evolving wordplay. ‘All Burning’ was built up gradually layer by layer with Theresa’s cumulative snare work and Katherine’s urgent calls for action: “hold your doctor, hold your daughter, hold your horses”. If ‘All Burning’ represents fire, then it’s accompanying 12-minute long track on Side 1, ‘Argot’, is informed by the air. ‘Argot’ is a song about uncertainty, with Katherine singing wordlessly across the majority of the track. “I prefer to sing wordlessly often because it feels a bit more expressive and universal” asserts Katherine. The track feels truly epic with a satisfying release that comes with the eventual introduction of the bass drum and snappy hi-hat section.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Side 2 also pairs a shorter song with a long-form composition. ‘Ritual’ is worked up from a simple snare drum pattern which becomes more and more overlapped into an elliptical form of waltz. Katherine considers ‘Ritual’ as “very earthy song - lots of low lying mist on the ground swirling around and the drums coming together to summon something”! ‘Ritual’ was inspired by a visit to the ruins of Boleskine House so multi-dimensional themes and occult practice loom large. ‘Your Move’ is a step-up gear change with the band wanting it to feel like the tape had suddenly started to spin faster, urging movement, venturing action. Clocking in at over 15 minutes, ‘Your Move’, is mesmeric and boundless, hypnotic in its minimalism of doubled-drums and almost tribal vocal cycles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  With ‘Encircle’ Rattle have grown again, these songs are alive with elemental power. They build-up and disintegrate, existing in two places at once, embracing the nuance, tracing the circle’s edge. These are modes of song as pure gesture and eternal imagination, refined in mirrors after midnight.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Rattle has performed at The Barbican, London and toured the UK with Animal Collective and Thurston Moore Group and Europe with The Julie Ruin and Protomartyr, and performed with Hot Snakes, Bill Orcutt Quartetand Codeine.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  01. All Burning (5:23)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  02. Argot (12:01)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  03. Rituals (5:24)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  04. Your Move (15:36)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Yo La Tengo

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Old Joy

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “Sorrow is nothing but worn-out joy…”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    For the first time on vinyl, Yo La Tengo’s understated, lonesome score to Kelly Reichardt’s classic 'Old Joy'.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Recorded in a single afternoon at YLT’s studio in Hoboken, 'Old Joy' is a drifting, improvisatory journey, born out of years-long friendship between the band and the film’s director.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The six instrumental tracks, created in collaboration with legendary guitarist Smokey Hormel, carry that unmistakable YLT sound, but delivered in service of another great work of art. The music, like so much of Reichardt’s film work, is low-key yet arresting, stripped down to the essentials, warm and unpretentious. The record includes two variations on the beloved “Leaving Home” theme, released for the first time on vinyl after years traveling in YLT fan circles.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This music is a balm, remarkably full of emotion despite (or maybe because of) its restraint and minimalism.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Originally released on 'They Shoot, We Score', a CD compiling several of the band’s soundtracks, 'Old Joy' stands as a cohesive whole here, blooming and rewarding repeat listens.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sliding reverbed guitars, muted piano and percussion, the hum of an old amp - the blurry memory of an afternoon in the studio, or a short-lived road trip through the backwoods of Oregon.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Leaving Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Getting Lost
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. Path To Springs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4. Driving Home
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5. End Credits
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Leaving Home - Alternate Version

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Sex Pistols

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Live In The U.S.A 1978 - Atlanta

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      40 plus years on the Sex Pistols’ output from their original creative period together, forged amidst times of poor leadership and economic turmoil, continues to resonate in ways most could never have imagined. Not least those Stateside who witnessed the performances that make up this release.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A document of the last days of the band left to run adrift by absent management on a label that didn’t really understand, in a country that arguably felt more threatened than it did excited by the prospect of the group. Vital, primal and compelling are all words that can be used to describe the audio here. Until their return as a live entity in 1996, everything that followed their short, fateful tour of America in January 1978 was simply a parody of what had been. With concerts finally released in full and correctly sequenced for the very first time – Live In the USA 1978 takes us back to the moment the creative force that was Sex Pistols imploded.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      On January 5th 1978 the Sex Pistols ignited their inaugural US tour in Atlanta at the Great Southeast Music Hall. The set list included ‘God Save The Queen’, ‘Pretty Vacant’, ‘Holidays In The Sun’ and ‘Anarchy In The UK’. The raw production captures the essence of a live experience, giving listeners a powerful snapshot of a significant moment in punk history. Limited edition red vinyl.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. God Save The Queen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      2. I Wanna Be Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      3. Seventeen
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      4. New York
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      5. Bodies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6. Submission
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      7. Holidays In The Sun
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      8. EMI
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      9. No Feelings
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      10. Problems
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      11. Pretty Vacant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      12. Anarchy In The UK

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The Chills

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ‘Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs’ is a Martin Phillipps passion project. A dedicated reimagining of his earlier unreleased songs that became his artistic farewell, a lasting legacy, and a reminder of his huge, underappreciated talent. The album has been finalised for release with the love and support of his band, family and friends.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        As the subject of an undulating life and times movie – The Chills: The Triumph And Tragedy Of Martin Phillipps – Chills’ singer, songwriter and main motivator, Martin Phillipps spent the last decade releasing studio and live albums while careering into his sixtieth year with typical gusto.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Amid such momentum, Martin was stilling digging through old tapes, searching for the foundations that resulted in global rapture in 1987, an overnight success that took a mere seven years to ignite. These early songs and musings were revisited, revised and finally put to record. As such, ‘Spring Board’ is the final chapter of The Chills, immeasurably significant output.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ‘Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs’ is alarming, personal, brittle and at times hopelessly upbeat. This is a man casting his mind back on an esoteric career that led to nothing short of cult status; someone rediscovering his roots, his innermost thoughts, hopes and fears. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Chills are Martin Phillipps, Oli Wilson, Erica Scally, Callum Hampton and Todd Knudson. ‘Spring Board’ features contributions from Fur Patrol’s Julia Deans, Elroy Finn and Split Enz, Crowded House alumni Neil Finn, Tiny Ruins’ Hollie Fullbrook, Manics producer Greg Haver, Troy Kingi, Shona Laing, Tami Neilson, Dianne Swann (Everything That Flies) and Purple Pilgrims’ Clementine Valentine.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Dolphins
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Learn To Try Again
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        3. If This World Was Made For Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        4. Juicy Creaming Soda
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        5. I'll Protect You
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        6. And When You're There
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        7. Declaration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        8. Stay Longer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        9. Slime
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        10. Steel Skies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        11. Jellyhead
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        12. Such Self Pity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        13. Meet My Eyes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        14. Bad Eggs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        15. Lion Tamer
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. The Other
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        17. Since You Left Me
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        18. Watching Old Home Movies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        19. I Saw Your Silhouette
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20. I Don't Want To Live Forever

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The Men

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Buyer Beware

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ‘Buyer Beware’ marks The Men’s fifth collaboration with recording engineer Travis Harrison (Guided by Voices, Built to Spill) who, at this point, is finely attuned to the nuances of the group’s dynamics - Nick Chiericozzi (guitar/vocals), Kevin Faulkner (bass), Mark Perro (guitar/vocals), and Rich Samis (drums). Recording direct to tape, Harrison captures the raw, confrontational fever of their stage shows without sacrificing their introspective undercurrents. The result is undoubtedly their most aggressive album since ‘Leave Home’ (2011), and their most psychedelic since ‘Immaculada’ (2010). But 'Buyer Beware' is no mere return to their roots - The Men have always moved forward while remaining true to themselves. A clarion call for troubled times signaled by its title, ‘Buyer Beware’ finds The Men tackling questions both personal and political, their sound and vision never more primal or apocalyptic.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Pony
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          2. At The Movies
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3. Buyer Beware
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          4. Fire Sermon
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          5. PO Box 96
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6. Charm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          7. Black Heart Blue
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          8. Nothing Wrong
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          9. Control
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          10. Dry Cycle
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          11. The Path
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          12. Tombstone
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          13. Get My Soul

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Okonski

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Entrance Music

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            After nearly two years, Okonski returns with 'Entrance Music' — an album that finds the trio at the height of their improvisational prowess and celebrating the spontaneous and meditative. On the heels of 2023’s debut 'Magnolia', pianist and leader Steve Okonski has reconvened long-time musical collaborators (Durand Jones and the Indications bandmate Aaron Frazer on drums and bassist Michael Isvara “Ish” Montgomery) for another session in the spirit of artists like the Bad Plus, Gerald Clayton, and The Breathing Effect. Ultimately 'Entrance Music' serves as an invitation to early hours, where songs linger in the doorway, announcing their presence before returning to the air, in a meticulous drift into the next.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Recorded over a five day session, 'Entrance Music' was one of the first albums committed to tape at Portage Lounge, Terry Cole’s studio in Loveland, OH. “It was a new setup, but with Terry behind the dials it was very familiar,” says Okonski. “I can’t emphasize enough how much Terry feels like a fourth member [of the band] because of the space he’s curating, the energy he is bringing, and the production ideas.” The energy and sound created with the Colemine label head at the helm makes for a listening experience equally at home with ECM or Stones Throw catalogues.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Whereas much of the debut resonates with his time in New York, Entrance Music “feels a little less ‘on the streets at 2 A.M.’ and a little more nature-based…a little more ethereal,” says Okonski. “It’s definitely age, environment, and family — all of that does come through in the music.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            TRACK LISTING

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. October
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Vista
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            3. Lakebridge
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. Wind Or Vertigo
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            5. Passing Through
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            6. Summer Storm
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            7. Dahlia
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            8. Dusk
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            9. Penny

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Various Artists

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            If Music Presents: You Need This! A Journey Into Deep Jazz Vol. 4 Compiled By Jean-Claude

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Yet another album of musical excellence compiled by If Music’s Jean-Claude for the excellent and massively collectible ‘You Need This’ series. This release marks the 4th volume in the A Journey Into Deep Jazz portfolio in the If Music cannon released on BBE and will be available on a double vinyl LP and as a digital release.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Deep Jazz volume 4 continues to meet the high quality bar set by the previous releases in the series and the If Music presents… catalogue. Its global diversity of artists is represented in the tracklisting. This nine track offering ranges from the slow, lush Bobby Hutchersonesque, never repressed ‘Process of a Cloud’ from Japanese Drummer George Hirota to Oakland artist Phavia Kujichagulia’s Congolese themed, black consciousness Fancy Footwork and the mighty combination of Ginger Baker and Ransome Kuti on their co-written N’Kon Kini N’Kon N’Kon, a chunky, Lo-Slung Afro-Beat celebration of Fela Kuti’s Kalakuta Republic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Jean-Claude’s excellent track record of creating and curating compilation albums and rediscovering rare gems and private presses for re-issue follows a philosophy of cross- genre music appreciation that can be traced even further back than to his time as one half of the innovative, genre bending, DJ and production duo The Amalgamation of Soundz. Jean- Claude has been a mainstay of London’s Black Music scene for some four decades with his record shop, his shows on NTS and Soho Radio, his excellent ‘In Conversation with…’ series of chat shows, his Djing and curation of event stages at Across the Tracks Festival and, of course, his excellent compilations.


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