Two years after her debut EP, Meduulla returns with "Tabula Rasa" - a collaborative debut album created alongside acclaimed hip-hop producer Ethan Hill. The album is both a timestamp and a turning point in her evolving career: the product of two years of sonic exploration, vulnerability, and trust in Ethan’s finely tuned ear.

"Tabula Rasa" - Latin for 'blank slate' - is more than a title. It's a creative ethos. Rooted in the philosophical idea that all knowledge comes from experience, the album reflects a process of unlearning and rediscovery. Together, Meduulla and Ethan approached the studio like a canvas, throwing paint freely, allowing each track to take shape organically.

Paying homage to her poetry roots, the album interweaves rhythmic spoken word and cutting edge raps that demand the listeners attention from the get go. Ethan’s production, known for its gritty underground edge, finds new sophistication here. The duo fuses their unique styles into something fresh yet familiar - a dynamic blend of soul, jazz, hip-hop, and experimental flair. Birthed right here in Manchester but more than fit for a global stage. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Super strong stuff here from this rising Manchester MC / poet. Imagine a Mancunian Little Simz, with just as much natural charisma and lyrical wordplay. Dexterous references that belie her young age, working sympathetically with the dusty, sampled-based production provided by the masterful Ethan Hill. This is the f**kin BOMB pop pickers - sleep at your peril!

TRACK LISTING

1. Shangri La 01:24
2. Rule No.1 (feat. Summer Pearl & Niambi) 02:49
3. Baldwin 02:05
4. Wolfpack 02:46
5. Tabula Rasa 00:29
6. Writers Revival 01:33
7. Melanin Monroe Feat. RozzzQween 02:47
8. Blasé Shades Interlude 01:22
9. New Kid (feat. Jay Malakhi & Jess Edie) 03:02
10. Good Food (feat. Gio Genesis) 02:56
11. Gizdodo 02:42
12. Y(earn) More 03:15

Big tip!

Revised eight track re-issue of Maria Somerville's much lauded debut album. This new edition features an additional cut 'Lakes' - a 5+ minute blown out instrumental recorded live on tour in 2019.

" Stirring and beautiful songs, with a consistent optimism underlying even the murkiest of moments."

Recorded in Connemara and Dublin. Mixed by Brendan Jenkinson. Mastered by The Bastard.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Off the back of her rather sterling performance supporting My Bloody Valentine here in Manchester, we simply had to restock this breath-taking and ambitious piece of music. Controlled, sublime; and elegantly juxtaposing harmony with noise. We all agreed that MBV chose very well having her as support - her delicately subdued presence complimenting the heavy blankets of feedback and distortion the shoegaze pioneers delivered.

TRACK LISTING

Eyes Don't Say It
This Way
Undoing
Dreaming
All My People
All Too Much
Brighter Days
Lakes

Ian F Ball presents a beautiful selection of drifting folky guitar, athletic accordion and mandolin, recalling traditional English folksong and echoing the Morris / brass band tradition of the area (which I *think* is depicted on the front cover of the album - Mossley train station). 

There are quieter pieces on show like the slow, thoughtful balladry of 'pour Mon Ami' or the flicking campfire drift of 'Resting Place', but the album generally flows beautifully from uplifting bucolic woodwind to snappy acoustic guitar all topped with Ball's evocative, perfectly pitched gravelly vocal.  

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A beautiful collection of richly traditional folk ballads and more experimental, off-kilter psychedelic instrumentals, beautifully written and (when they are in situ) beautifully sung vocals.

Indie-folk artist Coruja Jones returns with his new EP Undo, delving into the healing process in all its forms, exploring the calm and chaos that comes from attempting self-betterment and witnessing others' hardships—all through a lens of love. The EP was produced by Sam Vicary of The Cinematic Orchestra.

Dan Jones, the Manchester-based musician behind Coruja Jones, initially collaborated with guitarist Jake Stentiford to weave intricate, dancing guitar lines that set the emotional tone of the record. Together with producer Sam Vicary and drummer Adam Dawson, they transformed the songs into soaring pieces of melancholic beauty, where acoustic guitars, electric guitar lines, and modular synthesisers add depth and textures throughout. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A beautifully paced, evocatively written mix of flickering post-rock, airy folk and melodic indie, topped with Jones' syrup smooth vocals. All pressed on gorgeous cream 10" vinyl.

TRACK LISTING

1. Little Space 03:12
2. The Day I Die 03:55
3. Honesty Honestly 03:25
4. Undo 04:05
5. The Shore 04:34

Oojami is the alias of Turkish native Necmi Cavli. After spending many years living in London and collaborating with numerous artists from around the globe, "Walk Alone" is the product of his recent move to Manchester. Joining him is Ben Helm on vocals and Nicola Cavli on voilin the album is a true outernational melting pot of influences - spanning almost every genre imaginable but with the undercurrent of Turkish key signatures and exotic instrumentation its glue.

Oojami has previously released six albums, with "Bellydancing Breakbeats" establishing the artist in the international bellydancing scene, 

TRACK LISTING

A1. Rosalina
A2. Open Up
A3. Walk Alone
A4. Hold Me
A5. Voodoo

B1. For Today
B2. Release Me
B3. Rising Sun
B4. Love Is Gone
B5. You And I

Scott Hepple and the Sun Band are a Psychedelic Rock Band from Newcastle, UK. The band favours a 60's/70's sound, with influences including Neil Young, Black Sabbath, The Beatles and Ty Segall.

Debut album 'Ashes to Wildflowers' was recorded analogue with Maximo Park's Duncan Lloyd, and was mastered by the renowned Chicago-based engineer Carl Saff (Sonic Youth, Ty Segall, J Mascis).

"The album's main theme of reincarnation goes hand in hand with the production" Scott says. "I wanted to produce the overdriven raw analogue sound that was rife in the late 60's/early 70s, which is where I take alot of my inspiration from".

The first single 'Letting Go' was released in January, followed by 'Nobody Else (Is Gonna Do It For You)' in April. On the run up to their headline UK and European album tour in Autumn/Winter, the band are supporting acts such as Love, Teke Teke, Nice Biscuit, GIFT and Ghost Woman. In June 2023, they performed at Third Man Records in London.

TRACK LISTING

1. Letting Go
2. Warm Night
3. Nobody Else (Is Gonna Do It For You)
4. Caligula
5. Leisure Cruise
6. Spirit Animal
7. Hair Of The Dog
8. Wildfires
9. Chosen

Tunnel Club are Newcastle-based duo Steve Key & Graeme Stoker, and here on their 3rd album they’re liberally sprinkling 90s-influenced goodness of all flavours from tough to euphoric to bring a smile to the faces of ravers of a certain age. Established in 2015, this is the band’s first release since Exit Space in 2018, with the last 5 years having been focussed on developing their live show & sound. Old skool in character, if not directly in sound, influences include Orbital, 808 State, The Black Dog, Ulrich Schnauss, Surgeon and Dave Clarke in one big pigeon hole-less melting pot.

Manchester five-piece band Marouli, led by musician and composer Graham McCusker unveil their debut album "Tall Tales From A Distant Uncle". A determined and heart felt record, it was recorded after McCusker successful beat lukemia and, with a unique and quirky turn, pays homage to Billy Connolly's storytelling tradition. 

It features Alex Hill on keys, saxophonist Josh Poole (Bill Laurance, The Beautiful South), bass player Nick Waldock and former drummer Xavier Winton (G4). The band, which now features Matt Brown on drums, has a sound that is inspired by jazz and pop artists like Steely Dan and Gregory Porter, as well as those from Graham’s classical roots, like J.S. Bach. It has a vintage sound which is hard to date, like a good tweed jacket. McCusker's vocal shines through like beautifully polished oak, rich and syrupy; whilst the muscians involved are deceptively locked into each others groove; natural yet complex arrangements flowing from the backline like luxurious carpet. There's a warmth like a good camp fire or freshly baked bread that's hard to articulate but instantly felt throughout the duration of the LP. Drawing elements from blues, rock and throwback pop "Tall Tales From A Distant Uncle" creates a cinematic sound that is classic yet fresh.

Songwriter Graham and keyboard player Alex Hill met when they were students in 2018 and with the addition of three college friends, the lineup was complete and Marouli was born. The album was recorded at Angelic Studios near Banbury and at Hope Mill Studios in Manchester. Artwork is by Paul Hemmingfield.


*** ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY plus special guests:

Friday 28th October - The Eagle Inn - 7:30pm. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: McCusker's tales sink deep into the psyche; a collection of songs that reflect the overcoming of adversity that the band leader has endured. It's a triumph - unshakingly sincere, with skilled and sophisticated song writing and arrangements that feel warm, friendly and inviting. One of those albums that feels like a long lost friend returning time and time again.

TRACK LISTING

1. Let Her Go
2. Shane
3. Thoughts On A Thursday
4. Where Do They Go
5. I'll Keep On Running
6. When You're Afraid
7. The Boy With The Stone In His Shoe
8. Fumblin'
9. Strange But True
10. Can't I Dream?

SKOI's friendship with The Durutti Column's guitar-wielding lynchpin Vini Reilly is noticeable from the gently eddying opening bars of The Test Of Time. While Reilly himself isn't present on these recordings, his spirit and influence certainly are - songsmith Paul Hinks casts a crepuscular aura around his songs, most of which are wide-eyed melancholia most befitting a day on a deserted north-western beach or a day in bed with the curtains drawn shut. Its all-too-short running time is blissful stuff. Stars and The Light are gloom-drenched ballads to rival earlier works by Elbow, I am Kloot, Doves et al, but it's the pretty musical interludes that really hit the sweet spot. After just one earful of Maple Leaf, you'll be stopping what you're doing, slumping back in your seat and pressing repeat.

STAFF COMMENTS

Martin says: Apparently Vini Reilly and The Verve's Nick McCabe are big fans of this new local band. Worth a listen.

Mat Skinner singer/songwriter delivers a blend of Folk/Americana wrapped in a gentle Northern voice, armed with guitar & harmonica he plays an acoustic ode to friendship, life, death and love. With influences from the likes of Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen and Jackson C Frank, Mat’s music combined with his beautiful filmic and soulful voice proves he is clearly an accomplished writer.

If we had to pigeonhole this EP then it likely deserves a genre of its own. Welcome to the world of ‘Cinematic Northern Folk’. On ‘…with the Power of a Thousand Suns’ Mat has created a body of songs that people will be choosing as the soundtrack to their lives for many years to come.

“This music holds such beauty, Mat Skinner warms my northern heart.” - Guy Garvey - Elbow.

Matt Hartless is a British-Irish musician performing and recording mainly as a soloist and with his backing band, The Matchstick Ghosts. Writing music and having had lessons in Piano, Trumpet and Violin at an early age; Matt took to music more seriously when having drumming lessons and teaching himself to play the guitar at around fifteen/sixteen. As he went into his A-level years at school, Matt formed his first band, a covers band called 'The Swag' where he sang and played lead guitar with some childhood friends. They only had a few gigs then everyone went their separate ways to university.
Matt became a lot more interested in recording his music after starting a music degree at Salford and forming a few bands with fellow students. The most prominent of these was 'Freed By Mice.' After a few gigs in Salford, Manchester and Sheffield, Matt went home to finish writing and record his first full solo album, 'Our Last Days In The Sun' upon which Freed By Mice guitarist Joe Leonard contributed a solo.
Freed By Mice soon went on hiatus and Matt formed The Matchstick Ghosts to play songs from his album. As his second university year wore on, Matt started to write again, but with a much darker and more experimental sound. In April 2013 Matt released his first single, 'Friend Synthetic' adapted from the Freed By Mice days (but written long before) with a launch gig in Manchester.
Problems with finding a regular bassist meant that the band was often set back and making any progress was difficult, so during May and June, Matt focused again on his solo work and at Salford University's studios recorded the majority of 'Victory,' the second album. He employed a lot more of the university's facilities, especially effects programs and hardware to create an amalgam of man and machine before mixing the whole album with friend and Matchstick Ghosts drummer, Kit Warren.
During the next few months Matt played many small acoustic gigs in and around Manchester with his nylon string guitar and occasionally with piano when there was one to hand. After two gigs in Sheffield, The Matchstick Ghosts finally solved their bassist conundrum, at least for the near future, in Sheffield based Jacob Harrap.
Victory was released on the 4th of October on Matt's label, Weird Affection Records.

Influences:

Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Elbow, The Specials, Streetlight Manifesto, Louis Barabbas, Frederic Chopin, Duke Ellington, Erik Satie, Porcupine Tree, Muse, Dry The River, Joy Division, Gogol Bordello, Hybrid, Jean Michel Jarre.