A culturally connected celebration of the groundbreaking hip-hop group De La Soul, and how they changed the look, sound, and feel of Black America. Music artists and trends come and go, but every once in a while, a moment arrives that genuinely changes everything. In 1988, De La Soul, three young men from Amityville, Long Island, did exactly that.

Their always innovative work pulled inspiration from artists of the past and popularized cutting-edge music sampling techniques to blend jazz, R&B, and rap as they created a sound unlike any the world had heard before. But the De La Soul experience didn't end there. These weren't just musicians-they were game-changers in so many ways.

From the way they dressed, to the words they spoke, to the day-glo colours of their breakout 3 Feet and Rising, De La Soul rejected convention, refused to be talked back into the box, and left the door open for everyone behind them. Now, in Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age, Austin McCoy explores how De La Soul not only defined a new era of hip-hop, but also American and Black culture at the same time.

Through his eyes, ears, and well-studied recall of '80s, '90s, and 2000s America, McCoy takes us on a journey through the world this innovative musical act made. One of the few hip-hop groups of their era to stay together long term, De La Soul lived astonishing highs and lows, from forming the Native Tongues collective to influential fights with their publishers to assert the artist's right to control their creations. And after a lifetime left out of music's digital revolution, in 2023 they finally hit streaming services just as it lost founding member David Jolicoeur too soon to see his work reach a brand-new generation of fans.

Living in a D.A.I.S.Y. Age will connect with DLS fans, '80s babies, and students of the rap game alike, in a beautifully rendered and deeply researched tome that places this group atop the pedestal it deserves.

Three from Dirty Blends this week! Purveyors of the finest jak beat and warehouse trax have snapped up a couple of new signings, with Sanford Zydeco joining Nico Babylon amongst the ranks of this Chicago stable.

Zydeco adds "Buckwheat Beat 4 The Primordial Cult" to the storied label's catalogue. This spacey and atmospheric track pays tribute to the fallen heroes of the Muzik Box which tested and pushed dance music ideas for those who chose to understand the heritage and respect the history these individuals created from their hearts..Jakbeat is not to be trivialized!

Label regulars The Jak and Kincaid also make an appearance with "Psycho PipeZ". The two producers come together showing massive respect to Marcus Mixx from the days of Saber Records in Chicago, with an homage of "Psychousic"; more twisted and mental for the dedicated freaks of oLd schoOL tracks! Fierce, uncompromising trax strictly for the strong! 

TRACK LISTING

Sanford Zydeco - Buckwheat Beat 4 The Primordial Cult
The Jak N Kincaid - Psyko Noize Vs Gentile Pipez

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

OMD’s 1984 hit album receives the treatment recently afforded to its two predecessors, 'Architecture & Morality' and 'Dazzle Ships': remastered from the original ½ inch reels and cut at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.

Still very much active, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), founded by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys, emerged from Liverpool in the late ‘70s and are rightly regarded as one of the more original of the so-called ‘synth pop’ outfits of the following decade.

Notably also one of the more successful, they have enjoyed at least 20 hit singles across Europe and beyond, with total sales of around 40 million records to date.

'Junk Culture' is their fifth album, released 30 April 1984. It featured another Peter Saville-designed sleeve but was a consciously more melodic effort than its experimental predecessor ('Dazzle Ships') and was a significant success, charting across Europe and hitting the top 10 at home in the UK.

Produced by the band and Brian Tench (with additional contributions by Tony Visconti), it was recorded at a variety of locations including AIR Studios in Montserrat, which had a newly-acquired, state-of-the-art Fairlight CMI sampler keyboard, and Wisseloord in Hilversum, Netherlands.

As intended, 'Junk Culture' returned OMD to the upper reaches of the singles charts too, with ‘Locomotion’ (top 5 in the UK and top 10 across Europe), ‘Talking Loud and Clear’ (No. 11 in the UK, top 5 in Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland), and the club hit ‘Tesla Girls’ (No. 21 in the UK, No. 8 in the Netherlands). All three remain live favourites.

TRACK LISTING

1. Junk Culture 
2. Tesla Girls 
3. Locomotion
4. Apollo 
5. Never Turn Away
6. Love And Violence
7. Hard Day 
8. All Wrapped Up 
9. White Trash 
10. Talking Loud And Clear 

They say nothing good happens after midnight, but in the case of creativity, that's just not so. The night fosters a different kind of creativity: something urgent, spontaneous, carved out of necessity. Tracking the past, present and future of this complex, often contradictory dynamic. Selling The Night explores what happens when this creativity influences wider culture and converges with everything from media, advertising, design and to gaming, fashion, hospitality, alcohol, beauty, tourism and far beyond. Also, as importantly, the implications of brands taking space within dance music as sponsors and supporters. Selling The Night speaks to DJs, promoters, marketers, academics, activists, archivists, policy makers, photographers, writers and designers. It samples KFC through to Fiorucci, Absolut and Red Bull, and moves from New York disco to the modern global underground. It witnesses how ideas migrate from subculture to influence the creative industries. It goes in search of lessons in improving the value exchange between dance music and brands, seeking something more symbiotic and less parasitic. All the while, it celebrates what makes after-dark ideas so special - the unique and democratising role they play.

Second release on Hot Biscuit sub-label, Now Is Not The Time featuring, once again, the esteembable talents of Chicago edit king Rahaan. 

A double pack of pressure, with six cuts gifted plenty of disc space for maximum fidelty and headroom. No idea of the source material but it's all sumptiously tasty, highly frenetic, and tailor made to get those tail feathers shaking come Saturday night! Rahaan really is the daddy at this stuff, probably the most prolific and talented of the contemporary editors. Giving us all the excitement and feels as when we first heard maybe those COMBI edits.... or Theo Parrish's "Ugly Edits" series. A top drawer set that no disco fan will want to be without. 

Limited copies! 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Hopefully you've clocked this week's delivery of Hot Biscuits. Now Is Not The Time is the sister label which, to date, solely encompasses the works of Rahaan. Another double pack that's gonna fly off the shelves.

TRACK LISTING

A1. America
A2. It’s You
B. Touch
C1. Irreplaceable
C2. Hell Yeah
D. 10

Adored alt-pop duo Cults announce their fifth studio album TO THE GHOSTS out July 26 via IMPERIAL. The NY-based duo compromised of multi-instrumentalists Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion, confidently and clearly perfect their vision with the cinematic new album.

To the Ghosts was meticulously crafted; the earliest ideas dated back to the pandemic when they wrote music on weekdays from 10am-5pm with no deadlines or distractions. The album was written and recorded in Brian’s apartment; in 2022 they traveled to Los Angeles to collaborate with longtime producer and trusted creative confidant Shane Stoneback, because “nobody can read our minds like he can,” jests Madeline. To the Ghosts was co-produced by Cults & Shane Stoneback, mixed by John Congleton, and mastered by Heba Kadry NYC.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Hazy emotional pop pieces, swimming with soul and bolstered with tastefully applied modern production techniques, Cults' fifth LP is their most dynamically rich yet. Wistful, hook-laiden and brimming with melodic beauty.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
A1. Crybaby
A2. Left My Keys
A3. Onions
A4. Crystal
A5. Leave Home
A6. Eat It Cold

SIDE B
B1. Honey
B2. Knots
B3. Behave
B4. Open Water
B5. Cells
B6. You're In Love With Yourself
B7. Hung The Moon

Originally released in 1984, following the band’s evolution from the Southern Death Cult, to Death Cult, and then simply The Cult, Dreamtime finds the outfit featuring Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, pivoting from their goth and punk roots into something eclectic, aspirational, and adventurous. Rife with lyrical references to the indigenous cultures of the Americas and Australia, and set against a more bombastic and muscular musical backdrop, Dreamtime hints at what would envelop the band over the next four decades, a dedication to their wholly unique songwriting, both musically and thematically, and the frenzy that was soon to come with the release of Love only a year later.

TRACK LISTING

1. Horse Nation
2. Spiritwalker
3. 83rd Dream
4. Butterflies
5. Go West
6. Gimmick
7. A Flower In The Desert
8. Dreamtime
9. Rider In The Snow
10. Bad Medicine Waltz

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes return with their fifth studio album, 'Dark Rainbow' - set for release on 26 January 2024. The Rattlesnakes have built a reputation for blistering anthems that owe as much to brooding desert rock as it does hardcore and power-pop. They’re redefining punk-rock with a sound that straddles eras and genres, putting The Rattlesnakes in a category all their own, while also challenging tired cliches and setting the world to rights.

TRACK LISTING

1. Honey
2. Man Of The Hour
3. Can I Take You Home
4. American Spirit
5. Happier Days
6. Brambles
7. Queen Of Hearts
8. Sun Bright Golden Happening
9. Superstar
10. Self Love
11. A Dark Rainbow

The Cult is fronted by Ian Astbury on vocals and Billy Duffy on guitar.

Electric, their third album, came out in 1987 and caused the band to explode to new levels of fame. It contains the massive hits “Love Removal Machine”, Wild Flower” and “Lil’ Devil” and was produced by Rick Rubin. A seminal work, the album features some of the band’s most iconic songs. It is a departure from the band’s previous work, with a raw, aggressive and stripped-down sound. The album’s opening track, “Wild Flower,” sets the tone with its pounding drums, blistering guitar riffs, and Ian Astbury’s powerful vocals.

Electric was a commercial and critical success, propelling The Cult to the forefront of the hard rock scene and cementing their status as one of the most influential bands of the era. The album remains a touchstone for hard rock and heavy metal fans, a classic work that captures the spirit of rebellion and the power of rock and roll.

Ian and Billy recently announced the return of Death Cult. The storied post-punk progenitor to The Cult will return for a sole U.S. performance on Oct. 23 at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. They will follow the Los Angeles outing with a U.K. trek featuring the same, remarkable celebration of The Cult’s origins. Death Cult became The Cult in 1984, releasing Dreamtime that same year and going on to experience a career that has seen the release of 11 full-length albums, as well as numerous international and U.S. gold and platinum certifications.

TRACK LISTING

1. Wild Flower
2. Peace Dog
3. Lil' Devil
4. Aphrodisiac Jacket
5. Electric Ocean
6. Bad Fun
7. King Contrary Man
8. Love Removal Machine
9. Born To Be Wild
10. Outlaw
11. Memphis Hip Shake

Beggars Arkive will release a special translucent green vinyl edition of THE CULT’S fourth album Sonic Temple on August 11th. This edition is pressed on translucent green vinyl. Released in 1989, Sonic Temple album catapulted The Cult into superstar status and remains their most commercially successful release. Declared platinum in 1990, it was also a critical success, cementing their place in the pantheon of hard rock and heavy metal bands and earning them a devoted following that endures to this day. Sonic Temple had four massive hits; “Fire Woman”, “Edie (Ciao Baby)”, “Sun King” and “Sweet Soul Sister ”.

TRACK LISTING

1. Sun King
2. Fire Woman
3. American Horse
4. Edie (Ciao Baby)
5. Sweet Soul Sister
6. Soul Asylum
7. New York City
8. Automatic Blues
9. Soldier Blue
10. Wake Up Time For Freedom
11. Medicine Train
12. The River
13. Bleeding Heart Graffiti
14. Messin' Up The Blues
15. Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix)
16. Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic)

Beggars Arkive will release a vinyl reissue of THE CULT’S fifth album Ceremony on August 11th. Two editions will be available. Blue/Red vinyl and black vinyl will be available everywhere. Originally released in 1991, The follow up to the massive Sonic Temple marked a turning point in the band’s sound and style and it was their first without longtime bassist Jamie Stewart. The album was a commercial success, reaching No. 25 on the Billboard chart and it remains a fan favorite and an important album in The Cult’s discography. The Cult continued to develop their sound on this album, and it is heavily influenced by Native American culture. Ceremony is a testament to their ability to evolve and adapt while staying true to their roots and it’s songs are about spirituality, love and rebellion. It includes the singles “Wild Hearted Son” and “Heart Of Soul”.

TRACK LISTING

1. Ceremony
2. Wild Hearted Son
3. Earth Mofo
4. White
5. If
6. Full Tilt
7. Heart Of Soul
8. Bangkok Rain
9. Indian
10. Sweet Salvation
11. Wonderland

The Cult is fronted by Ian Astbury on vocals and Billy Duffy on guitar. Their music and albums at this point need no introduction as they have cemented themselves over the years since they began in 1983, as one of the greatest rock bands around. 1994 brought their seif-titled sixth album The Cult, sometimes also known as the “Black Sheep” album due to the cover image. Recorded with Bob Rock, It is a very personal album with a lot of the narrative subject matter referring to Astbury’s younger years. Unlike their previous albums, this one revealed itself more slowly with each listen. This album is considered an overlooked and underrated gem and preceded their 1995 break-up. The band reformed in 1999 and continues to tour and release albums, including their most recent, 2022’s Under The Midnight Sun.

TRACK LISTING

A1. Gone
A2. Coming Down (Drug Tongue)
A3. Real Grrrl
B1. Black Sun
B2. Naturally High
B3. Joy
C1. Star
C2. Sacred Life
C3. Be Free
D1. Universal You
D2. Emperor’s New Horse

D3. Saints Are Down

THIS IS A RECORD STORE DAY 2023 EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED TO ONE PER PERSON.
 
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes have built a reputation for blistering anthems that owe as much to brooding desert rock as it does hardcore and power-pop. They're redefining punk-rock with a sound that straddles eras and genres, putting The Rattlesnakes in a category all their own, while also challenging tired cliches and setting the world to rights. These two tracks will only be released physcially for RSD with no future plans to release them on other formats. 'The Drugs' features Mercury Award winner and UK chart topper Jamie T. Spec: Transparent red / transparent red 7", CMYK Labels, White Paper inners, Spined Sleeve, Shrinkwrap

The Cult has reveled in a storied career. From the pre-millennial iconic Love album bursting with idealism and the full on blast of 2001’s Beyond Good & Evil to the recent biting truth of Hidden City, the band has lived their art. How the future unfolds will be decided in part by current culture's response and the group’s response. One thing is for sure, The Cult will respond. It’s what they do.

TRACK LISTING

1 Mirror
2 A Cut Inside
3 Vendetta X
4 Give Me Mercy
5 Outer Heaven
6 Knife Through Butterfly Heart
7 Impermanence
8 Under The Midnight Sun

Legendary privately pressed 1979 LP from Scotland. This illusive, super rare and sublimely wonderful percussion album is like no other. Hypnotic, celestial, even cosmic and ambient in parts and totally unique in all ways, it was played by a group of 11 girls with an average age of 14. The group included Evelyn Glennie, who was destined to become one of the world’s greatest percussionists. This is her first ever record.

The Cults Percussion Ensemble was a group formed by percussion teaching legend Ron Forbes in the mid 1970s. The ensemble must have one of the best group names of all time. To many it will immediately come across as something sinister, a touch spooky and possibly a bit dramatic too. They are certainly two of those but the use of the word “Cults” here is easily misinterpreted. Cults, in this case, is the suburb of Aberdeen.
The average age of the students was just 14. They came from a few of the schools in the area, including the Cults Academy, Ellon Academy, Aboyne Academy, Inverurie Academy and Powis.

My original copy of the album came from Spitalfields market in London. I loved the music the second it started, because it reminded me of Carl Orff and peculiar library. So I started to investigate it further, and eventually, thanks to the highly tuned world of percussion, was given the address of Ron Forbes. I got in touch with him and now we have this, a formal release of something quite lovely that was only previously available very briefly in 1979 at concerts when the young girls performed.

The music here is really quite unique, with a celestial swirling hypnotic quality. The blend of glockenspiels, xylophones, vibraphones, marimba and timpani drums is quite intoxicating and can recall the shimmering warmth of the desert sun one minute (“Baia”) or freezing glacial ice caps the next (“Circles”). The Ensemble perform with an effortless tightness and deftness of touch, building textured layers with recurring percussive motives which appear simultaneously dense and yet sparse, almost sounding like modern sampling. In fact, while struggling to find a musical comparison, during the pulsating introduction to "Percussion Suite" I found myself recalling "Gamma Player", a piece of soulful Detroit techno minimalism from Jeff Mills (Millsart - “Humana” EP 1995) with its rhythmic percussion layered with complex emotion. Weirdly enough, other tracks on that EP also prominently feature xylophone and tuned percussion, although obviously synthesised and programmed, a good 20 years after the CPE first recorded.
Sleevenotes also include a letter from Ron Forbes:

“I decided to form a percussion group to provide an outlet for my percussion pupils to play music specially written for them. The group soon became well known in the region and as a result of winning the outstanding award at the National Festival of Music for youth on three occasions, they were invited to play at other festivals within Europe, one being in Erlangen in Germany - hence the Erlangen Polka - and Autun in France - hence the Autun Carillon. During these visits we were often asked if we had any recordings and so it was decided to make an LP”.

Thanks to Ron Forbes and Trunk Records, more people can now enjoy the simple hypnotic musical charms of the Cults Percussion Ensemble 

TRACK LISTING

Autun Carillon
Baia
My Love She’s But A Lassie Yet
Circles
Percussion Suite (3rd Movement)
The Little Dancer
Two Jubilee Pieces
Erlangen Polka
Dream Angus
Surrey With The Fringe On Top
Irish Washerwoman
Polymers

Soul Jazz Records’ new ‘Life Between Islands’ collection is inspired by the launch of Tate Britain’s exhibition of the same name. This landmark exhibition explores the links between Caribbean and British art and culture from the 1950s to now. ‘Soundsystem Culture: Black Musical Expression in the UK 1973-2006’, focuses on the most important Black British musical styles to emerge out of the distinctly Caribbean world of sound systems. The album features an all-star line-up including Dennis Bovell, Shut Up and Dance, Cymande, Digital Mystikz, Brown Sugar, Funk Masters, Janet Kay, Ragga Twins and more.

The album is a lightning-rod journey across Roots Reggae, Jungle , Jazz- Funk, Lovers Rock, Jazz, Dubstep and more. Much of Soul Jazz Records’ catalogue comes out of these genres and this album is partly an overview of some of Soul Jazz’s earlier releases (including Digital Mystikz’ long-deleted groundbreaking and now highly collectible single ‘Misty Winter’) alongside some choice rare and classic tunes that span over 30 years of sound system culture.

Many of the tracks represent how Black British artists defined their own identity, with songs such as Brown Sugar’s righteous ‘Black Pride’, ‘I’m In Love with A Dreadlocks’ and Tabby Cat Kelly’s powerful ‘Don’t Call Us Immigrants’. Aside from being musically rooted in the distinctly Jamaican-born phenomenon of the sound system, much of this identity is also shaped by the triangular relationship of being British-born, of Caribbean heritage, and with an equal love of African-American Jazz, Funk and Soul, as evidenced with many Lovers Rock reggae covers of American soul tunes (such as those of Jean Carn, William de Vaughan and Rose Royce featured here). This stateside influence can also be heard in groups such as the Funk Masters, a group formed by reggae radio DJ Tony Williams, whose jazz-funk music successfully crossed over into New York’s clubland, as well as the great Cymande, whose unique street-funk became staple material for numerous US hip-hop artists in the years that followed.

In the early 1990s, jungle and drum and bass artists took the essence of reggae’s soundsystem culture - MCs, dubplates, crews - and applied them to their own music, applying heavy reggae bass lines to intense double-speed drum breakbeats. At the forefront of this new movement were the duo Shut Up and Dance, working closely with The Ragga Twins, aka Deman Rocker and Flinty Badman, both MCs for North London’s infamous Unity reggae soundsytem. In the early 2000s, dubstep, spearheaded by Digital Mystikz, became the latest instalment in this ever evolving soundsystem culture.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Dang this is good! Skilfully joining the dots of sound system culture from its very beginning till now would seem like a daunting task for anyone. But guided by the Black identity of the majority of Sounds, Soul Jazz offer up a catch-all release that takes us from roots reggae and soul to jungle and dubstep without ever losing sight of the subwoofer. A phenomenal collection which, by way of a few choicely licensed joints ("Misty Winter", "RK1" especially), should be a instant-buy for anyone with a penchant for UK dance music.

TRACK LISTING

Black Slate - Sticks Man
Dee Sharp - Rising To The Top
Asher Senator - One Bible 
Cymande - Fug
Digital Mystikz - Misty Winter
Winston Curtis - Be Thankful For What You’ve Got
Trevor Hartley - It Must Be Love
Shut Up And Dance featuring The Ragga Twins - Java Bass
Brown Sugar - Black Pride
The Terrorist - RK1
Black Harmony - Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
Pebbles - Positive Vibrations
The Ragga Twins - Ragga Trip
Janet Kay And Alton Ellis - Still In Love
Funk Masters - Love Money
Cosmic Idren - Compelled
Harry Beckett - No Time For Hello
Sandra Reid - Ooh Boy
Tabby Cat Kelly - Don’t Call Us Immigrants
Brown Sugar - I’m In Love With A Dreadlocks

‘Sticky’, the new album from Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, is the sonic eruption of a year-plus of suppressed energy.

While it’s an escapist experience, recent reality is never too far away. It’s there in ‘Go Get A Tattoo’, which was inspired by Carter’s experience of having to shut his first London based tattoo parlour, Rose of Mercy, almost immediately after it opened.

It’s just as present in ‘My Town’, a suburban vignette of society’s collective mental health quickly unravelling.

TRACK LISTING

Sticky
Cupid's Arrow
Bang Bang
Take It To The Brink
My Town
Go Get A Tattoo
Off With His Head
Cobra Queen
Rat Race
Original Sin

Cult of Dom Keller will release their fifth album, ‘They Carried The Dead In A U.F.O’, on May 21st via Fuzz Club Records. Since 2007 the British band have been leaving a trail of sonic fever dreams, dark psychedelia and experimentalism that beats with a heavy industrial heart and the forthcoming LP sees them conjuring their heaviest and most adventurous work to date. Channelling recent limitations and turning them to their advantage, Cult of Dom Keller found themselves radically altering their creative approach and morphing their sound into a whole new beast. On this LP the band hone in on an industrial noise-rock sound that is pushed to the brink. On 'They Carried The Dead In A UFO', the band said: “We managed to create our most experimental and exciting album to date without being in the same room together. U.F.O. was recorded, mixed and produced by ourselves, meaning we had total control over every noise on the record.

This was the exact record we wanted to make: Experimental and playful; moments of light and pure dark... we wanted to f*ck with the listener and pull them in with moments of beauty and chaos. We hope you enjoy the trip!” Cult of Dom Keller have long been at the forefront of the contemporary British psych scene but their notorious reputation also extends much further afield too. They’ve done several tours around the UK, Europe and US and shared the stage with greats like Roky Erickson, Spectrum, Silver Apples and The Sisters of Mercy, as well as contemporaries like The Black Angels, Fat White Family, Sleaford Mods and Temples.

TRACK LISTING

1) Run From The Gullskinna
2) Lyssa
3) Cage The Masters
4) She Turned Into A Serpent
5) Infernal Heads
6) Psychic Surgery
7) Amazing Enemy
8) Last King Of Hell

Sixth studio album by the American indie rock band. The artwork features the 1981 painting 'Bird On Money' by American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The album contains the singles 'At the Door' and 'Bad Decisions'.

TRACK LISTING

The Adults Are Talking
Selfless
Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus
Bad Decisions
Eternal Summer
At The Door
Why Are Sundays So Depressing
Not The Same Anymore
Ode To The Mets

Originally released in 1989, Sonic Temple proved to be a pivotal moment for both band and the wider rock scene. Produced by the legendary Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith), Sonic Temple had four hit singles; “Fire Woman”, “Edie (Ciao Baby)”, “Sun King” and “Sweet Soul Sister”. The album catapulted The Cult into superstar status and remains their most commercially successful release. It has sold over 1.5 million copies in the US alone, and was declared platinum in 1990. It made it to #10 on the Billboard charts, and the abovementioned songs are all rock-radio staples to this day.

TRACK LISTING

DOUBLE LP
A1 Sun King
A2 Fire Woman
A3 American Horse
A4 Edie (Ciao Baby)
B1 Sweet Soul Sister
B2 Soul Asylum
B3 New York City
B4 Automatic Blues
C1 Soldier Blue
C2 Wake Up Time For Freedom
C3 Medicine Train (From The Edie (Ciao Baby) Single)
C4 The River (From The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
D1 Bleeding Heart Graffitti (from The Edie (Ciao Baby) CD EP)
D2 Messin' Up The Blues (from The Fire Woman Single)
D3 Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix) (from The Fire Woman CD EP)
D4 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic) (From The Heart Of Soul CD Single)

BOX SET
Vinyl:
A1 Sun King
A2 Fire Woman
A3 American Horse
A4 Edie (Ciao Baby)
B1 Sweet Soul Sister
B2 Soul Asylum
B3 New York City
B4 Automatic Blues
C1 Soldier Blue
C2 Wake Up Time For Freedom
C3 Medicine Train (From The Edie (Ciao Baby) Single)
C4 The River (From The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
D1 Bleeding Heart Graffitti (from The Edie (Ciao Baby) Single)
D2 Messin' Up The Blues (from The Fire Woman Single)
D3 Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix) (from The Fire Woman CD EP)
D4 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic) (From The Heart Of Soul CD Single)
E1 New York City (live) *previously Unreleased)
E2 Automatic Blues (live) *previously Unreleased)
E3 American Horse (live) (from The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
E4 Sun King (live) *previously Unreleased
F1 Soul Asylum (live) (from The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
F2 Sweet Soul Sister (live) (from The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
F3 Fire Woman (live) *previously Unreleased

Cassette:
A1 Sonic Temple Radio Promo
A2 New York City (demo)
A3 American Horse (demo)
A4 Sun King (demo)
A5 Automatic Blues (demo)
A6 Yes Man (demo)
A7 Wake Up Time For Freedom (demo)
A8 Citadel (demo)
A9 The River (demo)
B1 The Crystal Ocean (demo)
B2 Cashmere (demo)
B3 Edie (demo)
B4 Bleeding Hearts Revival
B5 Star Child (demo)
B6 Medicine Train (Rock Demo)
B7 New York City (Rock Demo)
B8 Fire (Rock Demo)

5-CD SET
1-1 Sun King
1-2 Fire Woman
1-3 American Horse
1-4 Edie (Ciao Baby)
1-5 Sweet Soul Sister
1-6 Soul Asylum
1-7 New York City
1-8 Automatic Blues
1-9 Soldier Blue
1-10 Wake Up Time For Freedom
2-1 Sonic Temple Radio Promo
2-2 Fire Woman (Edit)
2-3 Messin' Up The Blues (from The Fire Woman Single)
2-4 Medicine Train (From The Edie (Ciao Baby) Single)
2-5 Fire Woman (NYC Rock Mix) (from The Fire Woman CD EP)
2-6 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Edit)
2-7 Bleeding Heart Graffiti (from The Edie (Ciao Baby) CD EP)
2-8 Sun King (Edit)
2-9 Sweet Soul Sister (Edit)
2-10 The River (From The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
2-11 Soldier Blue (Werman Extended Version)
2-12 Fire Woman (LA Rock Mix)
2-13 Sweet Soul Sister (Rock's Mix)
2-14 Edie (Ciao Baby) (Acoustic) (From The Heart Of Soul CD Single)
3-1 Medicine Train (demo)
3-2 New York City (demo)
3-3 American Horse (demo)
3-4 Sun King (demo)
3-5 Automatic Blues (demo)
3-6 Yes Man (demo)
3-7 Fire (demo)
3-8 Wake Up Time For Freedom (demo)
3-9 Citadel (demo)
3-10 The River (demo)
4-1 The Crystal Ocean (demo)
4-2 Cashmere (demo)
4-3 Edie (demo)
4-4 Bleeding Hearts Revival
4-5 My Love (demo)
4-6 Star Child (demo)
4-7 Medicine Train (Rock Demo)
4-8 New York City (Rock Demo)
4-9 Fire (rock Demo)
4-10 Spanish Gold (jam Demo)
5-1 New York City (live) *previously Unreleased)
5-2 Automatic Blues (live) *previously Unreleased)
5-3 American Horse (live) (from The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
5-4 Sun King (live) *previously Unreleased
5-5 Soul Asylum (live) (from The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
5-6 Rain (live) *previously Unreleased
5-7 Sweet Soul Sister (live) (from The Sweet Soul Sister Single)
5-8 She Sells Sanctuary (live) *previously Unreleased
5-9 Fire Woman (live) *previously Unreleased

The Odyssey Cult has its roots in Miller’s improvised solo electric guitar performances dating back to 2013. Though still almost entirely instrumental, the two volume debut expands his original concept of ‘solo electric guitar performance’ to something much broader in narrative scope and is as indebted to the great minimalists and loop pioneers as it is to guitar oriented Krautrock, cult film soundtrack music and the great feedback-riding, amp destroyers of the 60s to present day.

In departure from the more structured song work of most of Miller’s bands over the last 16 years, The Odyssey Cult albums are based in improvisation. Loops, cut-ups, collages and tonal performances (rather than melodic ones,) often form the engine of movement and narrative. The Odyssey Cult is the sound of the collapse of a prehistoric age. Giant amplifiers and fuzz bass loops smash into one another until only crackling ANS transmissions are left floating above the fray.

A prayer of poetry scrawled in feedback, a painting in sand of the dreams of imaginary birds, and raising the noise-rock quotient significantly, the rhythm section of Feral Ohms makes multiple appearances throughout the two albums as foil to Miller’s screaming amps, echoing extended guitar oriented power trio freak outs like White Heaven’s ‘Levitation’, a deconstructed mid 70s Crazy Horse and the heat-blistered primal workouts of High Rise. Vol.1 and Vol.2 are an artistic statement intended to be sat down and fully engaged with, a journey, an epic poem, a meditation, a long rich dream that loosens all sense of space and time- ultimately confusing history, moment and self.

Those that take the time to enter and feel sound, creation and performance will surely be rewarded by the joy and beauty of The Odyssey Cult.

For fans of Ash Ra Temple, Popol Vuh, 70’s Soundtracks, Fripp & Eno, Guru Guru UFO, Faust, Hendrix Woodstock feedback meltdowns, The great PSF power trios, Flying Saucer Attack, This Heat and disorienting ambient music.

TRACK LISTING

1. Olympus EES-2
2. The Abbot?s Yard
3. Cyclops, Tell Them It Was I!
4. Lotus; Torraloom, Torraluum
5. Laestrygonians
6. The Tongue And Hoof Of Blazes Boylan
7. Thick With Woods Where The Wild Goats
8. In Black Poplar Grove, Calypso At Her Loom

The Odyssey Cult has its roots in Miller’s improvised solo electric guitar performances dating back to 2013. Though still almost entirely instrumental, the two volume debut expands his original concept of ‘solo electric guitar performance’ to something much broader in narrative scope and is as indebted to the great minimalists and loop pioneers as it is to guitar oriented Krautrock, cult film soundtrack music and the great feedback-riding, amp destroyers of the 60s to present day.

In departure from the more structured song work of most of Miller’s bands over the last 16 years, The Odyssey Cult albums are based in improvisation. Loops, cut-ups, collages and tonal performances (rather than melodic ones,) often form the engine of movement and narrative. The Odyssey Cult is the sound of the collapse of a prehistoric age. Giant amplifiers and fuzz bass loops smash into one another until only crackling ANS transmissions are left floating above the fray. A prayer of poetry scrawled in feedback, a painting in sand of the dreams of imaginary birds, and raising the noise-rock quotient significantly, the rhythm section of Feral Ohms makes multiple appearances throughout the two albums as foil to Miller’s screaming amps, echoing extended guitar oriented power trio freak outs like White Heaven’s ‘Levitation’, a deconstructed mid 70s Crazy Horse and the heat-blistered primal workouts of High Rise. Vol.1 and Vol.2 are an artistic statement intended to be sat down and fully engaged with, a journey, an epic poem, a meditation, a long rich dream that loosens all sense of space and time- ultimately confusing history, moment and self. Those that take the time to enter and feel sound, creation and performance will surely be rewarded by the joy and beauty of The Odyssey Cult.

For fans of Ash Ra Temple, Popol Vuh, 70’s Soundtracks, Fripp & Eno, Guru Guru UFO, Faust, Hendrix Woodstock feedback meltdowns, The great PSF power trios, Flying Saucer Attack, This Heat and disorienting ambient music.

TRACK LISTING

1. Nausicaa | Sandymount
2. Poseidon
3. The Heaven's Black
4. Sirens
5. Far From The Others, Washed His Hands In The Foaming Surf
6. Ulysses

“In the year of the snitch, there are forces beyond your control that keep you up at night. Ghost notions that swirl around your room while you sleep. Your own pillow laughing right in your face while you fight for an hour of rest. Voices whisper from the corner, telling you everything you never wanted to hear. Negative Growth, our third album, is dedicated to fear and deception. “This collection of songs was conceived in Memphis and finalized in Los Angeles, with the help of our family doctor Ty Segall. It was created in February 2016, when we traded Memphis misery for a week of California sunshine. Negative Growth is a nine-track nightmare, a death trip in the crystal ship. The institution known as In The Red Records will do the honors. The Hollywood Heat Seeker takes ten years off your life.” - Chris Shaw of Ex-Cult.

TRACK LISTING

1. Mr. Investigator
2. Attention Ritual
3. Let You In
4. Government Birdcage
5. Dogs Roll In
6. Panic In Pig Park
7. Hollywood Heatseeker
8. Nightmare Zone
9. New Face On

Vinyl re-press of 2009 collaboration between Broadcast and their longtime sleeve designer Julian House (also co-founder of the Ghost Box label) to create a unique mini-album pulling in both collaborators' unique sense of melody and love of library music and film scores.

From their beginnings in Birmingham in 1995, Broadcast's aesthetic has remained a combination of their love for film, library music and electronics with psych-pop colour – a style which has gained them an enthusiastic fanbase including musicians such as Flying Lotus, Tim Gane from Stereolab, Grizzly Bear, Atlas Sound and DangerMouse. Long time friend of the band and renowned artwork designer Julian House (aka The Focus Group) is co-founder of the Ghost Box label, which in the last few years has birthed a cult of its own with releases reflecting its creators' obsessions with library music, English folklore and the eerie feel of vintage programmes for schools and colleges. His music as The Focus Group offers some of the most enchanting distillations of all the above, instantly complementing Broadcast's own long-standing aesthetic. As well as being a long-term visual collaborator with the band, House has provided visuals and artwork for Stereolab amongst many others.

TRACK LISTING

A1 Intro / Magnetic Tales
A2 The Be Colony
A3 How Do You Get Along Sir?
A4 Will You Read Me.
A5 Reception / Group Therapy
A6 A Quiet Moment
A7 I See, So I See So
A8 You Must Wake
A9 One Million Years Ago
A10 A Seancing Song
A11 Mr Beard, You Chatterbox
A12 Drug Party
A13 Libra, The Mirror's Minor Self
A14 Love's Long Listen-In
B1 We Are After All Here
B2 A Medium's High
B3 Ritual / Looking In
B4 Make My Sleep His Song
B5 Royal Chant
B6 What I Saw
B7 Let It Begin / Oh Joy
B8 Round And Round And Round
B9 The Be Colony / Dashing Home / What On Earth Took You?

In 1985 The Cult enjoyed breakthrough success with the single ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ and the album ‘Love’, establishing themselves as a new breed of alternative rock band.

When it came to recording a follow-up, the band booked into The Manor studios in Oxfordshire with Steve Brown again producing the album. By the end of October 1986 the album was recorded, the masters assembled and it was given the title ‘Peace’. However, the band weren’t happy with the final results which seemed too polished. Appreciating the rawness of Run-D.M.C.’s ‘Walk This Way’, the band contacted producer Rick Rubin to re-mix the lead track, ‘Love Removal Machine’. Rubin agreed to work with the band but only on condition that the track was entirely re-recorded. The result was a sparse, dry, riffing version that captured the sonic excitement the band were looking for. Enthused by the results, the decision was made to abandon the expensive ‘Peace’ recordings and re-record the entire album in New York with Rick Rubin. The new tracks would become The Cult’s third album, re-titled ‘Electric’, and a multi-million seller.

Tracks from ‘Peace’ were used as single B-sides and some of the alternative versions were issued on an early CD - ‘The Manor Sessions’ - but it wasn’t until the limited ‘Rare Cult’ box set in 2000 that fans got to hear the full album correctly sequenced. The box rapidly sold out meaning that ‘Peace’ has been unavailable for 13 years. Until now.

The unique pairing of Oxbow’s feisty vocalist with self-proclaimed “musical tour guide” Philippe Petit return to pick over the carcass of a dying relationship

Vinyl on heavyweight 180 gram black vinyl in gatefold sleeve with die cut inner pocket and printed inner dust cover.
CD in gatefold sleeve with lyric insert.
Released following Eugene’s appearance with the Oxbow Orchestra at Supersonic festival

Introducing vocalist Kaisa Meow The second release in a trilogy from Robinson-Petit following The Crying of Lot 69 LAST OF THE DEAD HOT LOVERS, a secondary installment in the tryptic of modern and highly specialized anomie brought to life by vocal lyricist EUGENE S. ROBINSON and musical tour guide PHILLIPPE PETIT, covers an unspecified disaster at the centre of a failed and failing relationship. Equal parts "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?" and the last 16 hours of a love affair, LAST OF THE DEAD HOT LOVERS also features the estimable KASIA MEOW in a duet with Robinson that radiates all the best parts of homicidal suicides.

File Under: Experimental / Spoken Word For Fans of: Oxbow, Tom Waits, Swans, The Enablers, William Burroughs.

Privately pressed in Scotland in 1979, this elusive and quite wonderful percussion / jazz album is like no other. Played by a group of 11 girls with an average age of 14, the group included Evelyn Glennie, who was destined to become one of the world’s greatest percussionist. This is her first ever record.

Johnny Trunk says:

The Cults Percussion Ensemble was a group formed by percussion teaching legend Ron Forbes in the mid 1970s. The ensemble must have one of the best group names of all time. To many it will immediately come across as something sinister, a touch spooky and possibly a bit dramatic too. They are certainly two of those but the use of the word “Cults” here is easily misinterpreted. Cults, in this case, is the suburb of Aberdeen.

The average age of the students was just 14. They came from a few of the schools in the area, including the Cults Academy, Ellon Academy, Aboyne Academy, Inverurie Academy and Powis.

My original copy of the album came from Spitalfields market in London. I loved the music the second it started, because it reminded me of Carl Orff and peculiar library. So I started to investigate it further, and eventually, thanks to the highly tuned world of percussion, was given the address of Ron Forbes. I got in touch with him and now we have this, a formal release of something quite lovely that was only previously available very briefly in 1979 at concerts when the young girls performed.

The music here is really quite unique, with a celestial swirling hypnotic quality. The blend of glockenspiels, xylophones, vibraphones, marimba and timpani drums is quite intoxicating and can recall the shimmering warmth of the desert sun one minute (“Baia”) or freezing glacial icecaps the next (“Circles”). The Ensemble perform with an effortless tightness and deftness of touch, building textured layers with recurring percussive motives which appear simultaneously dense and yet sparse, almost sounding like modern sampling. In fact, while struggling to find a musical comparison, during the pulsating introduction to "Percussion Suite" I found myself recalling "Gamma Player", a piece of soulful Detroit techno minimalism from Jeff Mills (Millsart - “Humana” EP 1995) with its rhythmic percussion layered with complex emotion. Weirdly enough, other tracks on that EP also prominently feature xylophone and tuned percussion, although obviously synthesised and programmed, a good 20 years after the CPE first recorded.

The LP comes with a new sleeve and the CD has a 6 page fold out booklet, which includes biographies and rare shots of the ensemble

STAFF COMMENTS

Philippa says: Not what you'd expect a privately pressed album by a group of 14 year old girls from late 70s Scotland to sound like. Forget preconceived ideas about scratchy, poorly recorded school bands, this is an impressive percussive jazz album with great sound.

This groundbreaking project is trail-blazing the collaboration between dubstep and hip-hop, with stomach-pounding, bass-thumping guttural beats, and gully, gritty and grimy lyrics that break into the next decade in the chapters of each respective genre’s history. With Scuba, Parson, Trillbass, Dakimh, DZ, Rogue Star, Stenchman, Datsik & many more producing not remixes, but complex reinterpollations that include a veritable goldmine of Wu-Tang verses from the vaults that feature Raekwon, Ghostface Killa, RZA, GZA, Method Man, U-God & Masta Killa, Wu affiliates Killah Priest, Bronze Nazareth, Prodigal Sunn, Solomon Childs, Son One & more, and guest spots from Busta Rhymes, MF Doom, Pimp C, Three 6 Mafia, Ras Kass, Vast Aire, Canibus, Lord Jamar & many more, this one of a kind compilation is at the forefront of an emerging cultural and musical blend that is taking place on the margins of the mainstream, but will be talked about for years to come….

TRACK LISTING

A1. Method Man & U God – Love Don’t Cost (A Thing) Still Grimey Featuring Icewater, Method Man, U-God & Prodigal Sunn (Nebulla & Dore Remix)
A2. Method Man & U God – New Year Banga Featuring Bronze Nazareth, Kevlaar 7 & Phillie (Rogue Star Remix)
B1. Raekwon & Three 6 Mafia – Iconoclasts Featuring Bronze Nazareth, Killa Priest & Vast Aire (Syndaesia An Aks Extended Remix)
B2. Raekwon & Three 6 Mafia – Alphabets (Dakimh Instrumental Remix)

Broadcast (Trish Keenan and James Cargill) have collaborated with renowned designer Julian House (aka The Focus Group) to create a unique mini-album pulling in both collaborators' unique sense of melody and love of library music and film scores. After a long hiatus, it can be said with confidence that Broadcast's return is greeted with much anticipation. From their beginnings in Birmingham in 1995, Broadcast's aesthetic has remained a combination of their love for film, library music and electronics with psych-pop colour – a style which has gained them an enthusiastic fanbase including musicians such as Flying Lotus, Tim Gane from Stereolab, Grizzly Bear, Atlas Sound and DangerMouse. Long time friend of the band and renowned artwork designer Julian House (aka The Focus Group) is co-founder of the Ghost Box label, which in the last few years has birthed a cult of its own with releases reflecting its creators' obsessions with library music, English folklore and the eerie feel of vintage programmes for schools and colleges. His music as The Focus Group offers some of the most enchanting distillations of all the above, instantly complementing Broadcast's own long-standing aesthetic. As well as being a long-term visual collaborator with the band, House has provided visuals and artwork for Stereolab amongst many others.

2Mex of the Visionaries goes solo on a boundary bustin' mission. Featuring guest appearances from Busdriver and Jean Grae plus a varied production palette with SA-RA Creative Partners, Babu, Subtitle, KeyKool and plenty others, the scope is exceedingly diverse.

A sort of alternative best of, this album is a 15 track compilation of the best studio tracks that never appeared on their six official albums!