This ain't no normal nightmare, kid. This is Nightmares On Wax, aka DJ EASE, aka George Evelyn. Born under a bad sign, with lino in hand, Mr. Evelyn went forth into the world and breakdanced (brokedance?). It's what you did in the 80s when you were young, loved hip hop and couldn't rap for toffee. When house arrived they turned their clever hands to it. Bleeps and beats is what it was.

That's what everyone said. But there was always a bit more than a bunch of bleeps to what Nightmares On Wax did. The north never really took the name very seriously (Sweet Exorcist even named their album Clonk as a pisstake). Then George flipped the script and went and did Smokers Delight, the beats not so much seminal as semolina: gloopy and slow and sweet and lovely.

And now we have this: a 2024 reissue of his seminal Late Night Tales compilation. Tom Scott's 'Sneakin' In The Back' — one of the most sampled beats in hip hop — makes an appearance in its full glory, while Quincy Jones, the inspiration for NOW's 'Nights Interlude', backs up the classics with ‘Listen (What It Is)’.

Evelyn's hip hop sensibility is to the fore throughout and nowhere is this more evident than on ‘Intergalactic Throwdown' by former Freestylers' DJ, Mad Doctor X. And can we forget the sublime version of the Classic IV's 'Spooky' by darling Dusty? No, we can't. Finally — oh, finally! — there is the now-traditional cover version, with George serving up a soupy version of 'Brothers On The Slide' that gives a nod of respect to the orig- inal British funk soul brothers, Cymande. This ain't no nightmare at all: it's Nightmares On Wax.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
A1 Joe Dukie & DJ Fitchie - Midnight Marauders 7:21
A2 Ian Brown - The Gravy Train (N.O.W. Mix) 5:01
A3 Tony Allen Ft Damon Albarn - Every Season 4:07
A4 The Rootsman - Show Some Love 5:39

SIDE B
B1 King Kooba - California Suite (Vagabond Mix) 6:03
B2 Quincy Jones - Listen (What It Is) 4:14
B3 Cortex - La Rue 4:27
B4 Tom Scott And The L.A. Express - Sneakin’ In The Back 4:34

SIDE C
C1 Search - Action Tape 1 (Madscope Mix) 5:29
C2 Large Professor - 'Bout That Time 4:03
C3 Tranquility Bass - Cantamilla 4:31
C4 Mad Doctor X - Intergalactic Throwdown 6:04

SIDE D
D1 Dusty Springfield - Spooky 2:44
D2 Focus - Having Your Fun 3:43
D3 Nightmares On Wax - Brothers On The Slide Dub (Exclu- Sive Cover Version) 4:23
D4 Brian Blessed - The White City Part 1 (Exclusive Spoken Word) 10:18

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2024 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL BE AVAILABLE INSTORE ON SATURDAY APRIL 20TH ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.

IF THERE ARE ANY REMAINING COPIES THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT 8PM ON MONDAY APRIL 22ND.

Oceanvs Orientalis reveals the second single from his forthcoming album on Crosstown Rebels with ‘Heart Pieces’ feat. Idil Mese, accompanied by remixes from Mustafa Ismaeel and Nightmares On Wax.

A producer, live performer and solo act whose productions merge influences spanning Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian and Arabic sonics and beyond, Safak Oz Kutle, aka Oceanvs Orientalis, has crafted a sound that is entirely his own ever since making his debut back in 2014. Following on from his impressive debut appearance on the imprint with ‘Il Lupo’ alongside Italian talent Tooker, revealing the first single from his forthcoming album, the Istanbul-based talent is back on Crosstown Rebels with another gem taken from the project as he reunites with singer-songwriter Idil Mese for the excellent ‘Heart Pieces’ - with remixes from Crosstown and Rebellion regular Mustafa Ismaael, and legendary house talent and Warp favourite Nightmares On Wax.

Slow-blooming and resonant throughout, guided by Mese’s soulful and emotive vocals, vibrant sax melodies and trippy background samples, ‘Heart Pieces’ is a dazzling slice of laid-back, jazz-infused house music full of subtle elements. Remixing the record, Mustafa Ismaeel leans towards late-night hours with a remix drenched in rolling percussion and sweeping leads, while Nightmares On Wax takes the track in two directions - opting for loose drums, hazy tones and chugging grooves across his first take before laying the focus solely on the musical elements with his ‘Club Dub’.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Came for the bass-bugging Nightmares On Wax remix. Stayed for the terrace-friendly Mustafa Ismael remix. Strong package from Crosstown and co.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Heart Pieces 
A2. Heart Pieces (Mustafa Ismaeel Remix) 
B1. Heart Pieces (Nightmares On Wax Remix) 
B2. Heart Pieces (Nightmares On Wax Club Dub) 

Nightmares on Wax releases a new remix E.P, dubbing it as ​​"A melting pot of remixes by some of my modern day fave producers" with electronic music royalty Paul Woolford leading the charge and a dubbed out cut by none other than Mala following up. As Warp’s longest serving signing, Nightmares on Wax has been consistently at the forefront of contemporary music, creating a unique blend of electronica, jazz, hip-hop, dub, funk, soul and techno.

TRACK LISTING

A1 Wonder (Osunlade's Yoruba Soul Mix)
A2 Wonder (Tuccillo Remix)
AA1 3D Warrior (Mala's Souljah VIP Remix)
AA2 3D Warrior (NOW Director’s Cut)

"Shout Out! To Freedom" sees the pivotal talent that is George Evelyn venture into new, exciting and dare-I-say-it, sophisticated realms on his new album. Featuring collaborations with Shabaka Hutchings, Greentea Peng, Haile Supreme, Mara TK, Sabrina Mahfouz & Pip Millett, it's perhaps the legendary producer's 'free-est' album to date; the inforced lockdown allowing the 30 years served dance veteran a break from endless touring and a chance to move further away from the dancefloor than previously felt comfortable. It moves through quasi-spiritual jazz, new amalgamations of lover's rock and soundsystem soul before morphing back through blunted beats, hallucinatory downbeat and UK rap. Peppered with pollical leaning vocal snips and a languid sprawl which reflects the laid back nature of the Leeds-bred artists’ permanent residence: Ibiza.

Its reckless abandonment of any stylistic cliches or formula is where its greatness lies. File alongside other uncatagorizable modern epics such as Avalanches' "We Will Always Love You" and Prefab Sprout's "I Trawl The Megahertz", Quiet Village's "Silent Movie" and Dean Blunt's "Black Metal 1 & 2" - impossible to pin-down to genre tags and soundbites, a delight to revel in from beginning to end and a truly transportive listen. It's also deliciously UK-centric, taking influence from everything that makes music one of our island's proudest exports. 

TRACK LISTING

Tracklist CD :

1 Shout Out! (Intro)
2 Imagineering
3 Creator SOS
4 3D Warrior
5 Miami 80
6 GTP Call
7 Wikid Satellites
8 Breathe In
9 To Freedom (Interlude)
10 Wonder
11 Own Me
12 Widyabad
13 Isolated
14 Trillion
15 Up To Us

Tracklist LP’s :

1 Shout Out! (Intro)
2 Imagineering
3 Creator SOS
4 3D Warrior

1 Miami 80
2 GTP Call
3 Wikid Satellites
4 Breathe In

1 To Freedom (Interlude)
2 Wonder
3 Own Me
4 Widyabad

1 Isolated
2 Trillion
3 Up To Us

The iconic compilation series "Back to Mine" returns in 2019, to mark its 20th anniversary, with the indomitable Nightmares on Wax, to share his personal collection of music for after hours grooving. The series was renowned for its eclectic selection and selectors which includes some of the biggest names in electronic and pop music, from the likes of Faithless to Pet Shop Boys, Groove Armada to New Order.

The collection includes three exclusive tracks, one new track from Nightmares on Wax, along with a remix from the man himself of seminal band Fat Freddy’s Drop and brand new project Creative Principle. The album is impeccably mixed and blended, as you’d expect from a DJ and collector of George’s pedigree. His selection includes a strong representation from his roots in Northern England. Opening with respected Manchester soul duo Children of Zeus, Hull’s Steve Cobby provides his own "Lefthanded Books" featuring Crazy P’s Danielle Moore and also introduces his chuggy-disco project Chieftain. There’s also room for the recent Nightmares on Wax recent single "Look Up". Moving internationally; there’s Greek producer Dim Zach who doffs a cap to Imagination on the synth-heavy "Innocence", US-born / Colombian based Afro / Latin / disco / funk producer Bosq, Italy’s Massimo Vanoni with the slo-mo funk "Exciting Groove", the deep and jazzy "Gotta Have It" by Berlin’s SoulPhiction side project SBM and two tracks by New Zealander Ladi6.

This first re-installment of "Back to Mine" is a triumphant return for the iconic and music loved series. Nightmares on Wax delivers an incredible selection of tracks that gives the listener a real insight into the artists personal and extensive taste. 'I always hoped that when the time was right I would be asked to do a Back To Mine release and so when the call came there was absolutely no hesitation'. - Nightmares on Wax.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: The iconic album series Back to Mine returns in 2019, to mark it’s 20th anniversary, inviting the indomitable Nightmares on Wax to share his personal collection of music for after hours grooving. Dig in for Piccadilly faves Children Of Zeus and Steve Cobby along many other jamz!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Children Of Zeus - Fear Of A Flat Planet (feat. LayFullStop)
A2. Ladi6 - Ikarus
A3. Creative Principle - Caught In The Middle
A4. Bosq Ft. Induce - Step Into Midnight (Disco Stepper)
B1. Massimo Vanoni - Exciting Groove
B2. Nightmares On Wax - Good Ship (Feat. Steve Spacek)
B3. Dim Zach - Innocence
B4. Ladi6 - Royal Blue (Silent Jay, Sensible J And Leigh Fisher Remix)
C1. Chieftain - Out Of My Life (Instrumental)
C2. Steve Cobby - Lefthanded Books Feat. Danielle Moore
C3. Soulphiction Presents SBM - Gotta Have It
D2. Nightmares On Wax - Look Up (Feat. Andrew Ashong & Sadie Walker)
D3. Fat Freddy’s Drop - Russia (Nightmares On Wax Remix)

Iconic Warp mainstay Nightmares on Wax can now announce his long-anticipated return with new album Shape The Future. The marriage of soul, hip-hop, dub and timeless club sounds that N.O.W. has been mutating and perfecting for years finds perhaps its most fluid form yet on Shape The Future. Energized by globetrotting runs of studio sessions and DJ sets, this latest salvo is a masterpiece of contemporary and classic genre-blending that solidifies Nightmares On Wax’s place as an inspirational electronic music figurehead. This includes the shamanistic vocals of recent single Back To Nature, and in particular the the arresting voices of Mozez alongside Kanye West and Flume collaborator Allan Kingdom, as featured on brand new cut Citizen Kane. Nightmares on Wax is one of the most influential artists of a generation, his music has inspired many musicians and producers across the globe over his quarter decade career. As Warp’s longest serving active artist, he has broadened the sound of the label and paved the way for artists such as Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke and Mount Kimbie.

TRACK LISTING

01. Back To Nature Feat Kuauhtli Vasquez & Wixarika Tribe
02. Tell My Vision Feat Andrew Ashong
03. Shape The Future
04. On It Maestro
05. Tomorrow Feat LSK
06. Typical Feat Jordan Rakei
07. Tenor Fly
08. Citizen Kane Feat Mozez
09. Deep Shadows Feat Sadie Walker
10. Gotta Smile
11. The Other Ship

George Evelyn AKA DJ EASE took four years to follow up "Smokers Delight", but it was worth the wait as he came up with another seductive LP full of downbeat delights and dreamy instrumental hip hop gems, which, as the title suggests, is a sample-heavy session for sofa-surfing. Includes the Ibiza sunset classic ‘Les Nuits’.

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: Possibly the crowning moment of George Evelyn's career, an easy glide through a stoned soul summer and one of the defining records of it's genre. A lot of wax was scratched in the making of this, but the bass, drums, guitar, vocals and keyboards are all live to wrap yourself in. There to turn any frown upside down.

TRACK LISTING

Les Nuits
Morse
Ethnic Majority
Jorgé
Finer
Easejimi
Argha Noah
Fire In The Middle
Survival
Capumcap

Reissue of Nightmares On Wax’s 1991 debut album. ‘A Word Of Science’ is the hardcore rave sound of the initial duo line-up of George ‘EASE’ Evelyn and Kevin ‘Boy Wonder’ Harper. Contains the dancefloor anthems ‘Aftermath’, ‘A Case Of Funk’, ‘Biofeedback’ and ‘Dextrous’.

The original vinyl release of ‘A Word Of Science’ was a single LP which dropped three of the tracks included on the CD version. For this edition Warp have re-cut the album as a double LP for improved bass response and the missing three tracks (‘BWTM’, ‘Sal Batardes’ and ‘EASE’) appear on vinyl for the first time.

"In A Space Outta Sound" harks back to the trippy beats of NOW's sophmore album "Smokers Delight", woven together with some heavy references from older dub reggae sounds, recalling Prince Far I and Lee Perry, or subtle 70s soul and soul-jazz grooves. This is George Evelyn, aka EASE's fifth album for Warp in a discography that spans over ten years. Nightmares On Wax is one of Warp's biggest selling and longstanding artists and is most famously known for his "Smokers Delight" album, now regarded as one of the classic downbeat albums of the 90s.