Forced Exposure Store Update

FORCED EXPOSURE STORE UPDATE

NEW RELEASES FOR THE WEEK OF 01/27/2025

first section features releases in stock now and ready to be shipped as of MON 01/27/2025

second section features forthcoming releases; release dates are given for reference, but can be approximate, depending on the label

please use catalog numbers (listed after the format in the descriptions) when ordering

orders can be phoned in at: 781 321 0320
orders can be faxed to: 781 321 0321

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ATOMNATION (NETHERLANDS):

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POLYNATION: Bloom 12" (ATMV 122EP)

Dutch electronic music duo Polynation returns to Atomnation with Bloom, a new EP featuring guest appearances from Itai Weissman and Eric Vloeimans. Polynation has always employed a wide range of gear to make their music, from synths, bass, guitar, and pedals to their unmistakable use of acoustic drums. This time, they have guest musicians Eric Vloeimans on trumpet and Itai Weissman playing saxophone and EWI -- a digital wind instrument. The EP is their investigation into the symbiosis between electronically generated sounds and acoustic wind instruments. It finds them playing wind instruments in unconventional ways to mimic the language of a synthesizer and contrasting them with electronic sounds that breathe and feel alive, as if acoustic. "We are particularly interested in the sonic world where the boundaries between electronic and acoustic sounds begin to blur," they explain. They now take that concept one step further on this latest outing. Bloom is another deep dive into the adventurous sonic alchemy of the continually innovative Polynation.

$15.39 EAN: 4062548098945 ELECTRONIC

A
01. Hyfen
02. Bloom
B
03. Ritueel
04. Fade

BLACK TRUFFLE (AUSTRALIA):

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SPRENGER, KONRAD: Set LP (BT 127LP)

Black Truffle presents a rare solo release from Konrad Sprenger, alias of elusive Berlin composer-producer-instrument builder Jörg Hiller. A prolific collaborator, Sprenger has worked extensively with icons of American minimalism such as Ellen Fullman (with whom her recorded the gloriously eccentric song album Ort) and Arnold Dreyblatt (as a core member of the Orchestra of Excited Strings since 2009), as well as releasing their music on his impeccably curated label, Choose. As an instrument builder and installation artist, he has overseen the creation of a computer-controlled multi-channel electric guitar and, with Phillip Sollmann, a modular pipe organ system designed to be reconfigured from space to space. Set brings together the various strands of Sprenger's work into a wildly infectious, playful epic, performed by the composer and the mysterious Ensemble Risonanze Moderne. On the LP's second side, listeners are also treated to a guest appearance from longtime collaborator Oren Ambarchi, on whose recent solo releases Simian Angel and Shebang Sprenger has made key production contributions. Ambarchi's signature stuttering, swirling harmonics weave through a sparkling assemblage of electric guitars, acoustic instruments, percussion and electronics -- though, given the deft use that much of Sprenger's recent production work makes of midi-controlled sampled instrumentation, it's anyone's guess where the acoustic ends and the digital begins here. As soon as the needle drops on the first side, listeners are inside a musical world that Set will inhabit for its 33 minutes: sparkling guitar harmonics and palm-muted notes, tuned percussion, crisp electronic drum hits, flashes of horns, and untraceable bursts of synthetic sound are arranged into a skittering polyrhythmic framework calling up the detail-rich percussive constructions of contemporary techno filtered through the pointillism of the post-serialist European avant-garde. Behind this shifting mist of particulate sound, winds and strings sound out held chords, reminiscent of Arthur Russell's Tower of Meaning in their epic yet seemingly aimless drift. The relationship between elements is mysterious, appearing both carefully considered and almost random. Though never straying too far from where it begins, as the piece moves along, it spotlights increasingly bizarre instrument choices as well as momentary liftoffs into motorik propulsion. Set is a fascinating, mercurial thing: at once propulsive and fragmented, essentially static in form yet ever-changing in detail, unabashedly egghead in its construction yet sure to get the feet tapping.

$25.99 EAN: 4250101474828 ELECTRONIC

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LORENZ, RUDIGER: Synrise: Early Tape Recordings 1981-83 CD (BB 474CD)

"If you're already aware of Rüdiger Lorenz, chances are you washed ashore on Southland, his cult kosmische curio graciously reissued by the ever-benevolent Bureau B in the middle of the last decade. Either that, or you're one of the few hundred electronic music obsessives who encountered his work the first-time round, giddily grabbing up the eighteen cassette, vinyl and CD releases the prolific part-timer delivered DIY style on his Syntape and Syncord imprints between 1981-1998. I say this because despite a catalogue both copious and singular, and a renewed interest amongst the switched on and tuned in since his premature passing in 2000, Rüdiger's reception has remained sadly subterranean -- another example of audio inequity. As such, it falls to Synrise, attentively assembled by Rüdiger's son Tim, to shine some rightful light on this unique talent. Although Rüdiger impressed as a member of a local beat group in the seventies, growing exposure to the likes of Neu!, Tangerine Dream, Reich, and Riley pushed him towards the electronic and experimental, a style more suited to his solitary temperament. Unsurprisingly for a man who made eighteen solo albums around his day job, Lorenz was something of a loner, though it's hard to hear that through the emotional resonance of his releases. His search for sonic expression led him to overcome his lack of electrical knowhow, boldly soldering on to create organs, effects units and self-built modular systems, each in service to his specific sound. What then, specifically, is the sound of Synrise? Selected from his first four releases, Queen of Saba (1981), Silver Steps (1981), Wonderflower (1982) and Earthrise (1983), this septet boasts sci-fi anthems and sine wave requiems, nebulous cosmic collages of snapping rhythm boxes, gurgling sequences and synthesized choirs? Though originally released across four different cassettes, these seven tracks all belong to the same sonic universe -- just not the universe we're living in." --Patrick Ryder

$12.39 EAN: 4015698823431 ELECTRONIC

01. 38-17-34
02. Chamomilla Sabinae
03. Dreaming Of Saba
04. Hmmm
05. Independance
06. Promis Of Sigma
07. Anigre

LORENZ, RUDIGER: Synrise: Early Tape Recordings 1981-83 LP (BB 474LP)

LP version. "If you're already aware of Rüdiger Lorenz, chances are you washed ashore on Southland, his cult kosmische curio graciously reissued by the ever-benevolent Bureau B in the middle of the last decade. Either that, or you're one of the few hundred electronic music obsessives who encountered his work the first-time round, giddily grabbing up the eighteen cassette, vinyl and CD releases the prolific part-timer delivered DIY style on his Syntape and Syncord imprints between 1981-1998. I say this because despite a catalogue both copious and singular, and a renewed interest amongst the switched on and tuned in since his premature passing in 2000, Rüdiger's reception has remained sadly subterranean -- another example of audio inequity. As such, it falls to Synrise, attentively assembled by Rüdiger's son Tim, to shine some rightful light on this unique talent. Although Rüdiger impressed as a member of a local beat group in the seventies, growing exposure to the likes of Neu!, Tangerine Dream, Reich, and Riley pushed him towards the electronic and experimental, a style more suited to his solitary temperament. Unsurprisingly for a man who made eighteen solo albums around his day job, Lorenz was something of a loner, though it's hard to hear that through the emotional resonance of his releases. His search for sonic expression led him to overcome his lack of electrical knowhow, boldly soldering on to create organs, effects units and self-built modular systems, each in service to his specific sound. What then, specifically, is the sound of Synrise? Selected from his first four releases, Queen of Saba (1981), Silver Steps (1981), Wonderflower (1982) and Earthrise (1983), this septet boasts sci-fi anthems and sine wave requiems, nebulous cosmic collages of snapping rhythm boxes, gurgling sequences and synthesized choirs? Though originally released across four different cassettes, these seven tracks all belong to the same sonic universe -- just not the universe we're living in." --Patrick Ryder

$19.39 EAN: 4015698351415 ELECTRONIC

01. 38-17-34
02. Chamomilla Sabinae
03. Dreaming Of Saba
04. Hmmm
05. Independance
06. Promis Of Sigma
07. Anigre

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FOREST DRIVE WEST: Recursion EP 12" (ECHO 089EP)

2024 repress. Forest Drive West makes a welcome return to Echocord with the Recursion EP, featuring one solo cut and two collaborations with DB1 and Localhost. London's Forest Drive West has been steadily releasing his left of center take on techno over the past five years on the likes of Livity Sound, Hidden Hawaii, Delsin, AD93 fka Whities and of course Echocord where here returns here following the Parallel Space EP back in 2019. Leading the release is the murky, tense atmospherics of "100m," produced alongside regular collaborator DB1 the eight minute composition journeys through unfurling, expansive pads, subtly nuanced bass warbles and gritty off-kilter percussion. Next up, Forest Drive West joins forces with Localhost for title-cut "Recursion," embracing a 4/4 approach rhythmically this time and bringing hazy, ethereal pads, earth shattering subs and circling stab sequences into the limelight. Forest Drive West's solo cut "Anchor" then rounds out the release, taking things deeper into dub territory via tumbling percussive echoes, billowing chords and heavy doses of low-end drive.

$13.39 EAN: 4250101430879 ELECTRONIC

A
01. 100m
B
02. Recursion
03. Anchor

DEADBEAT: Pressure Double Down EP 12" (ECHO 095EP)

Canada's dub maestro Deadbeat makes a welcome return to Echocord to round out the year with his Pressure Double Down EP, comprised of three original cuts. Adopted Montrealer Scott Montieth, aka Deadbeat, has been at the forefront of dub tinged techno and minimal leaning sounds since the turn of the millennium, racking up albums on the beloved Pole helmed scape in the early 2000s before going on to run his own label BLKRTZ where he regularly release material, as well as further releases on imprints such as Wagon Repair and of course Echocord, where he returns here with his latest collection of works. "Too Much Pressure" leads the EP, a fifteen-minute excursion through intricate percussion, choppy, dubbed out stab sequences and psychedelic vocals all infused with Deadbeat's signature subtly unfurling flair and nuanced dynamism. "Double Bubble" follows and lays down an amalgamation of delicately intertwined chord melodies, sub bass tones spiraling echoes and a crunchy analogue rhythm section. "Rattle The Roof Down" then concludes the EP on a more minimal tinged tip, bringing a heavy low-end dub reggae bass groove to the front while spacey percussive delays and murky swells ebb and flow throughout the hypnotic groove.

$11.99 EAN: 4250101477379 ELECTRONIC

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ANCIENTS (ISAIAH COLLIER, WILLIAM HOOKER, WILLIAM PARKER), THE: The Ancients 2LP (MTE 080-81LP)

Arriving in North America on Eremite, the debut recording by The Ancients, the intergenerational coalition of Isaiah Collier, William Hooker, and William Parker formed by Parker to play concerts in conjunction with the Milford Graves Mind Body Deal exhibition at the Institute Of Contemporary Art Los Angeles and now a working group. Across 2 LPs of side-length long-form improvised sets recorded at 2220 Arts and Archives in LA and The Chapel in San Francisco, The Ancients bring the free jazz trio languages first explored by the Cecil Taylor Unit and Ornette Coleman's Golden Circle Band (expanded upon in later eras by Sam Rivers' trio and Parker's collective trios with Charles Gayle/Graves and Peter Brötzmann/Hamid Drake) into their own unique and scintillating realms of expression. As we tumble further into the throes of history's tides, people of hope and creativity rely on the works of our great artists to lift our spirits and focus our resolve. Ascension was recorded less than a year after the passage of the Civil Rights Act and four months after the assassination of Malcolm X. Journey in Satchidananda was recorded the month Reagan was re-elected governor of California. M'Boom made its debut recording weeks after the Watergate scandal broke and a couple months after the Wounded Knee occupation ended. The music of The Ancients builds on these great musical legacies. It resounds with the pride of survival and the joys of making and sharing music. It delivers to us hope and balm. Something real in you, real in history, and real in the music is shared, right on time. When Eremite records commenced operations during the 1990s free jazz resurgence, heavyweight freedom-seeking tenor saxophonists such as Fred Anderson, Peter Brötzmann, Charles Gayle, Kidd Jordan, and David S. Ware were at the height of their powers. Isaiah Collier's tenor playing in The Ancients is bracing testimony that the wellspring lives on. To hear the young Chicago firebrand blowing freely with veteran improvisers in an entirely open-form group music is a revelatory study of his vast talent, personal voice, and the intensity of his expression -- as well as a bold complement to his composition-based albums as a bandleader (including The Almighty, a New York Times' best albums of 2024 selection). I've admired drummer William Hooker since first encountering his music in a Hartford, CT, city park, early '90s (on a double bill with Jerry González and Fort Apache Band). From the man himself right off the bandstand I bought his even-then rare first recording, the 1976 self-released 2LP opus Is Eternal Life (reissued 2019 by Superior Viaduct). An imposing force on his instrument and an intrepid DIY cat, Hooker's been exuberantly swinging in-and-out of free time for 50+ years. Informed by the innovations of Sunny Murray and Tony Williams yet entirely himself, there is no other term for it than "pure Hooker." At age 78, with the Ancients and everywhere else, THE HOOK is in peak form. With a discography approaching 600 entries and 50+ years working across the musical maps, including in the history-defining bands of Don Cherry, Cecil Taylor, Bill Dixon, Peter Brötzmann, in his own wondrous ensembles from small group to orchestra to opera, a bastion of compassionate leadership and a poetic champion of his musical community, in tireless service to what he rather egolessly refers to as "the tone world," multi-instrumentalist, improviser and composer William Parker is a living hero of the grassroots and the Black Mystery Musics, not to mention one of the great bassists in the history of jazz. To quote George Clinton, conquering the stumbling blocks comes easier when the conqueror is in tune with the infinite. Free jazz is an enduring high art. Its greatest expressions belong to their particular moment in history, and live on to transcend and refract in amaranthine ways. Inside our present historical moment, we are fortunate to have the master musicians in the ancients bringing us their high-level creation. First Eremite edition of 1,299 copies pressed on premium audiophile-quality 140gram vinyl at Fidelity Record pressing, from Kevin Gray/Cohearent audio lacquers. Live to 2-track concert recordings by Bryce Gonzales, Highland Dynamics. Mastered by Joe Lizzi, Queens, NY. Album and concerts co-produced with The Black Editions Group.

$31.99 UPC: 769791987258 JAZZ

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CULTURE: Harder Than the Rest LP (FL 1016LP)

2025 restock. "The string of albums Culture recorded during the late '70s contained some of the most reliably solid sets from the tail end of reggae's roots era. These early releases for the production team of Joe Gibbs and Errol 'E.T.' Thompson yielded the group's finest work . . . The typically excellent assembly of session men respond to such material with an appropriately light touch: the exemplary rhythm work of keyboardists Ansel Collins and Earl Lindo and guitarist Willie Lindo is kept under close watch by the great Sly Dunbar. The drummer's playing is effortless as he alternates the makeup of a particular pattern or subtly changes up the rhythm, heading into a chorus. Closer attention to the backing for tracks like 'Behold,' 'Tell Me Where You Get It,' and 'Vacancy' reveals the sort of strength, though subtle, that drives the best roots music." --Nathan Bush, All Music Guide

$10.99 UPC: 881026010163 WORLD

A1. Behold
A2. Holy Mount Zion
A3. Stop Fussing And Fighting
A4. Iron Sharpening Iron
A5. Vacancy
B1. Tell Me Where You Get It
B2. Free Again
B3. Work On Natty
B4. Love Shine Bright
B5. Play Skilfully

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YOUNG-SOWERS, MEREDITH: Agartha: Personal Meditation Music 7CD (IMPREC 538CD)

Restocked. Agartha: Personal Meditation Music is a 7 CD boxed set, originally released on cassette in 1986, at the height of New Age, as an aid for meditation and alignment. Bringing to mind 20th century composers like Eliane Radigue, La Monte Young, or even Brian Eno's Shutov Assembly, the time-stopping, enveloping, electronic music contained in this series sounds eerily modern, mysterious and moving. Characterized by deep analog drones, rising overtones, floating frequencies surfing on sine-waves and intervals with mystic modulation, this is truly moving, vibrational music. In Agartha, the individual notes of each Harmonic Triad proceed in a fashion that is neither improvisational nor chance-based, nor is it generative. Instead, the music flows outward as if being transmitted -- or channeled -- from a place outside human consciousness. There is a profound sense of cosmic depth expanding ever outward as the music fills the listener with waves of emotion, and a palpable somatic response is felt, although there are subtle differences with each unique Triad. Each disc is individually packaged in original replica sleeves and housed in a heavy-duty cardboard clamshell box. Digitized and remastered by Jessica Thompson. Liner notes include extensive instructions for use from the original text and an essay by library music scholar David Hollander. The original edition of Agartha: Personal Meditation Music, featured one-track, 30-minute track per tape repeated on both sides. Subsequent editions had unique Side B tracks on all but two of the seven volumes. Important Records have included all tracks in this boxed set. RIYL: Eliane Radigue, Pauline Oliveros, Eleh, Duane Pitre, La Monte Young, Eno, Larajji, Iasos.

$33.59 UPC: 793447553825 ELECTRONIC

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ORB, THE: Okie Dokie It's The Orb on Kompakt 2LP (KOM 128LP)

20-year anniversary re-issue! Okie Dokie It´s The Orb On Kompakt the 13th album of one of Britian's most prized cult bands. The music of The Orb only has an intensive effect when taken in as a long-playing full length. And it proves with this lovingly conjured collection of songs brought together like a collage. The first half of Okie Dokie showcase The Orb´s love for minimal techno and Schaffel/Shuffle as it is so obviously present in the foreground, while the second half is only reserved to the classic Orb-ish ancestral domain. There are wonderful guest appearances by Schneider TM and Kompakt´s ambient-guru Ulf Lohmann. As many of you know, there is so much history about The Orb you could write a book. Since Jimmy Cauty and Alex Paterson, in the flush of euphoria invented chill out and ambient house in the first summer of love 1988, an incredible amount of things have occurred. After 2002, The Orb found with Kompakt a new ambient-loving partner and release a row of singles and play live, as the trimmed-down version as Le Petit Orb.

$24.79 UPC: 880319120916 ELECTRONIC

Disc 1

Side A
01. Komplikation
02. Lunik Tm
03. Ripples
Side B
04. Captain Korma
05. Kan Kan
06. Rolo
07. Beatitude

Disc 2

Side C
08. Cool Harbour
09. Trauvogel
10. Because/Before
Side D
11. Tin Kan
12. Kompagna
13. Falkenbruck
14. Snowbow

ORB, THE: Moonbuilding 2703 AD 2LP (KOM 330LP)

10-year anniversary re-issue! A major slice of psychedelic synth bliss and powerful basslines. 2LP edition. Gatefold double LP version. Iconic electronic music pioneers The Orb return to Kompakt with Moonbuilding 2703 AD, another major slice of psychedelic synth bliss, obscure loops, and deep ambient textures tossed in swinging breakbeats and powerful basslines. Installing a forward momentum rather unusual for a genre-defying project like this, the latest effort from masterminds Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann follows their 2005 album success on Kompakt, the cheekily named Okie Dokie It's The Orb On Kompakt -- as well as several contributions to Kompakt's Speicher and Pop Ambient series -- but, more importantly, it finds the legendary duo at the peak of its creativity, ringing in another essential phase in what can only be called a groundbreaking career. True to form, Moonbuilding 2703 AD features a small track list, but turns each one of its four cuts into a mini-epic in its own right. Opener "God's Mirrorball" hits the ground floating, employing a handful of cozy statics to great effect before finally discharging into an intricate mosaic of atmospheric, melodic sketches and gripping rhythms. With a hypnotic runtime of more than 14 minutes, it immediately establishes a blueprint for the other album tracks to follow, perfectly illustrating the vast extent of the artists' vision and their impressive skills in luring in listeners -- welcome to The Orb's sonic labyrinth, where nothing is what it seems and the unexpected waits just around the corner. Likewise, follow-up track "Moonscapes 2703 BC" presents itself as a uniquely versatile affair sitting comfortably between ambient flourishes and beat-driven focus, holding as many twists and turns as a caper movie, but carefully grounding every single one of its cliffhangers in its impeccable flow. With a runtime of approximately nine minutes, "Lunar Caves" is the shortest jam of the bunch -- and also the most ethereal, keeping its rhythmic content to a bare, pulse-like minimum and opting for enticing, freewheeling synth textures instead. Album closer and title cut "Moonbuilding 2703 AD" introduces a surprisingly jazzy vibe mingling rather well with the wealth of electronic tricks up its sleeve -- even indulging in abrasive bass sweeps and a breathtaking multitude of different rhythm sections constantly switching places. It's a fitting closing act for a full-length as multifaceted as this, as idiosyncratic as possible and as muscular as needed. Cover design by iconic graphic wizards The Designers Republic.

$26.59 UPC: 880319801433 ELECTRONIC

Disc 1

Side A
01. God's Mirrorball
Side B
02. Moon Scapes 2703 BC

Disc 2

Side C
01. Lunar Caves
Side D
02. Moonbuilding 2703 AD

ORB, THE: COW / Chill Out, World! LP (KOM 354LP)

10-year anniversary re-issue! LP version. The Orb, Alex Paterson and Thomas Fehlmann, have become known for their genre-bending curiosity and surprising sonic detours, exploring experimental soundscapes as well as club-friendly beats. COW / Chill Out, World! is a masterful ambient album that branches out in many directions, but unmistakably sounds like The Orb. In contrast to their much-acclaimed previous full-length Moonbuilding 2703 AD, which took years to prepare and fine-tune, COW / Chill Out, World! was produced over the course of only five sessions in six months, directly following the like-minded Alpine EP. Paterson on recording the album: "It got so spontaneous that a track like '9 Elms Over River Eno (Channel 9)' consisted only of material collected at North Carolina's Moogfest in May - second-hand records from local stores, field recordings, live samples from gigs that we liked, and of course an excursion to the Eno River, which actually exists. This geographic intimacy and the spontaneity are among the top reasons why we love this album so much." Fehlmann sees the duo's relentless gigging schedule as a formative influence on the new album: "the countless performances we've played in the last years have brought us closer as a musical unit. The spice of our concerts is improvisation - a fertile process that we've brought to the studio, where we operate with very simple rules of engagement and go wherever the flow takes us." It's an approach that one might expect from traditional acoustic instrumentation, not necessarily an electronic set-up. Once more, The Orb's trademark playfulness is on full display on COW / Chill Out, World! and it doesn't limit itself to the multi-layered sampling and psychedelic sound composites. It's not so much an obscure trope coming full circle as a perfect example for The Orb's multi-timbre approach to sound and meaning - a compelling, immersive journey to diverse places and impressions. Each track title is a conceptual work in its own right, playing with multiple references, some of which remain highly personal and mysterious. But the greatest feat of The Orb's latest outing might just be how all this semantic doodling never gets in the way of the actual listening, at all times directly relating the artists' sonic vitality and cheerful nosiness.

$21.39 UPC: 880319817113 ELECTRONIC

SCHLAMMPEITZIGER: Meine Unterkunft ist die Unvernunft Remixed 12" (KOM 493EP)

A loving embrace for Schlammpeitziger with remixes by Ada, Andreas Dorau & Zwanie Jonson, Bionaut, HJirok, Thomas Mahmoud, Stefan Mohr, and Wolfgang Voigt! At the end of 2024, Kompakt celebrated the release of Jo "Schlammpeitziger" Zimmermann's brand new album Meine Unterkunft ist die Unvernunft on his 60th birthday at Kompakt Recordstore. Now the label presents the accompanying remixes. An illustrious group of long-time companions has come together to pay tribute to the master of electronic eccentricity with remixes.

$15.99 EAN: 4250101477386 ELECTRONIC

LIVE AT ROBERT JOHNSON (GERMANY):

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VA: Lifesaver 5 Compilation: Tell Me Something Good - 25 Years of Famous When Dead 5LP BOX (PLAYRJC 111LP)

In the heart of Offenbach, where the city's pulse synchronizes with the beat of the night, stands the illustrious Robert Johnson Club. For a quarter of a century, it has stood as a bastion of sonic exploration, a sanctuary for those who seek solace in the rhythm, and a beacon of inspiration for the global electronic music community. As it proudly raises its glass to toast 25 years of unrivaled musical excellence, the echoes of countless memories reverberate through its storied halls. To honor this landmark anniversary, Live at Robert Johnson presents a kinda like masters blueprint of sound: Tell Me Something Good - 25 Years of Famous When Dead! This compilation, aptly named after the club's mantra, serves not only as a celebration of its rich history but also as a testament to the enduring legacy of the artists who have graced its stage. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, each track on the compilation is a sonic journey unto itself -- a symphony of beats and melodies that weave together to tell the story of Robert Johnson's evolution over the past quarter-century. From the pulsating rhythms of underground techno to the ethereal melodies of deep house, the compilation encapsulates the club's eclectic spirit and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of electronic music. But beyond the music lies something deeper -- an intangible energy that permeates every aspect of Robert Johnson's existence. It's the sense of camaraderie that binds together the club's patrons and artists alike, the shared experience of losing oneself in the music, and the profound sense of belonging that transcends language and culture. Here's to 25 years of passion, of creativity, and of "something good" that will echo through the ages for generations to come. Featuring New Hook, Innere Tueren / Map.ache, Curses, Mano Le Tough, Skelesys, Rebolledo, Moderna / Theus Mago, Massimiliano Pagliara, Man Power, DJ Oyster, Lydia Eisenblätter, Alinka, DC Salas, Llewellyn, Benjamin Fröhlich, Peter Invasion / Gregor Habicht, Kalexis, Adana Twins, Jence, Oskar Offermann, Robert Dietz, Cromby, Odopt, Kadosh, Tony Y Not & Common Occupation, Ali Schwarz, Current Location, HCL, Irakli, RKJVK, Ludwig A.F., Shubostar, and Jennifer Touch.

$113.19 EAN: 4250101472398 ELECTRONIC

BAEZ, RICARDO: Tutto Passa 12" (PLAYRJC 119EP)

Florence-based DJ and producer Ricardo Baez, known for his Tropical Animal party series, presents Tutto Passa -- an album that blends deep house, disco, and Balearic influences into a vibrant sonic journey. The release features Johannes Albert's electrifying remix of "La Isla De Margarita." The four-track vinyl edition distills the album's essence with standout selections: "Tears of Joy," "My Thursday Night," "Arroz Con Leche," and the Johannes Albert remix, offering a perfect balance of melody and rhythm.

$13.39 EAN: 4250101477829 ELECTRONIC

A1. Tears of Joy (4:56)
A2. My Thursday Night (4:41)
B1. Arroz Con Leche (5:17)
B2. La Isla De Margarita (Johannes Albert Remix) (6:19)

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WILDEIS, MARIA: Deep Meaning LP (MAGAZINE 024LP)

Deep Meaning is the debut album by Maria Wildeis, a Cologne-based artist and expert in real-time sound design for installations. The tracks on Deep Meaning oscillate between club and experimental music and are characterized by a lightness unique to debut works. Particularly notable is the inventive use of synthetic, organic, and sampled vocal elements. Voices constantly morph into melodies and back; words become notes, chords turn into text. Maria's real-time approach to composing is evident throughout, making this album an unscripted adventure. Before you uncover the deep meaning, it has already swept you away. Maria Wildeis researches spatial aspects in art and music, working with digital sound modeling and procedural sound synthesis. She also runs Gemeinde Köln, an art space in Cologne, Germany, which she founded in 2018. Tracks 2 and 4 co-written by Daniel Ansorge. Additional production by Daniel Ansorge and Jens-Uwe Beyer. Mixed and mastered by Daniel Ansorge at Magazine Studio Cologne.

$18.79 EAN: 4250101476884 ELECTRONIC

MULE MUSIQ (GERMANY):

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POLYGONIA: Upside Down 12" (MUSIQ 297EP)

The debut release of women's brightest hope comes from Polygonia on Mule Musiq. Label artist Simone De Kunovich introduced her to Mule and she sent this excellent unique house music. She sang, wrote the lyrics, and played violin and flute. "Upside Down" is a bit like early Herbert Style. "Eyes Between Letters" is kind of excentric Afro-Brazilian deep house. "Beyond Light and Shade" is like an electronic version of Midori Takada or Mkwaju Ensemble.

$15.39 EAN: 4250101471223 ELECTRONIC

SARANG BANG RECORDS (NEW ZEALAND):

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KAPTEIN, JOE: Eternal Afternoons LP (SBR 038LP)

Sarang Bang Records proudly presents Eternal Afternoons, the latest full-length offering from Auckland-based composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Joe Kaptein. Drawing inspiration from the '70s jazz-funk innovations of Donald Byrd and Lonnie Liston Smith and elements of dub and disco, Eternal Afternoon is an uplifting collection of five original Kaptein compositions -- a joyful antidote to these troubled times. Featuring Kaptein's intricately layered keys and tight ensemble arrangements, the album is augmented by masterful touches of flute and saxophone by Aotearoa New Zealand jazz icon Nathan Haines and backed by local heavyweights Elijah Whyte (drums) and Wil Goodinson (bass), the backbone of Kaptein's regular working band. Seemingly out of nowhere, Kaptein appeared on the Auckland scene a few years ago and quickly made a name for himself owing to his versatility, impeccable taste and musicianship, and has established himself as the go-to keyboardist for the likes of Nathan Haines, The Circling Sun, Princess Chelsea, The Situations, and Muroki. Before recording Eternal Afternoon, Kaptein somehow managed to channel his unrelenting creative energy into three low-key, but brilliant self-released digital albums in between his hectic international touring schedule and session work. These exploratory recordings touch on drum machine and synth-driven psych-lounge, Krautrock, experimental jazz, and Bacharachian pop, allowing the listener a glimpse into the depth of Kaptein's vision and his wide-ranging musical interests.

$21.99 EAN: 4251804184397 ELECTRONIC

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BLACK FLOWER: Kinetic CD (SDBANU 040CD)

With their new album, Black Flower delves into the transformative power of rhythm and motion. Each groove, rhythm and pulse channels raw energy, acting as a disruptor that drives transformation. When the mind feels stuck -- cemented in patterns, rigid in its views, overwhelmed by obstacles -- Kinetic serves as a reminder that the body's motion can be the force to shatter those confines. To move is to adapt, evolve, and transform. The album embodies a philosophy of flowing with change rather than resisting it, offering a bold, dynamic statement on breaking free from life's limitations. Kinetic is a call to dance through life's chaos and to harness the power of movement as a tool for liberation. The album showcases Black Flower's signature blend of Ethio-jazz, oriental influences, dub, and afrobeat. The jazz combo, hailed by tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, The Gaslamp Killer, and Lefto Early Bird, has performed live sessions on BBC Radio 3 and Worldwide FM. Their previous albums earned widespread acclaim, with glowing reviews from prestigious publications such as MOJO, Stereogum, Q Magazine, and Uncut Magazine. The band has toured extensively across Europe, building a strong fanbase. Featuring Meskerem Mees.

$11.39 EAN: 5414166678983 JAZZ

WRWTFWW RECORDS (SWITZERLAND):

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YOKOTA, SHINICHIRO: Pitstop Box 6LP BOX (WRWTFWW 098LP)

WRWTFWW Records presents the Pitstop Box, compiling all 24 tracks from Japanese house music pioneer Shinichiro Yokota's two acclaimed albums Do It Again and Again (2016) and I Know You Like It (2019). The collection, available on vinyl for the first time ever, is presented as six 45rpm-cut 12" housed in a superb slipcase box set created by Lopetz, designer, illustrator, typographer, and co-founder of Swiss graphic design studio Büro Destruct. Included as bonuses are two sticker sheets. Previously only available on CD in Japan via cult electronic label Far East Recording, Shinichiro Yokota's album discography finally gets a long overdue vinyl release. With a production style drawing from a rich blend of funk, hip hop, electronic, and Japanese influences, Yokota's music is loved for its simplicity, its hypnotic quality, and, most importantly, its soul -- homegrown '90s soulful melodic club music -- pure love! The Pitstop Box, full of dancefloor treasures and sprinkled with downtempo gems, not only defines Yokota's personal journey but also resonates as an essential contribution to the house genre and Japanese music in general. It includes his house hits, a cover of "Simoon" by Haruomi Hosono's Logic System, and a collaboration with his longtime partner and electronic music hero Soichi Terada. Shinichiro Yokota began his musical history in Tokyo, inspired by electronic music giants such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Kraftwerk. He co-founded Far East Recording with the great Soichi Terada (who also worked with WRWTFWW for the Omodaka compilation) in 1990. After releasing the now highly sought after Far East Recording album with Terada in 1992, he took a hiatus from music and, most notably, brought his passion for sports cars to the next level by launching Night Pager, a company he started with his wife, specializing in tuning sports cars and modifying limiters for competition racers. It's this side of Yokota's life which has inspired the design of the Pitstop Box. He triumphantly came back to music with the album Do It Again and Again in 2016, consisting of unreleased '90s recordings as well as new material, and followed it up with I Know You Like It in 2019. His work has influenced generations of producers, and has expanded Japanese house music's reach on the global stage. Experience it on vinyl now.

$102.59 EAN: 4251804181341 ELECTRONIC

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DRAG CITY (UNITED STATES):

FRANKS, JIM: Existential Bread Book (DC 871BK)

"Jim Franks is not a professional baker, because there are no such things as professional bakers. He is also not your father and never will be, nor is this a cookbook full of stories and recipes. Jim Franks is a baker and a poet who's written a love story about bread, which is to say he's written a life story about listening, learning, trying, failing, adapting, and above all, caring. Through humor, history, relentless curiosity, and refreshingly unsentimental poetry, Existential Bread teaches there are many ways to bake a loaf just as there are many ways to live a life." Paperback; 5.5" x 8.25" / 170pp "Existential Bread is a collected bakers' common sense from Jim Franks, one of the most knowledgeable people about modern baking in the United States today." --Matt Kedzie, Owner-Baker of Starter Bread "Part love letter, part philosophical manifesto, Jim Frank's book is an earnest and charming exploration of our human relationship with bread and what it takes to make it." --Fiona Cook, Author of The Wheel of the Year "In a world of samey-samey, this book is different. Jim Franks doesn't want you to make his bread (by providing glossy photos and detailed recipes); he wants you to make your bread (by sharing his practice and what he has learned). In a world of 'shoulds' and 'bottom lines,' Existential Bread creates space while providing structure for you to fall in love with the ancient act of making bread. Plus, it's a very fun read." --Abra Berens, Author of Ruffage, Grist and Pulp

$14.50 EAN: 9781937112431 Misc

PRISON: Downstate LP (DC 911LP)

"Downstate, the second official Prison stint, stretches to insane new places while pumping out more of some of the toughest jams around. Leap-hogging from one vibe to the next, Prison cop a variety of grooves, from minimalist (like Guru Guru), sweat-shaking (Stooges) and chaotic (No Trend) -- it feels like they're coming from everywhere! They switched it up in almost every way they could this time. But that's just Prison being Prison. At its core, Prison's a multi-headed beast, and Downstate is built to showcase their swarming freakscene. Recording this one in Rockaway meant they could get Prison family and friends to drop in. Going Downstate with core Prisoners Sarim Al-Rawi, Matt Lilly, and Paul Major are guitarists Marc Razo and Adam Reich, bassist Matt Leibowitz, and Dave Smoota Smith on trombone. Also present is the late, lamented Sam Jayne, a fellow lifer whose spirit will act as a guide for the rest of Prison's time. With these many hands on deck, Prison plays all kinds of things, from insane distorted rock to dreamy psychedelia, plus some jazzy and gutsy blues shit too. They got some of the lighter side of Prison in there, of course. It was all recorded in a day, with a couple overdubs, but it took a while to get the mixes right. There were a lot of moments that they didn't know would lead to anything, but when listening back later, then they heard where they were going. All that had to get in there somehow. Another level to the sound on Downstate is in the hard cuts and savvy fades in the edit. Matt Lilly sequenced the mixes at home using two CDJs fed into a Numark DJ deck and dubbed down live to cassette, then they sent the tape to engineer Matt Walsh to duplicate timings and fades and all that. Like trapdoors taking you from where you thought you were standing to someplace entirely different, wondering if what just happened was ten seconds or one million years long. And if you still don't know -- man, it was both!"

$23.00 UPC: 781484091110 ROCK

GEOLOGIST & D.S.: A Shaw Deal LP (DC 931LP)

"Some things take a long time. And some things are meant to last. But how you know that, or learn how to find out, that's a more intangible thing. That's A Shaw Deal -- intangible. A communal meeting place for two old friends and their different musics. A Shaw Deal is the first album by Geologist and D.S.. They go back a long ways -- back before Highlife, before Shaw joined White Magic -- back to the early childhood of Animal Collective. Basically, Doug Shaw touched down in NYC around 2003, and he and Brian Weitz have been friends ever since. 'D.S.' first released his own music under the moniker Highlife on 2010's Best Bless EP. Listeners were lifted by the sound -- a vital new transmission imbued by the popular African guitar music, British folk-pop, desert blues and the ritual spirit energy that Doug had been evoking in White Magic with Mira Billotte. If you really know Doug, this incredible alchemy was just one of the amazing ways he could come through on the guitar -- and you probably also know that all his crazy shit is just massed up somewhere, ready to fill up a great album of his own. A couple years back, Doug was posting bits of his playing on Instagram, and Brian found them to be a much-needed escape from reality -- he'd just let them loop for stretches of time, get lost in there, and emerge with recharged energies. He was so inspired by these mini-encapsulations of Doug's spirit that eventually he ran them through his modular system, editing and tweaking and looping as he went, creating new shapes and juxtapositions, instinctively rewiring the sounds to extend the feeling of peace they'd given him. Once it was all together, it would make a cool birthday present to regift to Doug! And once the gift was given, it was sounding like an album too. From start to finish, A Shaw Deal taps into D.S.'s guitar playing and the vibe of his expression, drawing out meditative waves in new forms while exploring the worlds within them. Geologist and D.S. collaborate in a manner that's brought comfort and release to them both. A Shaw Deal leaves no doubt, as it radiates further into the world and beyond -- it will bring a new range of views and feels to everyone who listens in."

$18.00 UPC: 781484093114 ROCK

GOD? RECORDS (UNITED STATES):

FRECKLE: Freckle LP (GODRECORDS 030)

"When a freckle pops up, that's when you know that the sun has gotten through. Don't let 'em tell you it's skin damage -- more like the sign of time well spent, as always, in the light. Freckle the band is like that. Freckle is, then, a Californian. Corey Madden, of Color Green, and Ty Segall. From the riff, there was a shared understanding about what they wanted. It made sense to shoot for writing things that weren't personal -- instead, taking ideas and vignettes, turning 'em into back stories and freaking out with the lyrics, making little movies. Once they had a good batch of songs, it wasn't long. They didn't push too hard, they didn't need to. As it came together, everything fell into place real natural-like. Freckle is the hive mind of Corey Madden and Ty Segall. This LP reminds listeners that when the clouds are out you can still get sunburned."

$17.00 UPC: 781484203018 ROCK

MAGGOT BRAIN (UNITED STATES):

MAGGOT BRAIN: Maggot Brain #19 (Winter 2025) MAG (MAGGOT 019)

"On the Cover: The Velvet Underground -- Lost in Sound -- Multiple features on your favorite band, with rare images and cool ephemera throughout. Here Come The Tapes: A Guide To The Velvet Underground's Live Tape Stash by Tyler Wilcox. Plus, full length reviews of new reissues of cassette tapes by ur-VU drummer Angus MacLise, and a lengthy appreciation by Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Light in the Attic's excellent pre-VU Lou Reed set. Killer Content: "TV on the Radio and the Magic Negro Myth." Martin Douglas on the band's visionary debut LP, Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes -- and the lessons we haven't learned 20 years later. This piece is such a standout, wait until you read it. Punk Diary: Excerpts from Hat & Beard Press' I Feel Famous: Punk Diaries 1977-1980, written by a then-17-year-old Angela Jaeger. This diary was renowned for years and has finally seen the light of day, with multiple images to support it. Sweeping Promises: A very visual look at the great, shimmering guitar-pop band. Their visual aesthetics so perfectly accompany their sound, and that's discussed in detail for the first time. 12XU: Fred Thomas' engrossing talk with Gerard Cosloy about the third major record label he's run, and why it matters. This is the third in a series of columns on record labels. Razor Braids: Raucous, hilarious, uncompromising -- an introduction to the Brooklyn-based band who you're sure to hear more from soon. Antietam Loves Sleepyhead: Two of our favorite bands from the 1980s on how to keep the love alive. Antietam was formed in Louisville in 1984 out of the ashes of the Babylon Dance Band. They soon moved to NYC And released a series of beloved records for Homestead. Sleepyhead formed in 1988 in the basement of their NYU dorm and released beloved albums for the likes of Slumberland. The Sonics: An in-depth look at the fun, new documentary film on the Pac NW garage pioneers. Departmentstore Santas: Wonderful interview with the folks behind the major 1984 self-released DIY effort, At The Medieval Castle Nineteen 100-Year Lifetimes Since, a record on par with the best efforts by Desperate Bicycles, Homosexuals, and V3. Joy Guidry: Ana Gavrilovska on the beautiful music of the contemporary jazz bassoonist. Plus our regular, excellent columns by Mimi Lipson, Lucy Sante, Andy Zax, and others, including the debut of Desert Island owner Gabe Fowler's "Customer Profiles" column..."

$8.00 UPC: 074820403594 Misc