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FORCED EXPOSURE STORE UPDATE
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NEW RELEASES FOR THE WEEK OF 03/30/2015
first section features releases in stock now and ready to be shipped as of MON 03/30/2015
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
or placed through the Forced Exposure Business to Business Website
https://b2b.forcedexposure.com
(request a login from b2b-help@forcedexposure.com)
or emailed direct to your sales representative:
billy@forcedexposure.com
john@forcedexposure.com
dan@forcedexposure.com
clare@forcedexposure.com
avisser@forcedexposure.com
orders or general email inquiries can also be sent to:
fe@forcedexposure.com
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GLITZ, THE: No Drama CD (3000GRAD 010CD)
The Glitz (Daniel Nitsch and Andreas Henneberg) present their debut full-length album, No Drama, the result of two years of studio work. Since 2003, Nitsch and Henneberg have been running their label Voltage Musique Records with Markus Hille and traveling around the world with their respective solo projects; these engagements, combined with the distance between their homes (one lives in Rostock, one in Berlin) have limited the time available for studio work. This is still "no drama" for the boys; in fact, they benefit from the distance and always bring new ideas and creativity to their meetings. In other words, the title No Drama can be taken as their attitude toward life. A north German laid-back attitude meets rascally Berlin cheeriness. Their disparate influences and musical backgrounds are probably the most important bricks in the foundation of their album's independent sound -- without losing the red thread one can find clear traces of downbeat, trip-hop, jazz, and funk next to club-friendly tracks. American singer and electronica songwriter i Am Halo is featured on two tracks, and the vocalist from Parasite Single lends her wonderfully charismatic voice to "Sugar to the Milk," weaving her way into the listener's ear alongside a groaning bassline. German rock singer and close friend Stefan Krogmann and internationally active pianist Johann Blanchard contribute to two more surprisingly different tracks. Some of the songs included here will be recognizable to those familiar with The Glitz's DJ sets -- they've been extensively tested in clubs and continuously refined. No Drama is an album thoroughly suitable for the club, and can also be excellently enjoyed while enjoying a cup of tea in your grandparents' living room.
$11.99 UPC: 880319699122 ELECTRONIC
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VA: Secret Lounge 4: The Finest in Chill Out and Ambient Music 2CD (7S 011CD)
Secret Lounge: the finest in chill out and ambient music. Secret Lounge 4 is a fantastic double set of the most relaxing chill-out groove sounds around for two sensual hours. Friends of high-quality electronic music will get 31 of the best tunes around on this exclusive collection. Smooth, sexy, balearic feeling. Includes tracks by Carpatica, Digital Project (including tracks featuring Katy Blue, Erin Panto, and L.O.B.) Florian Fai, Tom River, Bob Brazill, Niestolik & Richter, Francis Milia, D-Chill feat. Katy Blue, Krusty, Miki Leris, Extranova, Cedrik Zimmermann, Electric Moonlight, Flow River's, Crystal Noise, Marco Zappala, Castlebed, Alberto Casallo, Lemonchill, Gavin & Nox feat. Sinatic, Stereo Out, Bastian Harper feat. Jonathan Price, Phazed Romance, Oliver Backens & Stefan Gruenwald feat. Ela Wardi, Dennis Landman, Sinatic, Submission, and Perry Frank.
$14.99 EAN: 4260322580345 ELECTRONIC
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VA: Detox Music 2CD (7S 012CD)
A two-CD compilation showcasing the American "detox music" trend. Music that invites you to calm down and relax, and give your body new energy. Ambient and chill out music at its very best to support nutritional detox measures. Wellness for your ears! Double CD in three-page digipak. All-exclusive track list.
$10.99 EAN: 4260322580369 ELECTRONIC
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SWEARING AT MOTORISTS: Swearing At Motorists CD (AUK 117CD)
Originally self-released in 1995 on 100 cassettes, Swearing At Motorists' long out-of-print self-titled debut album is now reissued by A Recordings. Recorded in 1994 on equipment borrowed from roommates Brainiac, this 17-minute lo-fi gem was Dave Doughman's first experiment with songwriting and home recording. The reissue serves as insightful glimpse into the beginnings of the band, whose album While Laughing, The Joker Tells the Truth (AUK 113CD/LP) was released in 2014. Swearing At Motorists have come a long way since their birth on a poster for a fake band in 1994. A few months after the posters mysteriously appeared in record stores and music venues around Dayton, OH, Doughman jokingly scrawled the name on a cassette of home recordings that he gave to friends, and the band was officially born, joining already established Dayton bands Guided By Voices, Brainiac, and The Breeders in releasing music made in the Miami Valley. The late '90s found S@M releasing a slew of 7" EPs on different labels, and after getting repeated plays from the BBC's John Peel and favorable press worldwide, the band landed a contract with Secretly Canadian, with which they released two EPs and four LPs, including 2000's Number Seven Uptown and 2002's This Flag Signals Goodbye, both of which were named MOJO's "Underground Album of the Year" for their respective years. This reissue precedes the band's 2015 appearance at South By Southwest, where they will also play several day parties, including their own, the second annual All Tomorrow's Tacos (a mix of bands and stand-up comics). Swearing At Motorists: 20 years and two million miles under the radar. LP pressed on 180-gram vinyl.
$6.39 EAN: 5055869507387 ROCK
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SWEARING AT MOTORISTS: Swearing At Motorists LP (AUK 117LP)
LP version on 180-gram vinyl.
$10.99 EAN: 5055869507394 ROCK
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PALESTINE, CHARLEMAGNE: Bells Studies LP (ALGA 049LP)
Edition of 400 copies. Includes original photos from the recording sessions. High up in a tower, accessible only by a spiral staircase that led to a concrete platform above the whole city, Charlemagne Palestine's "HellsBells" became the sonic mainstay of 53rd Street and 5th Avenue, NYC, from 1963 to 1970. In 1963, while attending The High School of Music & Art in New York, the 15-year-old Palestine was asked if he'd be interested in playing a 26-bell carillon at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. He decided that he loved the voluptuous Taylor bells, and played them every day from 1963 to 1970, when he left New York to study and teach at CalArts. During his time above 53rd and 5th, Palestine became known as the Quasimodo of midtown NYC, and his dissonant and "klanggdedangggebannggg" style of playing attracted a diverse group of fans, from Moondog to John Cage to Tony Conrad, among others. Palestine was able to continue playing his clanging-bell soap operas for seven years, dinggdonggingggg every late afternoon and Sunday mornings. This LP collects some of the most relevant recordings from those early days. Side A presents the complete reel-tape "Bells Studies," an intense, pulsating work in five movements. It begins with slow, hypnotic, large sonorities and accelerates into more dense and maximal explosions. Side B collects some shorter studies: "Bells," the two parts of "Confiscated Bell Tape," and an excerpt from "Dumb Bell Tape." Each track was recorded by the composer in single takes around 1965 and unheard since, until now.
$17.79 UPC: 769791714915 EXPERIMENTAL
A1. Bells Studies
B1. Bells
B2. Confiscated Bell Tape part 1
B3. Confiscated Bell Tape part 2
B4. Dumb Bell Tape
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SPUR: Nowhereland 2LP (ANTIME 003LP)
André Wittmann's debut album under the moniker Spur was made with both the body and the mind, in order to indulge in an odd but somehow familiar "dance of cultures," as the young Lübeck-based Bavarian and member of pandoras.box calls it. "I find it disturbing to see how all those fields of music are still strictly separated until this day. I'd rather see them all combined," he explains. Nowhereland compiles a selection of the best cuts out of 20 to 30 compositions Spur perfected during a month-long stay in Ghent in early 2014. Seemingly odd time signatures form the backbone of what are essentially club-orientated tracks. Spur, who started playing drums as child, took to other instruments like guitar, marimba, violin, and piano, and draws on wide range of influences, from hip-hop to Stravinsky to flamenco to gamelan music, approaching songwriting both theoretically and intuitively. "I aim at putting the mind and the body in motion." Limited double LP on white vinyl in transparent PVC cover with download code.
$15.79 UPC: 827170591967 ELECTRONIC
A1. Broken Lines
A2. The Beautiful Bird
A3. Clockwork
B1. Flavoured Green
B2. Nothing But She
B3. Allthesethings
C1. Alien Farm
C2. Miracles
C3. Nowhereland
D1. Dancing At a Corner
D2. Shake the Demon
D3. Sí Que Hay!
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TEJADA & ARIAN LEVISTE, JOHN: Reactance 12" (AREAL 077EP)
On a hot summer day, I suddenly got up to return my friend's basketball, after not returning it for more than ten years. I don't know why I had to do it. I was flooded with memories. One was especially blurry, the one where I pick up that basketball. I was alone in my friend's garage, the repetitive sound of filtered kickdrums coming from inside the house. The garage door was open. I try to put the ball back in the cardboard box as the garage door closes. Darkness. A voice whispers: "I smell your sound I eat your colors."
$8.99 UPC: 880319703515 ELECTRONIC
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DEMAC, TOM: Smoke Stained Ivories 12" (AUS 1575EP)
Aus Music follows 2015 releases Youandewan's Spiral Arms (AUS 1474EP) and Escape's Just Escape (AUS 1573EP) with a four-tracker from label favorite Tom Demac, who aligns his arsenal of hardware and readies a pack of rattling club tracks peppered with armored kicks and luminescent textures. Throughout his releases on Hypercolour, Morris/Audio, Murmur, and liebe*detail, Demac has showcased his knack for filtering myriad influences into a constantly evolving sound. Smoke Stained Ivories carries this power forward as it spans a variety of moods and textures propelled by his tough, thrumming percussion and sportive synth work.
$9.79 EAN: 4012957157504 ELECTRONIC
A1. Smoke Stained Ivories
A2. Guilty Measures
B1. RIP Vogel
B2. Beckett's Racket
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RADIANCE: 12" (BC 008EP)
2015 repress. "'Radiance' is the companion release to the revolutionary 'Octagon/ Octaedre' 12" (Basic Channel 007). This explores the less club compatible side of the BC works. Multi-layered, ambientish, drifting sound textures and the extensive use of accidental sounds found within the mixdown process making this EP a unique listening experience."
$6.99 UPC: 827670742562 ELECTRONIC
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VA: Electro Shock 3 2CD (BEC 5156003)
Because Music and legendary magazine Les Inrocks present the third volume of Electro Shock, a meticulous selection of the best of the nouvelle vague of the electronic and indie scene, from a French perspective but with an international appeal. The best of the international scene mixed with the newest and most significant kids on the French block, in one two-CD set. Includes tracks by ZHU, The Flexican & Sef, SBTRKT feat. Denai Moore, Disclosure feat. Sam Smith, Christine and the Queens remixed by Domenico Torti, Tove Lo feat. Hippie Sabotage and remixed by Habits, Faul & Wad Ad & Pnau, Sia remixed by Four Tet, London Grammar remixed by The Shoes, The Avener, Metronomy remixed by Soulwax, Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones, Diplo feat. Faustix & Imanos and Kai, Klaxons, Yelle, Caribou, Jungle, Jamie xx, Tourist feat. Will Heard, FKA twigs, Lido, Daniel Avery remixed by KiNK, Boston Bun feat. Bear Who?, Little Dragon remixed by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Joakim, Ghost Culture, Ásgeir remixed by Montmartre & Fever 105, Synapson feat. Victor Démé, Chet Faker, Fakear, Tropics, Para One, Bondax, Get a Room! feat. Geisha Boy, Paul White, and Com Truise.
$13.79 EAN: 5060421560038 ELECTRONIC
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FUTURO ANTICO: Dai Primitivi All' Elettronica LP (BS 009LP)
2015 repress. An outstanding raga-like drone LP with a distinctive cosmic vibe, Futuro Antico was a short-lived collaboration between the two Italians Walter Maioli (Aktuala), Riccardo Sinigaglia and Gabin Dabiré (from Burkina Faso). The synthesis between ancient, ethnic and analog electronic music is just perfect, the minimalist repetition with slight changes lends associations to slow growth; cyclic repetition gives the listener an opportunity to discover the sounds, to meditate, to go into the music, join the same journey through ancient, primitive cultures and modern electronic soundscapes. Originally released in 1980, the sound is completely analog and warm. This limited to 300 copies reissue maintains the original tape artwork, with info and photos.
$17.79 UPC: 769791952898 ROCK
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FUTURO ANTICO: Futuro Antico LP (BS 010LP)
2015 repress. For the first time on vinyl, Black Sweat Records presents this obscure gem from the Italian project Futuro Antico, released only on tape in 1980. This record contains a hypnotic session from members Walter Maioli (Aktuala) and Riccardo Sinigaglia. Warm analog sounds, and a perfect mix of drone synth and ancient flutes make you feel like you're flying on a spaceship towards exotic locales. If this record reminds you of the incredibly astonishing live Köln jam between Terry Riley and Don Cherry, the comparison fits. In a limited edition of 300 copies, this reissue features the original tape artwork with info and photos inside.
$17.79 UPC: 769791952904 ROCK
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KALMA, ARIEL: Open Like a Flute 2LP (BS 015LP)
Originally composed between 1981 and 1984 and initially appeared only on tape in two different editions, the proposed material from Ariel Kalma for this work confirms his pantheistic vision of the ethnic sound that had already emerged in 1978 with the masterpiece Osmose (BS 007LP). The deep consciousness of the compositional techniques of Indian ragas is mixed here with embroidered electronic textures on which flute and sax explore the most secret archetypal elements of nature. In this way Kalma offers to the listener a personal idea of sacred music with luminous and oneiric tones but always dialoguing with a higher cosmic conception of things. With a clever use of effects, harmonium, delays and exotic percussions, Kalma becomes the creator of soundscapes from the endless myriad shades. Such a fusion of Western avant-garde and eastern tradition approaches other big names of the international panorama such as Popol Vuh, Angus MacLise or László Hortobágyi. The master comes from the original 1/4'' analog tape from the '80s. Limited edition of 300 copies in a gatefold cover with info.
$26.39 UPC: 769791954717 ROCK
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EXPLORING JEZEBEL: On a Business Trip to London LP (BLACKEST 008LP)
LP version. On a Business Trip to London is an album of curious electronics and sissy dance conceived under the shadow of Big Ben by Vivid Extreme. Initial research carried out at Ibis City Hotel, London; purple nail polish applied in Berlin and New York City. The result is the perfect and perhaps overdue meeting of emasculated P.E., limp-wristed ornamental industrial, sickly minimal synth, and cheap suntanned trollop techno. What's more, its tinny rhythmic ringtone cycles of humiliation and debasement evince an unlikely humanity: there is yearning behind the red ballgag and loud make-up cake; Duck's piggy eyes betray an implacable melancholy. Indeed, despite the sexually explicit nature of its content, On a Business Trip to London is a highly accessible and often disarmingly pretty work that will appeal to the belissima ballerina in all working men. Required listening for all who admire those qualities most fascinating in a woman: allure, magnetism, power, and dominance. This release is for ADULTS ONLY. It contains uncensored sexually explicit material unsuitable for minors. You must be at least 18 to purchase this item. Access and/or ownership may be prohibited in certain states/countries.
$20.39 EAN: 5055869510899 ELECTRONIC
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DECERF, JEAN-PIERRE: Spaces Oddities: 1975-1979 CD (BORNBAD 068CD)
Jean-Pierre Decerf was born in the Paris suburb Neuilly-sur-Seine in 1948, lived in Paris until 2003, and now lives as a hermit in a remote village in the Touraine. From the early '70s to the mid '80s, this self-taught musician composed about 20 albums of production and library music with generic cover art and titles (Out of the Way, Keys of Future, Pulsations, etc.) that evoke interstellar travel. These experimental discs, made with love, humility, and rudimentary means, had no ambition other than to accompany other peoples' images. By exhuming these obscurities from the dustbin of history, Born Bad Records have decided otherwise. Archaeologists with an agenda, they seek to give Decerf the renown he deserves: that of an innovator whose rhythmic, synthetic compositions inspired the harbingers of the French touch (Air comes to mind), and were sampled by many East Coast rappers, including the Wu-Tang Clan. CD version includes exclusive track "Panorama."
$10.39 EAN: 3521383431368 ELECTRONIC
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SCHICKERT, GUNTER: Uberfallig CD (BB 096CD)
2015 repress. Bureau B reissues Günter Schickert's album Überfällig, originally released in 1979 on Sky Records. "No sooner had electronic music broken through in Germany, principally aligned in the two schools of Düsseldorf and Berlin, than Günter Schickert also began his first musical experiments. Although GAM, the group he founded in 1973, did not then release a record, he did issue his first solo effort, Samtvogel, a year later -- an album which was eagerly snapped up and re-released by the Brain label. It would take five years for Sky Records to release his next LP, entitled Überfällig (trans. "Overdue"), which proved to be the last for a number of years. This album, as its German title suggests, was long overdue. Günter Schickert had developed his own unique, forward-looking type of music, assuming an exceptional position in the concert of German electronics. In spite of the clearly discernible influence of music from the so-called Berlin school (Tangerine Dream, Ash Ra Tempel etc.), Schickert is anything but a copycat. Schickert concentrated on pursuing his own ideas and pushing the boundaries of his remarkable aural creations. He is at pains to emphasize that, unlike almost all of his contemporaries, he did not use any synthesizers; his instruments are the electric guitar, his own studio with a multi-track tape machine and a comfortable arsenal of effects. Similar experiments had also been attempted by Manuel Göttsching (Inventions For Electric Guitar) and Achim Reichel (A.R. & Machines: Die Grüne Reise), but without stretching the multifaceted nature of their music to the point of microtonality, as Schickert dared to do on Überfällig. His own take on minimalism places him closer to the likes of Steve Reich and Glen Branca, free from the reach of Klaus Schulze and Tangerine Dream. Schickert's use of concrete sounds and his completely autonomous way of working in his own studio presaged a stage of development more readily associated with the early 1980s. In 1979, the album was a statement of a virtuosic outsider, a guitarist and sound sculptor whose musical visions transgressed the level of expectation of a potential audience, detached from the electronic mainstream. Günter Schickert was one of the protagonists who furthered the development of experimental pop music from the outer margins. The reissue of Überfällig was, in a word, overdue." --Asmus Tietchens; Liner notes by Asmus Tietchens.
$11.99 EAN: 4047179231626 ROCK
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CAMOUFLAGE: Greyscale CD (BB 192CD)
The year 2015: one retro wave follows the next. Synthpop is bigger than ever. All around the world, current productions reference the sound that emerged from pre-reunification Germany. So where are the originals -- the bands and artists of that time -- today? Many can be found doing the rounds at '80s parties held by local radio stations. Others are investing the royalties from their back catalogs in the cultivation of organic vegetables. Not so for Camouflage. That's right -- THE Camouflage -- the masters of sadness dressed up in electronic songs. Flashback: in the late 1980s, Heiko Maile, Oliver Kreyssig, and Marcus Meyn were schoolboys with synthesizers and a keen ear for the musical zeitgeist. It was a world dominated by fears and apocalyptic scenarios, non-aggression pacts and embargoes. The Cold War was almost over; the Berlin Wall was still standing. It was in this landscape that Camouflage unleashed their music: driving, demanding, and so beautifully sad in its invitation to lose oneself in eternity while dancing. The band flitted directly from the small German town of Bietigheim-Bissingen all the way to the United States in 1987 with "The Great Commandment." Their music brilliantly combined the icy coolness of Kraftwerk, the pop of OMD, and the melancholy gloom of Depeche Mode. Their 1988 debut album Voices & Images went to number one on the Billboard Dance Charts in the U.S.A., and the 1989 follow-up, Methods of Silence, merged seamlessly with this momentum. With the single "Love Is a Shield," Camouflage created a gem of a hit that still graces dance floors and radio stations worldwide. A lot has happened on the planet since then, and the band has traveled a long path that was anything but straightforward. In the '90s they played with styles and producers and experimented. The record companies, meanwhile, placed their bets on other horses that could chase the trends faster. "That's show business," thought the band, while continuing, undeterred, to make records and tour the world from Russia to Mexico, steadily expanding their fan base all the while. The temptation to indulge in nostalgia has always remained very faint with this band, so it's no surprise that Camouflage now emerge with Greyscale, an album that is strikingly current and compelling, both musically and lyrically. Features an appearance from Peter Heppner (Wolfsheim). CD includes exclusive track "If..."
$12.99 EAN: 4047179928328 ELECTRONIC
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LORENZ, RUDIGER: Southland LP (BB 194LP)
LP version. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Just when you thought you had heard everything that German electronic music of the 1980s had to offer, up pops an artist who has resolutely stayed off the radar all these years, in spite of having a discography which lists no less than 18 albums. (Hobby) musician Rüdiger Lorenz, a pharmacist by trade, completed an album almost every year beginning in the early 1980s, first as limited runs of two to three hundred on cassette, then switching to vinyl in 1983, and CD in 1990. His last album was released in 1998. Two years later Lorenz died -- unexpectedly and far too soon. In his youth, Lorenz became familiar with bands like Kraftwerk, NEU!, Can, and Cluster. These bands had a lasting influence on his relationship with music, guiding him toward electronica. Electronic music carried a huge practical advantage for Lorenz in pursuing his craft: he was by nature more of a loner, rather than someone who fed off the group dynamic of playing in a band. Soon after purchasing his first synthesizer set-up he quit his band and installed a studio of sorts in his living room. In 1981 he released his first cassette album. Initially intended merely as something to be handed out to friends, the music was surprisingly well received, encouraging Lorenz to persevere. Year in, year out. After work and on weekends. Most copies were sold in the USA. His synthesizer collection grew larger, containing kit pieces, home-made elements, and newly purchased units. One of his own creations, the Loran Modular synthesizer, even found its way into various synthesizer lexica. Lorenz, however, was by no means a classic electronics tinkerer. His technical skills were limited to soldering, as he admitted in a radio interview for HR3, the only interview he ever gave. Southland was created in 1984 and perfectly encapsulates the two facets that dominated German electronic music at that time: on the one hand, poppy, at times absurd tracks, informed by such pre-NDW (German new wave) musicians as Pyrolator; on the other hand more plangent, spherical music echoing Tangerine Dream and the like. His son Tim, thirteen then (now a member of Andreas Dorau's live ensemble), can be heard speaking a few lines into a vocoder on "Strange Feelings," and later, as a graphic design student, Tim prepared artwork for his father's releases.
$17.79 EAN: 4047179992916 ELECTRONIC
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LUCIEN-N-LUCIANO: Grace of an Art 12" + CD (CADENZA 100EP)
Cadenza's 100th release comes, aptly, from label boss Luciano. Reviving his Lucien-n-Luciano moniker for the occasion, he delivers "Grace of an Art," a Herculean piece of rubbery tech-funk, with intricate sound design over its steady and assured mechanical beat. On "Rickson Trephala," a flexible bassline wraps itself around a minimal, energetic beat, chock-full of abstract sounds and glitches. Bonus CD includes the grandiose 60-minute "Timeless Song for Lovers of the Morning Enlightenment," echoing the ideas of sound experimentalists such as Global Communication, but very much with Luciano's stamp, filled with sad pianos and wandering percussion and soaked in dubby reverb.
$10.39 UPC: 827170581869 ELECTRONIC
12":
A1. Grace of an Art
B1. Rickson Trephala
CD:
01. Timeless Song for Lovers of the Morning Enlightenment
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NOZE: Holding You 12" (CCS 093EP)
Nôze (Nicolas Sfintescu and Ezechiel Pailhes) deliver "Holding You," steeped in the warmth of synthpop with its flamboyant tones while maintaining the tightly wound funk the duo have made their own. Sfintescu steps even further into his role as the duo's resident crooner with his strained call for "physical love" in a smooth symbiosis with the sultry atmosphere of the production. The B-side features an alternative version of "Holding You" that brings Nôze's dancefloor roots to the fore and dubs the track out into a taut, Detroit-infused workout, while remaining true to the allure of the original.
$8.99 UPC: 827170553163 ELECTRONIC
A1. Holding You
B1. Holding You (Nôze Remix)
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ARBY, KHAIRA: Gossip CD (CLE 011CD)
Legendary desert blues diva of Timbuktu Khaira Arby presents her fifth album, Gossip, her first since 2010's Timbuktu Tarab (CLE 005CD). Khaira was one of the first women to break onto the music scene in Mali in the late 1970s. Her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence endeared her immediately to audiences and she quickly became a sought after performer. Having won many awards including the prestigious Tamani d'Or (Golden Drum), Mali's Grammy, Khaira has kept pushing the boundaries of her genre. Not content to stay locked into traditional griot formats, her music has grown as she encounters other cultural influences. Mali is home to several ethnicities, each with their own traditional roots. Ethnomusicologists have written that the origin of the American delta blues is in the music of the Niger River delta as it flows past Niafunke, Timbuktu, and Gao. A cousin by marriage to Ali Farka Touré, who is credited by Westerners as the link to the roots of the blues, Khaira Arby is the female vocalist who most closely represents that tradition. Drawing on traditional songs, melodies, and formats from her youth, she freely adapts elements into many of the pieces on Gossip. While on tours in North America and Europe during 2010, 2011, and 2012, Khaira recorded the base tracks for the album, which takes its title from a translation of "Tchini Tchini," the first of the album's tracks to be recorded. During this same period, political and social conditions in Mali destabilized. Rebellion, coup d'état, corruption, invasion, fundamentalism all forced Khaira to abandon her home in Timbuktu and flee to the capital, Bamako. Since 2012, she has collaborated with a number of musicians on songs dedicated to peace. Gossip features two songs in particular from this troubled period: "Djamba" and "La Liberte," both pleas for tolerance and an end to conflict. The album also includes traditional wedding songs ("Al Jama'a Bisimillah"), songs of praise ("Haidara George" in honor of George Cheicknè Moulay, "Chris" in honor of Chris Nolan, "Oumou Sall" in honor of Madame Oumou Sall Seck (mayor of Goundam), and "Tandina" in praise of the Touré clan, in particular Hamane "Bastos" Touré, guitarist for Khaira until his death shortly before the song was recorded, and father of Khaira's present guitarist, Dramane Touré), and adaptations of traditional songs ("Alouha Homoli" and "Hala").
$8.99 UPC: 711574786329 WORLD
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NISENNENMONDAI: Nisennenmondai - Live At Clouds Hill CD (CLOUD 060CD)
Tokyo-based all-female instrumental trio Nisennenmondai formed in the late '90s and took their name from the Japanese translation of the then-current phrase "Y2K bug." Nisennenmondai - Live At Clouds Hill features live versions of songs from the band's acclaimed 2014 album N (PTYT 083CD) recorded by Johann Scheerer (producer for Gallon Drunk, Bosnian Rainbows). This recording is part of Scheerer's Live At Clouds Hill series, and follows his practice of inviting the band to perform in front of a small audience in his Hamburg studio, Clouds Hill Recordings, for a maximum of 64 minutes -- exactly the length of two analog tapes. Scheerer recorded and mixed the performance live, and straightaway sent off for mastering and vinyl manufacturing. This process forces Scheerer, the performers, and the audience to focus on the unique present moment, as the final outcome is irreversible. Purchase of the album grants access to exclusive video footage of the recording session through play.clouds-hill.com.
$10.99 EAN: 4250795600923 ROCK
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DJ HYPERACTIVE: Venus Revisited 12" (CLR 086EP)
Chicago-born and -bred DJ, producer, teacher, and brother of the humble Joseph Manumaleuna aka DJ Hyperactive covers a wide spectrum of sonic and artistic possibilities, from the minimalist, bouncy original mix of "Venus," elegantly playing with a mixture of uplifting and dark vibes; to the extremely reduced and highly effective Truncate remix; the relentless, almost epic Ciren mix; and the percussive, hypnotic remix by DJ Hyperactive himself. Each version can be appropriate for a different situation, but in the end they are all aiming for the same goal: to create an absorbing soundtrack for unifying experiences on the dance floor.
$9.79 UPC: 827170565067 ELECTRONIC
A1. Venus (Truncate Remix)
A2. Venus (Ciren Remix)
B1. Venus (DJ Hyperactive Remix)
B2. Venus (Original Mix)
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SCHNEIDER & ANDRE GALLUZZI, GUIDO: Mario 12" (COR 124EP)
Galluzzi and Schneider: two masters of merging minimal techno with dark house vibes. The jazzy, eastern bass sounds of "Mario" sit alongside shimmering effects and crazy noises. Dance to this super hypnotic beat as the percussion parts drive you further and further into the night. Turn the lights off and set the volume to max -- here comes "Mario"! Thomas Melchior and Fumiya Tanaka deliver a remix that follows the vibe of the original, with an even deeper and more hard-edged dub that lies somewhere between ingenuity and insanity, reflecting that special vibe of dark and foggy dancefloors.
$9.79 UPC: 827170589063 ELECTRONIC
A1. Mario
B1. Mario (ToFu Productions DubDub)
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LARYTTA: Jura CD (CRDS 045CD)
Jura, the sophomore full-length from the Swiss duo Larytta, is a galvanizing synthesis of essential grooves and effervescent melodies. It took years to finish the record! Christian Pahud and Guy Meldem spent this time carefully calibrating their songwriting to achieve what could be called the golden mean, i.e. the perfect balance between radio-friendly sound and club functionality. The result is a collection of songs that are instantly accessible yet wholly unpredictable. They feel familiar because they were crafted by seasoned musicians who, over the years, have mastered the science of fundamental swing and melody. The album is full of clever and tasteful references: Africa, the Middle East, the dusty Western '70s, and the white lines '80s all shine through at different points of this sonic journey. The production is chunky, juicy, warm, and analog. The lyrics are witty and even sometimes downright funny. The song titles testify to this quality: "Osama Obama," "Love Love Banana," "Broken Leg Theory," "Les Bambous" -- come on! Without a doubt, Jura is a beautifully idiosyncratic world, complete and stand-alone.
$11.99 EAN: 7640157610979 ELECTRONIC
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POV: CRWDSPCR007 12" (CRWDSPCR 007EP)
POV is Joakim x Krikor. This is their second EP, following 2013's Oum/Adat (CRWD 004EP).
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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FIORITO, ANDREA: Voodoo Grooves Part 1 12" (CYN 094EP)
After a year spent perfecting his sound and style, Andrea Fiorito makes his highly-anticipated return to Cynosure Recordings with Voodoo Grooves, the first of a two-part EP series that fuses funk, dub, and minimal with elements of analog house music straight from the New York City underground. Inspired by a recent pilgrimage to South America, Voodoo Grooves borrows from the sounds of the Amazon, the flavor of Cuban Santería, and the spirit of the rainforest in its warm, grounded basslines and hypnotic loops.
$8.99 UPC: 827170577268 ELECTRONIC
A1. Rafael
B1. Give Yourself to Me
B2. Free Jam (Brain & Butter)
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RATIER, RENATO: Soul Machine Remixes 12" (DEDGE 022EP)
Remixes of tracks from Renato Ratier's 2013 Soul Machine EP. Andre Lodemann transforms "Soul Machine" into a growling slow-burner with icy hi-hats and a growing bassline that eventually consumes the whole track and a funky riff joins it. Kyodai's remix of "Soul Machine" is a more direct and energetic tech house cut for the peak-time on the dancefloor. Ney Faustini's remix of "Old Factory" is laced with swirling pads and silvery percussive lines as well as an angelic synth sound and plenty of soul-elevating drums. Its elegant and well balanced and will mark a high point in anyone's set.
$9.79 UPC: 880319693311 ELECTRONIC
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FANGO: Tuono 2x12" (DEGU 016EP)
Fango didn't sleep for six months and he and his studio became one to conceive Tuono. Four tracks full of drama, directly from his cinematic world built on colossal drums and wild clanks. Open the creaking door if you dare.
$18.39 UPC: 880319700231 ELECTRONIC
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PALMS TRAX: In Gold 12" (DKMNTL 024EP)
"I can't even afford bed linen, let alone a 909." Jay Donaldson's lack of pretension is disarming in many ways. Donaldson aka Palms Trax is located firmly along the Chicago-Detroit axis, cooking up pad-driven jams, off-kilter drums, and hazy synths that shift like a gentle musical tide. In 2013 he inaugurated the Lobster Theremin label, the London-based imprint that quickly became one of the most talked-about record labels around. When not travelling the world for prime-time gigs Donaldson holds a residency at the widely respected Berlin Community Radio. This is his debut for Dekmantel.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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VA: Rai Rebels CD (EW 007CD)
Originally released in 1988. Hypnotic rhythms, impassioned voices, and forbidden sentiments: these are the potent ingredients that make rai so alluring to so many people and so alarming to others. Rai Rebels is the Earthworks compilation that first exposed this music to the world beyond Algeria and started the young Cheb Khaled and Chaba Zahouania on their way to international stardom. "A killer compilation," Musician magazine declared, "the best possible entrée to this outlaw genre. Baby, this is rock 'n' roll." Includes tracks by Chaba Fadela, Cheb Sahraoui, Cheb Hamid, Chaba Zahouania, Cheb Khaled, and Houari Benchenet.
$11.79 EAN: 5012981900724 WORLD
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VA: The Indestructible Beat of Soweto CD (EW 014CD)
Originally released in 1985. Before Paul Simon's Graceland, this album, compiled by South African DJ Trevor Herman, turned the world's attention to South Africa's pop music -- vigorous and vital despite the apartheid oppression of the time. New Music Express described it as "the crucial compilation which cuts to the heart of the music" and Robert Christgau called it the most important record of the 1980s. Includes tracks by Udokotela Shange Namajaha, Nelcy Sedibe, Umahlathini Nabo, Amaswazi Emvelo, Mahlathini & the Makgona Tsohle Band, Moses Mchunu, Nganeziyamfisa No Khambalomvaleliso, Johnson Mkhalali, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
$11.79 UPC: 740042151420 WORLD
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VA: Kenya Dance Mania CD (EW 024CD)
Originally released in 1991. Rocking rumba, butt-kicking benga, and other exuberant sounds of Nairobi in the 1970s and '80s, when that bustling metropolis was the Big Papaya for musicians from all around Central and East Africa, and bands such as the Maroon Commandos, Gabriel Omolo & His Apollo Komesha, and Les Wanyika jam-packed the clubs every night. "Kenya Dance Mania is full of sparkling guitars, lilting melodies, strident horns and homespun wisdom," The Observer observed. "Just try and resist such an irresistible, knock-down-dead groove," CMJ challenged. Includes tracks by Maroon Commandos, Gabriel Omolo & His Apollo Komesha, Les Wanyika, H.O. Kabaselleh, Wanyika Super Les Les, and Daniel Kamau.
$11.79 UPC: 740042152427 WORLD
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VA: Roots Rock Guitar Party CD (EW 040CD)
Originally released in 1999. While the musical instrument most associated with Zimbabwe is the mbira thumb-piano, and you'll hear it on a couple of tracks in this Zimbabwean compilation, Trevor Herman selected this set with ears attuned to electric guitars and bass guitars, whether frenetic or hypnotic, easy-rocking or over-the-top. Of course there's plenty of singing and drumming, too, but guitarists such as John Chibadura, Frank Sibanda, and Muddy Face are the life of this party. As the British journalist and broadcaster Andy Kershaw put it, "There isn't a guitarist in the West fit to fondle the plectrums of these guys." Includes tracks by John Chibadura & Tembo Brothers, Four Brothers, Muddy Face, Zimbabwe Cha Cha Cha Kings, Max Mapfumo & Dopiro Band, and Knowledge K. Kunenyati.
$11.79 UPC: 740042154025 WORLD
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VA: Future World Funk Presents Desi Nation CD (EW 048CD)
Originally released in 2003. Traditional bhangra is the dance music of the harvest festival of the Punjab region of northern India, but modern bhangra has nothing to do with the harvest. It is urban music, a "desi" (immigrant) style, as British as it is Indian. Most contemporary bhangra stars were born and raised in cities such as London, Birmingham, Coventry, and Leeds, and of course the sounds they've grown up with -- punk rock, hip-hop, dancehall reggae, house -- thoroughly infuse the music they make. But the single-string tumbi still twangs through the mix, though it's usually sampled or synthesized, and the deep, resonant beat of the dhol drum still drives the bhangra dance. Includes tracks by Achanak, Panjabi Hit Squad, Munde Kolo, A.DH feat. Singh MC, Rhythm Dhol Bass, Nav Sarao remixed by Hit Squad, Panjabi MC, DJ Stin remixed by O-Ji, Gubi Sandhu feat. MC Coppa, Bally Jagpal, Kuldeep Manak, Tarli Digital, and Major Mehram.
$11.79 UPC: 740042154827 WORLD
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NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE & FRIENDS: Felt Forum, NYC 18-03-73 3CD (ECHO 2017CD)
This performance by the New Riders of the Purple Sage on March 18, 1973, at The Felt Forum (in the basement of Madison Square Garden) also boasted numerous appearances by "special friends." When The Sons of Champlin dropped out, NRPS were tapped to open for the Grateful Dead for their remaining performances at the Nassau Coliseum. The Dead returned the favor on their night off by appearing at NRPS's March 18th show, sharing the stage throughout with Ramblin' Jack Elliott, who opening for NRPS. An explosive and unique performance by two iconic American rock bands. Echoes proudly presents the entire WNEW-FM broadcast of this legendary concert. Digitally remastered with background liners and rare photos.
$20.99 EAN: 5291012201713 ROCK
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CIULLINI, DANIELE: Domestic Exile Collected Works 82-86 LP (ELP 009LP)
Ecstatic presents an expanded reissue of Italian mail artist Daniele Ciullini's 1983 self-released cassette Domestic Exile. Hailing from Florence, Ciullini was part of the forward-thinking TRAX collective and its pan-European art and music collaboration network. When asked about the title, Domestic Exile, Ciullini explains, "The music in this cassette was born in a very difficult period of my life. A period marked by a rift with the world. 'Domestic Exile' reflects a time of recession, entrenchment within the walls of a tired soul. Most of the songs are improvised on the spot. Listening to the music today I think this aspect was perhaps naïve. But I enjoyed realizing something very close to my inner state at that moment." Ciullini's music is as sharp and controlled as his elegant photographic images of decadent marble statues, mannequins, and deserted Art Nouveau architecture. The B-side of this reissue consists of tracks originally released on compilations between 1982 and '86, some of which Cuillini describes as "sonic polaroids" in which synthetic sketches and keyboard voices sit side by side with vigorous electro-industrial rhythms and metronomic modified drum machine pulses. His music presciently fuses ambient and industrial, and echoes the synthetic alienation of 8-bit micromusic, the melodic wave sounds of Young Marble Giants, and even proto-shoegaze guitar ("Soft Marble"), as well as hints of drone music (the magmatic loops of "Bloody Machine"). Made with Boss DR-55 and Roland TR-606 drum machines, EMS Synthi AKS modular synthesizer, Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer, Yamaha CS-5 and Casio VL-1 synthesizers, Teac A-103 tape deck, Akai 4000-DS MK-II reel-to-reel tape machine, Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, and Pioneer MA-62 mixer. For fans of Chris Carter, Merzbow, Suicide, Minimal Wave, Cabaret Voltaire, Mika Vainio, Tasaday, and Nurse With Wound. This edition includes extensive liner notes by Vittore Baroni, TRAX co-founder, musician, journalist, and active figure in mail art circles. Mastered by Not Waving.
$14.39 UPC: 880319699832 ELECTRONIC
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ER+ER: L'essentiel 12" (ERER 001EP)
One can only see clearly with the heart. Essence is invisible to the naked eye. Clash of the Titans: two south-hessian music biz legends teamed up in '95, long before they had the slightest idea of what life would have in store for them. Unreleased, mysterious, rough, and old-school rave adventures... These are the original tracks taken from a dusty and long-forgotten DAT. Remastered by Lopazz in 2015.
$9.79 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Original
B1. Instrumental
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CHARLES IVTET, DENIS: Captain of the Deep CD (MTE 009CD)
1998 release. Denis Charles (drums), Nathan Breedlove (trumpet), Wilbert DeJoode (bass), Jemeel Moondoc (alto sax). Recorded by VPRO radio on 9 May, 1991, De Effenaar Cultural Center, Eindhoven, Holland. "The album you hold in your hands is a remarkable document. It is notable as one of only two recordings released under the leadership of the legendary Denis Charles. It is equally notable as the sole remaining evidence of a superb quartet, one whose existence was as brief as it was ecstatic. The opening piece, 'We Don't,' is my favorite selection. Mr. Moondoc and Mr. Breedlove achieve the rough, sanctified sax/trumpet interplay that was the Ayler Brothers' stock in trade. Mr. Charles takes a solo so evocative of West Africa's talking drum tradition as to lend the piece an ancient character. All the material on this album has a sweet congruence. This band never fails to fill you with the magnificent sense of individuals working towards a greater whole. Nobody steps on anyone else's notes, nobody shoves anyone aside, and it is obvious throughout that the interpersonal communication is happening at a very high level." --Byron Coley, Deerfield, MA
$6.99 UPC: 723721178659 JAZZ
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SILVA & WILLIAM PARKER, ALAN: A Hero's Welcome: Pieces for Rare Occasions CD (MTE 017CD)
1998 release. Alan Silva's playing and live composition have been a highlight of the avant-garde's living history for the past 35+ years. From his work with Sun Ra's Arkestra, through extended relationships with Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor, and Albert Ayler, on into the Celestial Communications Orchestra and the Frank Wright Center of the World Band, Silva has been one of the music's most consistently valuable thinkers. A child of Alan Silva's other-worldly strategies for double bass, William Parker is the premier bassist of the post-Vietnam era. A Hero's Welcome is a spontaneous composition dedicated to the spiritual essence of Sun Ra and to all the great string players of the 20th century. It was recorded at the first duo performance Silva and Parker undertook, and is volume one of Eremite's Silva/Parker duos. Two full improvising orchestras couldn't mix it up more completely.
$6.99 UPC: 723721178550 JAZZ
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SILVA & THE SOUND VISIONS ORCHESTRA, ALAN: Alan Silva & The Sound Visions Orchestra CD (MTE 026CD)
2001 release. On his third CD for Eremite records, Alan Silva is back in front of an orchestra for the first time since 1982's Desert Mirage. An iconic figure in the avant-garde for three decades, Silva's contribution to the methodologies and vernacular of large ensemble improvisation is enormous, prefiguring the conductions of Butch Morris and John Zorn's game pieces. His three-album 1970 BYG recording Seasons is universally regarded as one of the high water marks in avant-garde jazz. Silva's orchestral pieces offer a broader view of his mad genius than perhaps any other context for his music. They also reveal an artist of uniquely American themes & sources, informed equally by the legacies of Ives, Ra, Ellington, and Mingus, developments in the visual arts (namely abstract expressionism), and a preternaturally warped response to the post-WWII American culture of show tunes, film music, radio theater, and cold war propaganda. This CD was recorded during the 1999 Vision Festival, a rare chance for Silva to work and extensively rehearse with a band of veteran improvisers, and again present his orchestra music on native soil (a first since 1968). The band's festival performance was plagued by every imaginable technical difficulty, including complete power outages and exploding television sets. They re-assembled in an empty hall one week later to play the spectacularly expansive music heard on this recording. Resolution 57! Twenty-three piece ensemble featuring Silva (conduction, vocals, some synthesizer) and Sabir Mateen, Roy Campbell Jr, Raphe Malik, "Kidd" Jordan, Joe Daley, Steve Swell, J.D. Parran, Bill Lowe, Rob Brown, Wilbur Morris, Karen Borca, Jackson Krall, et al.
$6.99 UPC: 723721195755 JAZZ
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MOONDOC & WILLIAM PARKER W/ HAMID DRAKE, JEMEEL: New World Pygmies Vol 2 2CD (MTE 030/31CD)
2001 release. Moondoc (alto & curved soprano saxophones); Parker (bass, bombard, gralle); Drake (trap drums). Eremite continues its documentation of this remarkable duo, who have played together since 1973, with a double CD set (140+ minutes) featuring two cleanly recorded concerts from a November 2000 American tour. Parker's interest in double-reed instruments and Moondoc's introduction of a soprano saxophone moves their music into realms of joyfully non-tempered playing that recall the Master Musicians of Joujouka. Elsewhere, the old bass and alto slam it out. On disc two, Hamid Drake joins the duo at Chicago's Velvet Lounge for an emotionally-charged homecoming concert for Moondoc with much of his family in the audience.
$10.39 UPC: 723724625228 JAZZ
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MALIK QUARTET, RAPHE: Companions CD (MTE 034CD)
2002 release. Recorded at the 1998 vision festival Jimmy Lyons memorial celebration, a powerful commemoration from four of Lyons's oldest and closest comrades. Malik (trumpet); "Mad" Paul Murphy (drums); William Parker (bass); Glenn Spearman (tenor saxophone). One of the best groups ever assembled under Malik's leadership, with all the concentrated drive, tautness, and ferocity characteristic of his strongest music.
$6.99 UPC: 723721196158 JAZZ
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PARKER & THE LITTLE HUEY CREATIVE MUSIC ORCHESTRA, WILLIAM: Raincoat in the River CD (MTE 036CD)
2001 release. Vol I of the 2001 ICA concert in Boston, recorded on 23 February 2001. A 17-piece version of Little Huey perform Parker's five-section narrative suite based on the life of the late street musician Marvin Nunez (aka Uncle Marvin). Featured soloists include Parker (who solos four times on four different instruments), Roy Campbell Jr, Rob Brown, and vocalist Leena Conquest. A considerable leap forward in recording quality from the band's highly estimable past productions.
$6.99 UPC: 723721178154 JAZZ
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MOONDOC WITH DENIS CHARLES, JEMEEL: We Don't CD (MTE 043CD)
2003 release. Eremite continues its extensive documentation of Jemeel Moondoc with this previously unreleased 1981 session. Recorded at Tucasa Sound Studio on Avenue B, Moondoc and authentic jazz legend Denis 'Jazz' Charles are completely and totally on fire from start to finish.
$6.99 UPC: 723724624924 JAZZ
01. We Don't
02. Home
03. Judy's Bounce
04. We Do
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MURRAY, SUNNY: Perles Noires vol. I CD (MTE 045CD)
2005 release. Sunny Murray: drums; Sabir Mateen: alto and tenor saxophones, alto-clarinet; Dave Burrell: piano; Alan Silva: bass; Louis Belogenis: tenor saxophone. Sunny Murray's talent is bigger than any category you could use to describe it. He's one of the most original musical minds of the past 50 years, a genuine innovator, the liberator of the drum kit, and an artist of uncompromising honesty. Murray's playing in the 1960s with Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, and others opened up entirely new expressive realms for the drums in jazz. Murray's act of liberation -- to free drummers from their strict time-keeping role -- still outrages many listeners, and his militant individuality, his obstinate adherence to his artistic vision over the years, still make him something of an outlaw presence in jazz. It should come as no shock to his listeners, then, that the music on this CD and its companion volume (MTE 046CD), recorded on brief visits to the U.S. from Murray's home base in Paris, is full of fire and surprise, ornery as hell, charming and urbane, and totally, unstintingly true to his free-spirited aesthetic.
$6.99 UPC: 616892650423 JAZZ
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MURRAY, SUNNY: Perles Noires vol. II CD (MTE 046CD)
2005 release. Sunny Murray: drums; Sabir Mateen: alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet; John Blum: piano; Oluyemi Thomas: bass clarinet and c-melody saxophone. There's enough great music from Sunny Murray's 2003 Northeast tour to fill yet another volume, following Vol. I (MTE 045CD). The designation is dictated partly by chronology -- this material comes from the later part of the tour -- and partly by an aesthetic decision to program the music to show off the diversity and contrasts in Murray's handling of the different ensembles he worked with on the tour. Murray is a different drummer than he was when he first made jazz history with Cecil Taylor and Albert Ayler. Partly that's because it's harder at his age to physically sustain the intense high energy of previous decades. Partly, it's a matter of artistic growth, development, and change. Murray's drumming on these discs is unfailingly musical. His unerring touch, sensitivity to sound and color, his relaxation and swing are the mark of a mature talent who knows exactly what he's doing. Murray's creativity, wit, and power are at a mature peak and no aspect of improvised music is beyond this most individual -- and still radical -- drummer.
$6.99 UPC: 616892650522 JAZZ
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ANDERSON, HAMID DRAKE, WILLIAM PARKER, FRED: Blue Winter 2CD (MTE 047/48CD)
2005 release. Blue Winter is a milestone achievement in the great career of one of the stalwarts of the tenor saxophone, Fred Anderson. An exponent of the illustrious Chicago heavyweight tenor tradition that includes his contemporaries Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, John Gilmore, and Von Freeman, Anderson spent decades as a family man and bar owner before starting to seriously tour and record in the nineties. Born 1929 in Monroe, Louisiana, Anderson migrated to Chicago in 1940, where he devoted many years of study to the music of Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, and Charlie Parker. In 1964 Anderson co-founded the seminal Chicago musicians' organization the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). The strength and individuality of his playing in early AACM ensembles with Muhal Richard Abrams, Joseph Jarman, and Henry Threadgill earned Anderson the nickname "the lone prophet of the prairie." On Blue Winter, Anderson is joined by one of the premier rhythm sections in any music genre, William Parker on bass and nagaswaram (an Indian double-reed instrument) and Hamid Drake on drums. The two-CD set features a beautifully recorded complete concert from the trio's 2004 northeast tour.
$10.39 UPC: 616892652625 JAZZ
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BLUM ASTROGENY QUARTET, JOHN: John Blum Astrogeny Quartet CD (MTE 049CD)
2006 release. John Blum (piano), Denis Charles (drums), Antonio Grippi (alto sax, alto clarinet), William Parker (bass). Studio recordings from 1998. There are few sessions to rival this one for sheer urgency and gusto. It's as if something pent-up in these four musicians waited for this combination of players to unleash it... the music explodes into action. Pianist John Blum is a secret hero of New York's free jazz community, known as a proficient and forceful improviser in the tradition of his mentors, Borah Bergmann and Cecil Taylor. Blum's performance on "Astrogeny" is his shining moment on disc to date. The legendary Denis Charles was at his best when paired with William Parker; together they formed one of the great, yet under-documented, rhythm sections in the music. Antonio Grippi, a shadowy figure in free-jazz history, makes an appropriately rousing contribution on alto saxophone.
$6.99 UPC: 616892825029 JAZZ
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JAMAL CREATIVE ARTS ENSEMBLE, THE KHAN: Drum Dance to the Motherland CD (MTE 050CD)
2006 reissue of this 1973 private press album. There's not another record on the planet that sounds even remotely like vibraphonist Khan Jamal's eccentric, one-of-a-kind masterpiece, Drum Dance to the Motherland. In its improbable fusion of free jazz expressionism, Black psychedelia, and full-on dub-like production techniques, Drum Dance remains a bracingly powerful outsider statement decades after it was recorded live at the Catacombs Club in Philadelphia in 1972. Comparisons to Sun Ra, King Tubby, Phil Cohran, and BYG/Actuel merely hint at the cosmic otherness conjured by the band and by recording engineer Mario Falana's real-time "enhancements." The first edition of 300 copies, issued by Jamal in 1973 on the local Philadelphia label Dogtown, was barely distributed outside the city's limits. Since then Drum Dance has assumed a mythic status among the very few aficionados, eBay mutants, and heads who know of it at all. Hallelujah that it can finally be heard outside their murky inner-sanctums!
$6.99 UPC: 616892825128 JAZZ
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GRANDBROTHERS: Dilation CD (FILM 001CD)
Following their debut Ezra EP (FILM 001EP) and support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Grandbrothers present their debut album Dilation. Twelve modern experimental ambient piano pieces, with sounds generated completely from a grand piano using small electromagnetic hammers. Grandbrothers are Erol Sarp and Lukas Vogel. After meeting at university in Dusseldorf, Sarp and Vogel formed Grandbrothers to tie together their respective musical backgrounds and disciplines: Sarp is a trained jazz pianist, while Vogel constructs synthesizers at Access Music by day. Together, they create a sound that combines classical composition with modern, experimental production and sound design. The product of two years' work, Dilation builds on some of the ideas established on Ezra while exploring further elements of minimalism, ambient music, IDM, and techno. Tracks start as repeated two- or three-note patterns, which gradually develop into sweeping, cinematic soundscapes, recalling the structural and rhythmic qualities of club music as much as they do the work of a composer like Steve Reich, as well as Ryuichi Sakamoto's collaborations with Alva Noto. Surprisingly, there are no synthetic sounds on Dilation: Sarp and Vogel deliberately restrict themselves to the sounds of the grand piano across the album. "We wanted to make modern-sounding music using classical instruments," Vogel explains. "Instruments with a lot of history." To achieve this modern sound, Vogel developed an unusual system for playing the piano. Drawing on his technical background, he created a series of electromagnetic hammers that could be controlled via laptop (on software that he designed himself, no less) to play the piano. This process allowed the duo to discover new, previously unknown sounds -- sounds that couldn't be achieved through conventional playing -- which give the record its unique sonic qualities. "Dilation is a physical term for expansion and widening," Sarp says. "We see the project as an experiment: how far you can go with a piano? How much you can get out of it, sound-wise?" With further manipulation using loops, effects, and amplification, Dilation is an album that covers an extraordinary range of sounds despite coming from such a small, unorthodox setup. Classical, yet forward-thinking; expressive and emotional, yet with one foot on the dancefloor. CD presented in Digipack with high-gloss print.
$11.99 UPC: 827170146525 ELECTRONIC
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GRANDBROTHERS: Dilation 2LP (FILM 001LP)
180-gram double LP version in high-gloss gatefold sleeve; includes WAV & MP3 download code. Following their debut Ezra EP (FILM 001EP) and support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Grandbrothers present their debut album Dilation. Twelve modern experimental ambient piano pieces, with sounds generated completely from a grand piano using small electromagnetic hammers. Grandbrothers are Erol Sarp and Lukas Vogel. After meeting at university in Dusseldorf, Sarp and Vogel formed Grandbrothers to tie together their respective musical backgrounds and disciplines: Sarp is a trained jazz pianist, while Vogel constructs synthesizers at Access Music by day. Together, they create a sound that combines classical composition with modern, experimental production and sound design. The product of two years' work, Dilation builds on some of the ideas established on Ezra while exploring further elements of minimalism, ambient music, IDM, and techno. Tracks start as repeated two- or three-note patterns, which gradually develop into sweeping, cinematic soundscapes, recalling the structural and rhythmic qualities of club music as much as they do the work of a composer like Steve Reich, as well as Ryuichi Sakamoto's collaborations with Alva Noto. Surprisingly, there are no synthetic sounds on Dilation: Sarp and Vogel deliberately restrict themselves to the sounds of the grand piano across the album. "We wanted to make modern-sounding music using classical instruments," Vogel explains. "Instruments with a lot of history." To achieve this modern sound, Vogel developed an unusual system for playing the piano. Drawing on his technical background, he created a series of electromagnetic hammers that could be controlled via laptop (on software that he designed himself, no less) to play the piano. This process allowed the duo to discover new, previously unknown sounds -- sounds that couldn't be achieved through conventional playing -- which give the record its unique sonic qualities. "Dilation is a physical term for expansion and widening," Sarp says. "We see the project as an experiment: how far you can go with a piano? How much you can get out of it, sound-wise?" With further manipulation using loops, effects, and amplification, Dilation is an album that covers an extraordinary range of sounds despite coming from such a small, unorthodox setup. Classical, yet forward-thinking; expressive and emotional, yet with one foot on the dancefloor.
$18.39 UPC: 827170579262 ELECTRONIC
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VA: Life Is Dance! 2LP (FKR 049LP)
2015 repress. Once again, Finders Keepers Records is given unparalleled access to the EMI Pakistan vaults to bring you Life Is Dance, the 2011 follow-up to 2010's critically acclaimed groundbreaking Lollywood cinematic pop compendium The Sound of Wonder! (BMS 012CD). Commonly, ignorantly, but understandably lumped in with its wealthy not-too-distant cousin, Bollywood, Lollywood was inspired by, but often overshadowed by its posh and well-travelled relative. Following the simplistic Bombay + Hollywood = Bollywood name game (that would in later years spawn Nollywood in Nigeria), Lollywood's Lahore, Pakistan-based film industry was a profitable and vibrant one that found great success in the modest boundaries of its own country but was seldom savored outside Pakistan. However, the hugely important musical business spawned a byproduct that was viewed as a potential earner for international entertainment industry, EMI, which allowed talented musicians to create ambitious music with world-class media ranging throughout the '60s and '70s from fuzz guitars to space echo machines and American and European synthesizers, but, due to the composers' indigenous roots, rarely a drum kit. Here you'll find fuzzy, scuzzy, twang-happy, spaced-out, and funked-up Urdu-grooves complete with harmonium melodies and driven by some of the most random factor, freakish, finger-numbing percussion that the South East Asian mainstream has ever had to offer. Above all, Lollywood soundtracks sound RAW! The lack of gloss on a dusty Pakistani mini-LP makes for truly experimental Eastern pop music. So, it's time to meet the culprits -- as an introduction, in place of R. D. Burman and Asha Bhosle, we have Mr. M. Ashraf and his long-term female collaborator, Naheed Akhtar. This duo would provide Pakistan with its Gainsbourg/Birkin or Morricone/Dell'Orso for over 20 years, recording squillions of cut-and-paste sonic collages and moog-fuelled desperate love/hate/chase/chill/kill songs mixing onomatopoeic Urdu lyrics with unexpected bursts of user-friendly English language and the odd motif from a Barry White or Donna Summer hit. We also have legends like Noor Jehan, a national treasure and household name in Pakistan whose discography of film songs have deprived the vaults of EMI Pakistan of floor space for half a century. Also includes tracks by Tafo, Mehdi Hassan, A. Nayyar, Nazir Ali, Mehnaz, Kamel Ahmed, Sohail Rana, Abdul Hameed, Afshan, and Cheeku. All tracks licensed exclusively through the EMI Pakistan vaults in Lahore and remastered from the original reels.
$18.99 EAN: 5060099503092 ROCK
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VA: Disco Dildar CD (FKR 065CD)
DIY disco from the Pakistani pop workshop. Never ones to merely scrape the surface of a niche genre, Finders Keepers Records dig deeper still into the core of the Indian subcontinent, exhuming a concise party pack of opulent, off-center Pakistani party targets driven by the pounding drum box rhythms of some of Lollywood pop's most notorious studio scientists. Disco Dildar features rare plugged-in proxy pop from some of the country's lesser-known teen flicks spanning the late 1970s and '80s, featuring drum-heavy disco guesstimates built around multilingual lyrics celebrating Saturday nights, Disco Dildars, and Hindustani Hogmanays. These original synth-dripped 45 EPs are not from the front of the pile, nor the quirky result of some token musical tourism. The music found here once soundtracked rebellious all-nighters and hotel bar rendezvous from films of which your parents might have not approved, hence their scarce obtainability. Again, the Sound of Wonder (BMS 012CD) team that bought you Life Is Dance (BMS 038CD/FKR 049LP), Ilectro (BMS 049CD), Bollywood Bloodbath (BMS 039CD), and others shares equal doses of the excitement, wonderment, and bewilderment that comes when first needle-dropping these elusive gems. Featuring the cut-and-paste electronics and fuzz-tones of flightless super heroes such as Tafo, Ashraf, Bazmi, Rana, and Ahmed, while voiced by Mehnaz, Nahid Akhtar, Runa Laila, and Queen Noor Jehan, it is plain to hear why the work of these DIY cosmic composers have eclipsed the collectable desirability of filmic fruits, igniting dancefloors and providing sample fodder of the wider continent for Wu-Tangular producers in their stride. This workshop funk redefines both DIY and disco, revealing a whole new side to world music, and marks Pakistani pop culture's transformation from disposable and indefinable to indispensable. Form a circle -- Disco Dildar is now in rotation.
$11.99 EAN: 5060099505423 WORLD
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VA: Disco Dildar LP (FKR 065LP)
LP version.
$17.79 EAN: 5060099505430 WORLD
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TERROR DANJAH/CHAMPION: Cannon/Run Out 12" (FRMCS 002EP)
Champion's "Cannon" is a rhythmic stomper that's heavy on the percussion and thick on the bass. With slabs of kick drum, insistent cowbell, tumbling sub bass, and claps that jump out of the mix, the track comes across as drum workout with a hint of G-funk, complete with a stepping snare hit that cuts to the bone. Original grime don Terror Danjah switches it up with a bubbling sub-bass ride that MCs will be screaming to jump on. Shuffling rhythms combine with a jump-up bass melody that's built for peak-time pressure in the dance -- a pure Terror Danjah rolla.
$9.79 EAN: 5055300384737 ELECTRONIC
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ROACH MOTEL: The Night 12" (GPM 286EP)
Why stop when you've got a good thing going? That was Get Physical's reasoning behind GPM 286EP, a special vinyl release inspired by the crazy goodness that was Roach Motel's 1996 The Night EP. With remixes by Tuff City Kids and Fred Everything, this vinyl edition of The Night puts their old-school-leaning seven minutes of popping rhythm heaven on wax for all the black gold enthusiasts to enjoy.
$9.79 EAN: 4260129253152 ELECTRONIC
A1. The Night (Fred Everything Lazy Vox)
A2. The Night (Tuff City Kids House Mix)
B1. The Night (Tuff City Kids Techno Mix)
B2. The Night (Accapella Clap)
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HANOI MASTERS: War Is a Wound, Peace Is a Scar CD (GB 021CD)
The first volume in Glitterbeat's Hidden Musics, a series of unmediated field recordings of lesser-known global music traditions. War Is a Wound, Peace Is a Scar is a haunting audio document recorded in the summer of 2014 by Grammy-award winning producer Ian Brennan (Tinariwen, Malawi Mouse Boys, The Good Ones). The sepia-tinged songs are sung and played live and direct by elderly Vietnamese musicians using half-forgotten traditional instruments. These musicians all have deep, personal connections to the upheavals of the Vietnam War; the recordings' mesmerizing mood navigates the blurred line between raw beauty and sadness. An album of cautious healing and an unforgettable meditation on conflict, resistance, collective memory, and the longing for what has been lost. Brennan recalls the recording process for this remarkable document in the album's liner notes, excerpted here: "We had gone to Hanoi to record veterans from their side. Some were music masters, one of whom had joined the army at age thirteen and whose job it was to sing to the troops to boost morale and provide solace. Another was a former AK-47 issued village leader who had not sung in over forty years, and proved to be the most dead-on vocally. She did not hide or adorn, but quietly revealed muted emotions that a microphone often can detect more easily than face-to-face interaction. Then, immediately afterwards, she withdrew back into a stoic shell... With a whammy-bar technology that dates back to the ninth century, it is fair to say that Vietnamese traditions had a bit of a head start over the headbangers of the 1980s. A startling revelation was a plucked instrument (the k'ni) that is clasped between the teeth as the local dialect... is spoken through the
single string. What sounds like an extraterrestrial instrumental to the uninitiated actually contains coded, poetic lyrics... Let it suffice to say that these artists are a far cry from the lip-synching karaoke show that we saw on the local cable, with groups of teenagers cavorting on a soundstage and mouthing the words to K-pop songs -- air-karaoke, if you will -- that managed to render something pre-fab even less real. These elders carry a haunting, but muted sadness that seems only fully revealed through the music that they valiantly keep alive in the face of industrialization, waning regard and interest, and the rapid homogenization and 'progress' overtaking their homeland."
$11.99 EAN: 4030433602126 WORLD
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OLSON, MARK: Good-bye Lizelle CD (GR 816CD)
Jayhawks co-founder and singer Mark Olson has left a strong and lasting imprint on alternative country and Americana like few other figures in the genres' history. Milestones such as Hollywood Townhall (1991) and Tomorrow the Green Grass (1995) are timeless masterpieces of American music. Olson left The Jayhawks after Tomorrow the Green Grass and settled down with his wife at the time, Victoria Williams, in Joshua Tree, CA, next to the Mojave Desert. In the following years he released a string beautiful albums under the name Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers. The poetic and redemptive 2007 solo debut The Salvation Blues and the 2010 follow-up Many Colored Kite were inspired by months spent crisscrossing the Old Continent via the EuroRail. Also in 2010, after a 15-year hiatus, Olson wrote and recorded a reunion album, Mockingbird Time, with The Jayhawks, followed by two more years of touring the U.S. and Europe. Meanwhile, Olson found a new partner in life and music, the Norwegian singer and multi-instrumentalist Ingunn Ringvold, who recorded three classy albums under the moniker Sailorine for the Norwegian Voices of Wonder label, and guested on Mockingbird Time. To take the next step, and record Good-bye Lizelle, Olson and Ringvold travelled from Armenia to South Africa, USA to Norway, and Finland to the Czech Republic, to record 11 poetic songs featuring guests such as Neal Casal, Aaron Sterling (Liz Phair, William Fitzsimmons), Danny Frankel (k.d. lang, Rickie Lee Jones), and Øystein Greni of the Norwegian rock band BigBang. Good-bye Lizelle was recorded in apartments, cabins, and outdoors in national parks, using Olson's Nagra portable recording system to create a homemade, somehow vintage, and warm sonic atmosphere. Listening to the album, one can only admit that Olson completely succeeded: there are more than just hints of the classic Laurel Canyon feel that made the early Joni Mitchell or Graham Nash albums so outstanding. However, Mark Olson is by no means retro; it's more that he wants to get to the core -- the heart -- of each song, giving it the perfect arrangement and perfect instrumentation to transport the feel, the idea, and the warmth as intended. Good-bye Lizelle consists of 11 perfectly crafted pieces, each a story of its own. In-depth songs in a timeless sound, benefitting from Ringvold's gorgeous duet and harmony vocals, and obviously lyrically in a class of its own. LP version includes CD.
$11.99 EAN: 4030433781623 ROCK
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WHITE BIRCH, THE: The Weight of Spring CD (GR 830CD)
In August 2006, Norwegian band The White Birch played what seemed at the time to be their final show, and broke up after ten years and four albums together. The band survived, though, in the heart and mind of Ola Fløttum, who refused to forsake the band. He began composing music for films, learning bit by bit how to accompany pictures with his music. He describes his time since the band's break-up: "It has taken nine years, many songs have been thrown out the window before I eventually found my 12 chosen ones. During these years I've lost my mother, started a family, raised two kids, and bought a house in Oslo were I've recorded most of the album in the basement." The resultant music takes the form of sometimes almost unnoticeable tones and soundscapes. The Weight of Spring. The world as we see it. A long road. In the end Darkness will prevail. "Once I was just a boy with the urge to destroy. I did not read these newborn sparks through the wilting trees, I could only see the dark as it came." Earth, as it awakes. Warmth. "I was blind, now I can see... no more darkened doors." And as it elapses. Pain. "As the morning dew fell as rain." The White Birch became Ola Fløttum. "A lot of freedom, not always so easy to cope with, since you have to argue with yourself." Fløttum recorded alongside the classically trained composer Ole Henrik Moe on violin, viola, and singing saw, with rhythm from Norwegian Academy of Music graduate Pål Hausken and Moren Barrikmo -- both members of Susanna Wallumrød's Magical Orchestra (Wallumrød herself contributes vocals on "The Hours"). The album also features Ingrid Olava, Ingar Hunskaar (Kings of Convenience, St. Thomas, Serena-Maneesh,Jaga Jazzist), and Fløttum's wife, the actress Ellen Dorrit Petersen. Grammy-winning mastering engineer Bob Katz put the final touches on The Weight of Spring. Will we remember this album in the distant future? And if so how? Names? Instruments? Its origin? The places it took us to? The White Birch: The Weight of Spring: Love, as it awakes. "Love will never change the morning sun, love will never change the way the darkness runs."
$11.99 EAN: 4030433783023 ROCK
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PROMISE: Promise CD (GKL 003CD)
If you're continuously searching the margins for lost artifacts of the pop pantheon, you can find your daily dose in late period exponents of pure, lean, Beatlesque power pop band Promise. Originally issued in 1980 on the Boulder, Colorado, area band's own Cumulus label, their eponymous debut is filled with melodic, beatific blasts of pure pop, replete with ringing, jangly guitars and rollicking crunch. Co-led by singer-songwriters and guitarists Curt Mangan and Danny Mey -- with aid provided by the just-right rhythms of bassist Randy Jones and drummer Gary York -- the group created an album with precious little allying it to the punk-inspired power pop or prescient new wave of the time, instead choosing to hone in on a classicist pop sound highly indebted to those famous moptops from Liverpool. Abetted by the fact that some of the group's members had been playing together since their teenage combos of the mid '60s, the album carries an out-of-time flair across surging rockers and mournful balladry. Got Kinda Lost Records is ecstatic to give this benchmark of privately pressed power pop another chance to shine with this first ever reissue. Includes exhaustive liner notes by Jeremy Cargill (Ugly Things Magazine) culled from interviews with Mangan and Mey. RIYL: Badfinger, Big Star, early Cheap Trick, Emitt Rhodes, The Raspberries, Liverpool Echo, The Scruffs, Shoes, Dwight Twilley Band, etc.
$11.99 EAN: 4040824085032 ROCK
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JULY: July LP (GUESS 080LP)
2015 restock. Guerssen Records is proud to release on vinyl nothing less than an essential album to anyone with a minimum interest in psychedelic music. This very rare 1968 UK album, originally released on the Major Minor label, features essential psych classics such as "Dandelion Seeds" and "My Clown." This is the definitive vinyl reissue of this beauty, pressed on 180 gram vinyl and housed in a high-quality carton cover with old-style backflaps and a fantastic 4-page insert with photos and extensive liner notes by UK psych authority David Wells. Also included is a full-color reproduction of the rare-as-hell original promo poster.
$20.99 EAN: 4040824081843 ROCK
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LEINER, ROBERT: Duff 80/Injected 7" (HNR 003EP)
Höga Nord Rekords pays respect to one of the true Swedish pioneers of electronic underground music, Prof. Robert Leiner. Leiner has been highly productive since starting back in 1992. Countless releases on classic high-profile dance labels such as R&S Records, Apollo, H. Productions, Ohm, just to name a few. The time has come for 12-and-a-half more minutes of analog machine funk signed "Robert Leiner" to hit the streets. Tune in, turn on, and stay up forever.
$7.79 EAN: 7393210502031 ELECTRONIC
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BASSMAN, PETE: Small Town Illusion/Poison Butterfly 7" (HNR 005EP)
Pete Bain aka Pete Bassman, a pioneer and the true bassist from Spacemen 3, The Darkside, and Alpha Stone, presents Small Town Illusion/Poison Butterfly on Höga Nord Rekords. Ten minutes of pure acid-folk comin' straight outta Drugby. Don't miss out on this!
$7.79 EAN: 7393210502055 ROCK
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KRIGET: Din Con/Sama 7" (HNR 010EP)
Kriget: drums, bass, saxophone. Here, they've added mad nice electronics. Krauty, spacey, free jazzy, so forth... let's settle on free music for free people. The bass of "Din Con" seduces you so subtly you hardly notice you're about to take off on a ride you can't fight. Only feel. "Sama" kicks off like a session with a sleazy elektro-shaman who wants to program you with methods so vicious the CIA would be impressed. When the acid kicks in at the end, breathe slowly and quietly repeat to yourself, "Keep calm and remember that paranoia doesn't mean they aren't after you."
$7.79 EAN: 7393210502147 ROCK
A1. Din Con
B1. Sama
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SQUADRA OMEGA: Il serpente nel cielo LP (HOL 077LP)
Il serpente nel cielo is the first of three Squadra Omega titles to be released in less than six months in 2015. This two-piece jam was recorded live at Outside Inside Studio, with the always-evolving group reduced to three core elements: OmegaFrank (drums, xylophone), OmegaG8 (synth, bass), and OmegaMatt (sax, acoustic and electroacoustic percussion). The trio hauls its instruments through a free-form improv-ambient session frequently peaking with moments of free jazz, sustained by a skeleton of intense droning electronics, and wonderfully rendered by an exquisite cut made at SST in Frankfurt. Cover artwork by Re delle Aringhe.
$17.79 UPC: 769791908963 ROCK
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SECOND STOREY: Shaman Champagne 12" (HTH 024EP)
Formerly known as Al Tourettes, Alec Storey unveiled his Second Storey project with 2013's Margosa Heights EP. Now comes "Shaman Champagne," the lead single from his forthcoming Double Divide LP. Storey produces music running from multi-part suites of hefty sound design to club-shaking dance epics for labels like Apple Pips, Aus and more. "Shaman Champagne" is an adventurous club tune crafted by an inspired mind, displaying his bass roots and his psychedelically-inspired musical abilities. Perc Trax boss Perc offers up a heavy, pummeling remix, complimented by a bouncy dancefloor roller from Aden (rumored to be the Ultramajic label's A&R, Machinedrum).
$9.79 UPC: 802560202463 ELECTRONIC
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BLACKSHAW, JAMES: Summoning Suns CD (IMPREC 407CD)
Summoning Suns is James Blackshaw's tenth studio album and the first recording to feature his voice and lyrics. Drawing inspiration from '60s and '70s singer-songwriters, baroque and orchestral pop, and folk music, while still sounding contemporary, Summoning Suns is Blackshaw's foray into more traditional forms of songcraft. Blackshaw sings in a gentle but assured voice while his words combine his personal experiences, neuroses, and fantasies through many layers of abstraction, poeticism, and dark humor. While the deft acoustic guitar fingerpicking of Blackshaw's previous recordings is still a prominent part of the sound, the songs are lushly and intricately arranged for drums, bass, piano, violin, flute, and pedal steel guitar and feature contributions from Simon Scott (Slowdive), Annie Nilsson, and Japanese musicians Mori Wa Ikiteiru and Kaoru Noda (with whom Blackshaw duets in Japanese on one song). LP pressed in a first edition of 500 copies.
$10.39 UPC: 793447540726 ROCK
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BLACKSHAW, JAMES: Summoning Suns LP (IMPREC 407LP)
LP version.
$16.39 UPC: 793447540719 ROCK
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MITTOO, JACKIE: Rides On LP (JRLP 031LP)
2015 repress. Jackie Mittoo, organ and piano maestro, was also one of the founding members of Jamaica's top session band The Skatalites. Musical arranger for Studio One, he provided the backbone to so many of Jamaica's finest tunes. Here Jamaican Recordings have captured some fine 1970s cuts that feature Jackie's numerous talents, showing his ability to embellish tracks with a feel that few could do better. Musical arranger, bandleader, all-around studio ace -- enjoy the set.
$9.79 EAN: 5060135760250 WORLD
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LEE & KING TUBBY, BUNNY: Brass Rockers LP (JRLP 037LP)
2015 repress. LP version. King Tubby and producer Bunny "Striker" Lee are intertwined in the birth of dub music. After discovering a mistake that became a "serious joke," they went on to release the first pressings of this new musical genre named "Dub Music." Tubby's vast knowledge of electronics and Bunny's vast catalog of rhythms would lay the foundations of what today is taken as a standard -- the remix/version cuts to an existing vocal tune. Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock was born in Kingston, Jamaica on January 28th 1941 and grew up in the High Holborn Street area of downtown Kingston. He studied electronics at Kingston's National Technical College and also did two correspondence courses from the U.S.A. When he had qualified, Tubby began repairing radios and other electrical appliances in a shack in the backyard of his mother's home. His work in the early days included winding transformers and building amplifiers for Kingston's Sound Systems. Tubby built his first Sound System in 1957 playing jazz and rhythm & blues at local weddings and birthday parties. His reputation as a man who knew and understood both electronics and music grew steadily, and as the '60s drew to a close, Tubby purchased his own basic two-track equipment. He installed this alongside his dub-cutting machine, a homemade mixing console, and his impressive collection of jazz albums in the back bedroom of his home at 18 Dromilly Avenue, which he christened his music room.
$9.79 EAN: 5060135760496 WORLD
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HOLT, JOHN: 500 Volts of Dub LP (JRLP 042LP)
2015 repress. John Holt was one of the finest and most versatile voices to come out of Jamaica, whether fronting The Paragons or as a solo artist. Born in Kingston, Holt was a child prodigy who began his career as a regular voice on the talent contests run by Vera Johns across Jamaica. He cut his first single, I Cried a Tear/Forever I'll Stay, for Leslie Kong's Beverley's label in 1963, and sang many duets with various singers of the day, including "Rum Bumper" with Alton Ellis. The period from 1965 to 1970 was John Holt's paragon era, during which he also ran solo with such hits as "Fancy Make Up," "A Love I Can Feel," and "Let's Build Our Dreams."
$9.79 EAN: 5060135760786 WORLD
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VA: Jeff Ozdemir & Friends CD (KK 082CD)
Presented here is the next chapter in the history of Faruk Green keyboardist and co-founder Jeff Özdemir: a compilation of soulful pop- and electronic-inspired music. Özdemir, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, owns the independent record store 33rpm Store in Berlin and runs the label 33rpm Records with some of his friends. The record store has become part of Özdemir's own musical education, a place to experiment and discover new sounds and new bands. Over the years, his broad exposure to different eras and genres of music has had a strong influence on what he produces. And it's these kinds of influences you'll hear on Jeff Özdemir & Friends, in the chords, rhythms, atmospheres, production styles, and sound aesthetics. A colorful mix of all decades, continents, tempos, and genres, with some fierce micro-grooves. The album includes solo tracks and a handful of collaborations. Faruk Green, Özdemir, and the whole local urban music scene around them are geographically located between the German cities of Bremerhaven, Hamburg, and Berlin, but the dots connect across the globe, in a network that reaches all the way to Vienna, Metz, Helsinki, Istanbul, Minneapolis, Michigan, and Ghana. This compilation is an eclectic and unique album for people who like jazz-funk, indie, the German language, strings, record stores, vinyl, movie soundtracks, Moogs, and pop vocals. Sit back and enjoy the ride. Double LP includes download code and is limited to 300 copies. Includes tracks by Faruk Green, Jeff Özdemir, Lee Buddah, Jeff Özdemir's Halloumi Express, Elyas Khan, Nicholas Desamory, Jeff Özdemir's Weapons of Mass Destruction, Jeff Özdemir With The Adam & Steve Arkestra, James Merle Thomas, Alogte Oho Jonas & His Sounds of Joy, Rimini Sunset, Edwyn Tokyo, Durand Durand, and J.R.Plankton.
$10.99 UPC: 880918221724 ELECTRONIC
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VA: Jeff Ozdemir & Friends 2LP (KK 082LP)
Double LP version; includes download code; limited to 300 copies.
$16.99 UPC: 880918221717 ELECTRONIC
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CLARK & THE FYREBIRDS, GENE: Live at The Rocking Horse Saloon, Hartford Connecticut January 13th 1985 2CD (KH 9042CD)
This superb double live set was recorded for broadcast by a local Connecticut radio station in January 1985. Though it came at a troubled time in Gene Clark's career, this performance at The Rocking Horse Saloon in Hartford, Connecticut, finds him in terrific form, as he performs a mixture of acoustic and electric songs spanning his whole catalog, including his time with The Byrds, his renowned 1974 classic No Other, and his collaborative work with Doug Dillard. Particular highlights include a 15-minute rendition of "So You Want to Be a Rock'n'Roll Star" and a sublime slow version of "Eight Miles High." It's presented in wonderfully vibrant sound, complete with background notes and rare images.
$16.39 EAN: 5291012904225 ROCK
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COUNTRY JOE & THE FISH: Carousel Ballroom 14-02-68 CD (KH 9043CD)
Recorded at San Francisco's legendary Carousel Ballroom on Valentine's Day 1968, this superb live set captures Country Joe & The Fish, one of the city's original psychedelic rock bands, at the peak of their powers, performing a mixture of material from the two albums they'd released the previous year (Electric Music for the Mind and Body and I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die), as well as the classic "Rock and Soul Music," from their 1968 third LP, Together, unreleased at the time of this performance. It's offered here in superb fidelity, complete with background notes and rare images.
$11.99 EAN: 5291012904324 ROCK
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LIEM, EDDIE NESS & JOHAN KASETA: Let's Get Playa 12" (LHLT 002EP)
180-gram vinyl. Lehult follows Lucky Charmz' acclaimed 2014 Follow Me to Flottbek Falls EP (LHLT 001EP) with Let's Get Playa, introducing Liem (pictured on the cover, gin and tonic in hand), Eddie Ness, and Johan Kaseta (infamous for his wild one-deck DJ sets). They all take their shots in mixed couplets: "Bassforce XXL" delivers an uplifting chord progression and a fruity, dynamic bassline; "M-Trax" revolves around the same sunlit feeling but plunges deeper with swirling birdsong melodies and raw, thumpin' drums 'n' congas. "Let's Get Playa" is a seductive cut of low-slung breezy house that doesn't fail to surprise.
$9.79 UPC: 827170588462 ELECTRONIC
A1. Liem, Eddie Ness - Bassforce XXL
B1. Liem, Eddie Ness - M-Trax
B2. Eddie Ness, Johan Kaseta - Let's Get Playa
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MASSIANDE: Stand 12" (MOS 022EP)
Stand, Chilean producer Massiande's first release since a 2013 EP on Housewax, explores cloudy, atmospheric house with plenty of panache and flair. "Stand" is a raw house kicker with rubbery basslines, frazzled machine-lines, and muted voices in a spaced-out and slightly acid vibe. "The Future (Is Now)" is another mid-tempo cut, this time with loud, dramatic chords and strings dominating a Chicago-referencing bottom end. "That Feeling" features rolling bass, icy hi-hats, and subtle Larry Heard-style melodies. The far-gazing pads and airy percussion of "Get House" accompany the sorts of drums that make you want to shake your limbs.
$8.70 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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ROUND 1: I'm Your Brother 12" (MAIN 002EP)
2015 repress. Classic 1994 release. "With I'm Your Brother Basic Channel initiates its deep house label Main Street. The A-side features the original vocal track which production is orientated on the classics of the genre. As one would expect the result is outstanding. This fact is even more true since the dub mix on the B-side has been done by Chez 'n' Trent -- a producer dream team of the early/mid 90s."
$6.99 UPC: 827670743569 ELECTRONIC
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ROUND 2: New Day 12" (MAIN 004EP)
2015 repress; originally released in 1995. "'New Day' is the second deep house anthem produced by Basic Channel. Included is a main vocal mix and an instrumental mix on the B-side. The sound aesthetic presented here is undeniable Basic Channel alike. The instrumental version is not just the original tune without the vocals but a stripped-down-to-the-bones groove monster which lasts."
$6.99 UPC: 827670743668 ELECTRONIC
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STOTT, ANDY: Passed Me By 2x12" (LOVE 069LP)
2015 repress. Produced slowly and meticulously, these seven tracks by Manchester's Andy Stott take influence from an array of seemingly incoherent noises, from the indefinable and unforgettable mind-tricks of Arthur Russell to the slow house of Kassem Mosse, from the alternate VHS realities of James Ferraro and Jamal Moss to the LinnDrum classics of the vintage Prince era. These seven tracks create their own pace and agenda, largely shying away from the dancefloor in favor of something more complex and hard to define. Following on from the tribal malfunctions of opening intro "Signature," "New Ground" heads into a chasm of layered loops, creating a decimated and re-wired funk template colored in with frayed percussion and dislodged vocal samples. "North To South" starts off from similar ground but adds a shuffling vibe at a deceptively intoxicated 110 bpm. "Intermittent" is something altogether different, taking perfectly formed boogie templates and screwing with them until nothing quite fits, brittle elements floating in and out of time yet somehow keeping it together, before "Dark Details" delivers the most dancefloor compatible six-minute stretch of the set, all clanging stabs and dense percussion, somewhere between Shackleton and Bam Bam. "Execution" and "Passed Me By" end things off on a slowed-down tip, the former deploying an anaesthetized and padded 4/4 template sunk deeper into the abyss by deformed, time-stretched vocals, the latter ending off proceedings with a more delicate palette, letting go of all that pent-up emotion with nothing but that rumbling low-end and some strings for company. Mastered and cut at Dubpates & Mastering, Berlin.
$16.99 EAN: 5060165480258 ELECTRONIC
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STOTT, ANDY: We Stay Together 2x12" (LOVE 072LP)
2015 repress. Recorded in the immediate aftermath of his last EP Passed Me By, this new double pack from Andy Stott features six new productions that are more desolate and exposed than anything on its predecessor. The opening "Submission" tumbles into being with layers of washed-out digital revolutions, creating an artificial landscape that's quite at odds with the analog machinations that follow -- yet somehow rendering the alienated feel of this material perfectly. "Posers" nudges its way into being abruptly and embeds another squashed funk variant that's all low-lit neon and growling textures, awkwardly shuffling into a more robust 4/4 template suffused with sparkling percussion and disembodied vocals. "Bad Wires" is the centerpiece of the EP, a relentless percussive clusterfuck that belies its slow tempo with a fearless, rhythmic attitude. It's as immersive and narcotic as anything ever produced by Stott -- peeling away one layer after another with each repeated listen. "We Stay Together" (Part One) was the first track written for the EP and offers a more spacious narrative and a more sparkling, hazy palette -- culminating in a beautifully frayed central hook that's somehow in keeping with the VHS aesthetic of both Jamal Moss and Ferris Bueller. "Cherry Eye" tumbles deep into a darkened hole before EP closer "Cracked" turns up, fuelled by an odd mixture of adrenalin and sorrow to send you on your way, buzzing and forlorn. Mastered and cut at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin.
$16.99 EAN: 5060165480289 ELECTRONIC
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ERNESTUS PRESENTS JERI-JERI, MARK: Ndagga Versions LP (ND 007LP)
2015 repress. LP version. Instrumental versions. Jeri-Jeri is the stunning, spectacular collaboration between the renowned Berlin-based producer Mark Ernestus and a griot clan of Sabar drummers from Kaolack in Senegal, led by Bakane Seck, along with guest Mbalax musicians and vocalists -- including mainstays of the bands of Baaba Maal, Youssou N'Dour and other top Senegalese artists. Aficionados of cutting-edge world music and underground dance will have noted Ernestus' remixes of Afrobeat legend Tony Allen and Kinshasa rockers Konono No. 1, and his co-compilation (with Honest Jon's) of the critically-acclaimed Shangaan Electro showcase. On the quiet, though, he has become increasingly hooked on Mbalax with its hyper-vivid Sabar and talking-drum workouts, and ultra-repetitive, sick, sequencer-like marimba synths. In early 2011 he travelled to Senegal and Gambia, in search of original recordings. Through an unlikely set of coincidences, he ended up working in the legendary Dakar studio former known as Xippi, with more than 20 of the finest musicians in the country. Ndagga Versions present the results, presenting instrumentals in a swingingly masterful style of Mbalax, heady and hard-grooving, with highly complex, fiercely succinct polyrhythms; an ancient-futuristic music, mesmeric but sharp as nails, super-charged with drama. Get ready to be knocked out.
$14.39 UPC: 827670200611 ELECTRONIC
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HERCHENRODER, MARTIN: Linien aus Nachtlicht - Organ Works CD (NEOS 11504CD)
To coincide with the 2015 20th anniversary of The Studio for New Music of the University of Siegen, NEOS presents a CD collecting the complete solo organ compositions of Martin Herchenröder. Linien aus Nachtlicht - Organ Works was recorded in 2014 on a Woehl organ in Piteå, Sweden, and consists of organ music from the years 1991 to 2011, performed by the ECHO Prize winner Christian Schmitt, Professor Hans Davidsson from the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen, and by the composer himself. Among other things, the CD brings together the works "Linien aus Nacht-licht" ("Lines out of Nocturnal Light") and "Meerleuchten" ("Sea Lights"), both based on paintings of Paul Klee, as well as the two "zeit-raum" ("time-space") cycles, composed for the re-dedication of the restored organ in Wenzelskirche, Naumburg, which had earlier been inaugurated by Johann Sebastian Bach. The CD contains Herchenröder's complete oeuvre for solo organ since 1991, in which the development of the organ music of this period is simultaneously reflected, offering excellent insight into his musical world.
$10.99 EAN: 4260063115042 CLASSICAL
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OD/MB: Shplittin' the Shtones 12" (RHD 021ODMB-EP)
Marvelous split mini-LP from the Rathmines nook. Mastered at New Atlantis by Sonic Boom. "Licked a drop from the silver tether, The vein that held the grit together, Ridges scored when grunt met bone, When shtones were shplit when shplittin' stone. He rose from the roots in fine spirits did Lankin, And magicked up money from none. With no cause to work I'm bone-idle and bored! And I miss the days, days shplittin' the shtones." --Lee Eel
$12.39 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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JORDAN GCZ: Crybaby J 12" (OMR 001EP)
2015 repress. Jordash of Juju & Jordash pops up solo on his own exciting new label. "Off Minor" is the name of a classic song written by Thelonious Monk. "Crybaby J" is the name of a song by Jordan Czamanski aka Jordan GCZ, who used to be a big crybaby, too. Jordan played "Crybaby J" to three super-critical, scary music critics. They thought it was dope as hell. He also played it to a few fancy world-traveling DJs. They thought it was dope as fuck.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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MAX D: Shaping EP 12" (OMR 005EP)
"Juju Jordash member Jordan GCZ's impeccable Off Minor imprint [releases] the four-track Shaping EP from prolific DC-based producer Maxmillion Dunbar [aka Andrew Field-Pickering]... Shaping sees the Future Times co-head dishing out four more of his slightly off-kilter dancefloor constructions, with plenty of restless synthlines, percolating percussion, and celestial pads to be heard throughout." --XLR8R
$10.39 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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MARSEN JULES: The Empire of Silence CD (OKTAF 010CD)
German ambient composer Marsen Jules presents The Empire of Silence, an impressive soundtrack to the epic power and beauty of Nordic snow- and ice-landscapes. He sounds even more elegiac, warm, and romantic than ever before, which may be a result of a strict reduction to bittersweet symphonic string-sounds, sounds that Jules lets subtly meander on the listeners' eardrums, moving on the particle-layer of the sound-continuum. Diving deeper into the sounds than ever before, he lets the frequencies reflect across the sound spectrum with an impressive precision. Actually, there is not much space for real silence on the album. Instead, the epic sounds of The Empire of Silence seem to unfold their archaic euphoria best at high volumes. It's a euphoria that carries everything away and occupies the whole space. For the track titles of the eight gems on this album Jules refers to different words for "snow" in the Inuit languages, of which legend says there are dozens. While the melancholic openers "penstla" (the idea of snow) and "tlaslo" (snow that falls slowly) travel softly, the album raises to its full euphoria with "kayi" (drifting snow) and "skriniya" (snow that never reaches the ground). With its epic magic, the nine-minute "katiyana" (night snow) thrills the listener, while "naklin" (forgotten snow) brings a short inhale. The album finds its peak with the ecstatic glissandi of "chathalin" (snow that makes a sizzling sound as it falls on water) and finds its finish in the beautiful and lofty "ylaipi" (tomorrow's snow).
$11.99 UPC: 880319689024 ELECTRONIC
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HOPPNER, NICK: Folk 2LP (OSTGUT 019LP)
Double LP version.
$18.99 UPC: 880319698132 ELECTRONIC
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HOPPNER, NICK: Folk CD (OSTGUT 033CD)
Berlin-based DJ and producer Nick Höppner presents his debut solo album, Folk. From his tenure as the founding label manager and A&R man for Ostgut Ton to his extensive solo output and of course his genre-sprawling late-night DJ sets at his musical home, Panorama Bar, Höppner has managed to dance in and out of the spotlight, remaining an intriguing and perhaps a defining member of the Berlin techno/house community. Folk is a deeply personal and intimate album created for everyone; an album of idiosyncratic tracks that cross the vast continent of techno and house music. Each track is adorned with many different musical styles brought together by the unifying power of the 4/4 kick. From the submerged sounds of "Paws" through the upbeat slap bass rhythm of "Out Of" to the highly infectious vocal hymn "Come Closer," Höppner's open-minded attitude toward music leaves little reason to discriminate by genre. Recorded throughout 2014 in Höppner's Berlin studio, Folk is a musical statement that goes beyond the politics of his Hamburg-bred DIY roots. Höppner elaborates: "I decided to call my album Folk because I feel that we all work with a sonic vocabulary that was developed by a relatively small set of pioneers 20 or 30 years ago, that took their cues from disco which was influenced by R&B, funk, soul, etc., down to the most primal ritualism of tribal drums. This sort of traditionalism appears to have been passed on from generation to generation with everyone adding their own perspective to it, thus making it more difficult to trace it all back to a source. One can argue that a lot of it is passed through records but I feel the most important ways of experiencing, enjoying, and learning about the music happen inside a club. I also call this Folk as the blueprint of this music was laid out on what were originally cheap instruments from a dusty thrift store -- in 1985, the TB-303 was the equivalent of a worn-out acoustic guitar. Today this is reflected by the immense and accessible power of creation found in a $500 laptop running a crack of Reason or Ableton." Nick Höppner has brought Folk to the digital age. A full-length that can be easily listened to in the club or at home, a testament to his voracious appetite for music, and a significant addition to the soundtrack of Berlin. CD includes exclusive track "Airway Management."
$11.99 UPC: 880319698224 ELECTRONIC
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DJ SLUGO: Ghetto 12" (OP 024EP)
Pressed on 180-gram vinyl. Pitchfork, November 30, 2014: "Nicolas Jaar has shared a new track from Chicago ghetto house/juke veteran DJ Slugo. It's called 'Ghetto,' and it was produced by Jaar... According to Jaar, it was made 'in light of recent events.'"
$9.79 UPC: 827170580961 ELECTRONIC
A1. Ghetto
B1. Ghetto Dub
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HECKER & MARK LECKEY, FLORIAN: Hecker Leckey Sound Voice Chimera LP (PAN 047LP)
In 2010, acclaimed German sound experimentalist Florian Hecker and multidisciplinary artist Mark Leckey came together for the first time. Their combined Hecker Leckey Sound Voice Chimera -- a mutant configuration of two genetically discrete solo works -- was originally presented as part of a two-day performance event at the Tate Modern called Push and Pull, and is now presented on LP. In Hecker Leckey Sound Voice Chimera, Hecker decomposes, modulates, and re-synthesizes the vocal track from Leckey's 2010 performance piece GreenScreenRefrigeratorAction (for which Leckey intoned the inner monologue of a black Samsung fridge) and his own 3 Channel Chronics installation from that same year, where distinct sounds from three speakers telescoping down from the ceiling were combined and altered by visitors' movements. The resulting work -- like that three-headed beast of Greek mythology -- is a multivalent, tri-part hybrid in which heavily distorted fragments of Leckey's narrative intersperse Hecker's synthetic textures and fidgety tonal patterns. On the PAN release itself, channel 1 from Hecker Leckey Sound Voice Chimera corresponds with side A and channel 2 with side B; channel 3 is available as a monophonic mp3 download. Florian Hecker returns to PAN following his 2011 vinyl issue of Sun Pandämonium. Trained in computational linguistics and fine arts, Hecker's work deals with specific compositional developments of post-war modernity, electro-acoustic music, and psychophysical domains of audition. Mark Leckey is a British artist, pop-culture provocational agent, and self-described autodidact working across sculpture, sound, film, and performance. His notable video works (collaged from found material) include the 1999 cult short Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore (soundtrack available on The Death of Rave (LECKEY 001LP)) and Industrial Lights and Magic, for which he was awarded the Turner Prize in 2008. A career retrospective, "Lending Enchantment to Vulgar Materials," was presented at WIELS in Belgium, and his work is included in the collections of the Centre Georges Pompidou, Hammer Museum, and Walker Art Center, among others. He has served as Film Studies professor at the Städelschule in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, and is currently Reader in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, London. The first comprehensive monograph of his work, On Pleasure Bent, was published in 2014. Hecker Leckey Sound Voice Chimera is written and produced by Florian Hecker; GreenScreenRefrigeratorAction courtesy of Mark Leckey. Mastered and cut by Rashad Becker at D&M. Includes liner notes by art historian Alex Kitnick, and artwork by Florian Hecker and Bill Kouligas.
$18.39 EAN: 5060165481552 ELECTRONIC
Side A
01. I
Side B
02. II
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LAMBKIN, GRAHAM: Millows Book w/CD (PP 003BK)
2012 release. The third release in Penultimate Press's series of publications focusing on the art of Graham Lambkin following Dumb Answer to Miracles (2009) and Dripping Junk (2010). Millows brings together two previously unpublished works, both dating from 2004. Full-color hardcover book with factory-pressed CD containing 20 minutes of audio works. Limited edition of 500 copies.
$14.99 UPC: 769791909014 EXPERIMENTAL
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JOHNSON, DENNIS: November 4CD BOX (PP 006CD)
2013 release. First recording of Dennis Johnson's five-hour minimalist masterpiece, November. Until recently, one of the most substantial and significant pieces of the minimalist repertoire was virtually unknown. Written in 1959 by Dennis Johnson, November was purportedly six hours long as originally conceived. La Monte Young, who knew Johnson while at UCLA in the late '50s, credited the piece for inspiring The Well-Tuned Piano. November anticipated many trends in minimalist music in addition to its prodigious duration: diatonic tonality, additive processes, and repetition of small motives. It is beautiful, slow-paced, and introspective, and was nearly lost entirely. Irritable Hedgehog and Penultimate Press present the first ever release of this historically significant and thoroughly engaging work. Noted critic Kyle Gann rescued November from obscurity, reconstructing the piece from the only existing materials: a hiss-ridden, 112-minute cassette recording played by Dennis Johnson himself (which Gann received from La Monte Young) and a rough score he received from Johnson. The score, such as it is, consists of several pages of short musical ideas, meant to be improvised upon as desired by the performer. Flexible instructions are also given for the order of the material to be performed. Pianist R. Andrew Lee has established himself in recent years as one of the foremost interpreters of the minimalist piano repertoire and has boldly embraced the challenge of this monumental work. Utilizing Gann's reconstructed score, he has recorded a sublime interpretation that finally documents one of the most important lost works in the 20th century canon. At once highly listenable, melancholic, warm, and unique, Dennis Johnson's November is a work of immense historical significance that will appeal to those with a taste for 20th century repertoire, minimalism, exploratory piano works, and substantial and haunting works of art. November comes in a deluxe box with four CDs in individual slipcases and a 20-page booklet featuring reproductions of the original score (and Johnson's later annotations) along with an essay on the work by Kyle Gann and anecdotal essays by Andy Lee, David McIntire, and Mark Harwood. Includes download code to allow for continual playback.
$26.99 UPC: 769791908994 CLASSICAL
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GERNES, POUL: Untitled LP (PP 007LP)
2013 release. Penultimate Press presents the only known recordings by Danish artist Poul Gernes. Gernes only ever recorded just under 20 minutes of music; his entire musical production is therefore on this LP. The recording was made on a Tandberg recorder at Gernes's house in the south of Sweden in 1969 and features Gernes playing an old harmonium salvaged from a local primary school. The result is an informal quasi-drone work, which, along with the ambient sounds and domestic interference, comes across as a snapshot of the recording itself, a sonic Polaroid. The voice of a child, Gernes's daughter Ulrikka, is heard making small remarks and pointing out when the needle enters the red. This audial domestic background is too included as an incidental yet natural part of the work, as Gernes saw no limit between art and life. Gernes (1925-1996) was one of the central figures in Danish art life during the latter half of the 20th century. His experimental art holds a firm place on an international level and as one of the founders of the legendary Den Eksperimenterende Kunstskole (The Experimenting Art School) he exerted considerable influence on a whole generation of artists who make up the Danish post-war avant garde. His wide-ranging body of work remains a source of inspiration for younger generations of artists in Denmark and abroad. This recording was initiated by John Hunov, who was the chairman of Ung Dansk Kunst (Young Danish Art), an association dedicated to the presentation and publication of many Danish artists of the period. Gernes's major musical inspirations at the time were J.S. Bach, Terry Riley, and Gregorian chant. An alleged encounter with John Cage and close collaborations with, for instance, composer and Fluxus artist Henning Christiansen are likely to have encouraged the musical endeavor. During the 1960s Gernes also made a large number of happenings and performances, together with Per Kirkeby and Joseph Beuys. Originally issued in a miniscule edition on cassette in 1969, this was reissued in 1998 as a very limited edition CDR via John Nixon's Document Records, Australia. This is the first vinyl issue of these recordings. A one-sided LP, it features a beautiful etching of a Gernes painting on the B-side and is packaged in a full-color sleeve retaining the nature of the recording itself. Also included is an insert with a list of Poul's hypothetical track titles. Limited to 400 copies.
$14.39 UPC: 769791909007 EXPERIMENTAL
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ORA CLEMENTI: Cover you will softer me LP (PP 011LP)
2014 release. Ora Clementi is the pen name of Canadian sound artist and improviser crys cole and Australian performer and composer James Rushford. crys has previously collaborated with Keith Rowe and Oren Ambarchi while James worked alongside Joe Talia on the highly acclaimed Manhunter LP (Kye, 2013). Penultimate Press presents this duo's hermetic world of sound, song, and speech. Employing farfisa, contact mics, percussion, viola, recordings of James's pet chickens, ocarinas, piano, and miscellaneous junk, Cover you will softer me slides from the sublime to the startling, with individual elements delicately folding and falling among an unnerving tableaux of failed lip readings, haunted hiss, piano motifs, and glistening debris. The unique combination of sound and voice lends itself to an air ripe with mystery and magic as our humble practitioners invoke images of childhood, as, when half asleep, you can hear your parents watching TV in the other room, mumbling moving through walls. Recorded in Melbourne throughout 2013 and 2014 with additional recordings made at No Recording Studio in Essex under the guidance of John Hannon. Cover you will softer me was mixed and mastered by Joe Talia and presents itself in a beautiful full-color sleeve designed by Matthew Revert as a limited edition of 400 copies.
$16.99 UPC: 769791908987 EXPERIMENTAL
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AVERY, DANIEL: New Energy (Collected Remixes) 2CD (BEC 5156029)
Following the international success of his acclaimed 2013 debut album Drone Logic (BEC 5161626/5161627), Daniel Avery expands his wide-reaching world with a carefully curated collection of remixes from the artists with whom his forward-facing electronic style shares the deepest affinity. Inviting each producer to either complement, reconstruct, or occasionally rebuild his original compositions, New Energy stands as a testament to the strength of the current state of affairs in electronic music, borne out of one of its most original talents. Includes remixes by Gabe Gurnsey, Roman Flügel, Volte-Face, Ø [Phase], Silent Servant, Matt Walsh, Kink, Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve, Rødhåd, Audion, Perc, Ricardo Tobar, Conforce, Powell, Special Request, and Danny Daze.
$13.79 EAN: 5060421560298 ELECTRONIC
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FREUD, JAMES: 5-Track Extended Play 12" (POEM 002EP)
James Freud isn't the deceased singer of the Australian new wave band The Models; he isn't a young art-school dropout with an affinity for electronic music; he doesn't live in Berlin. It's hard to say whether his production is analog or digital, whether it is sampled or designed; with its strange maturity it seems to come from both the past and the future. A selection of his oeuvre is now available, thanks to the digging talents of DJ Good News (Poem founder and DJ at Hamburg's Golden Pudel Club). To make a long story short: mental futurism is wise optimism.
$10.99 UPC: 827170585966 ELECTRONIC
A1. Newnew
A2. Dreckxter
B1. Ich Werde Mich Rasieren
B2. Jayzee
B3. X
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KLINT, ANTON: Drunch EP 12" (PP 009EP)
Anton Klint returns with another highly danceable EP. "Save yourself some time and have Drunch," says the sticker gracing the cover. This dictum can be interpreted in various ways, but one thing is for sure, if you buy this record, you will have at least two tracks that will help you control the dancefloor with ease any given night. "Drunch" is a euphoric track with layers of emotional guitar riffs in typical Klintman manner. Flip to discover what Anton serves for "Dessert." At 132bpm, this high-energy twister leaves no questions unanswered. Double cheers from Anton Klint to all of us.
$9.79 UPC: 827170589261 ELECTRONIC
A1. Drunch
B1. Dessert
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BOWANE, HENRI: Double Take - Tala Kaka CD (RETRO 006CD)
Originally released in 1994. The co-writer, guitarist, and harmony singer on the first Congolese hit record, Wendo's "Marie Louise," in 1948, Henri Bowané was one of the first stars of modern Congolese music. As a composer, arranger, talent agent, and record producer in the '50s, '60s, and '70s he was crucial to the success of such great bands as Franco's OK Jazz, Kallé Kabasele's African Jazz, Rock-a-Mambo, Ry-Co Jazz, and Sam Mangwana's African All-Stars. In 1976 he produced an important album by Zaïko Langa Langa at the renowned Essiebons Studio in Accra, Ghana, and between sessions he recorded some of his own songs with Ghanaian musicians and members of Zaïko Langa Langa. However, those recordings remained unreleased until two years after Bowané's death in 1992, when RetroAfric discovered and issued them as Double Take - Tala Kaka.
$8.99 EAN: 5017742990624 WORLD
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SHIKAMOO JAZZ: Chela Chela Vol. 1 CD (RETRO 009CD)
Originally released in 1995. Although Shikamoo Jazz was formed in 1993, its members were all veterans of popular Tanzanian dance bands of the '60s and '70s such as Western Jazz, Kiko Kids, Dar Jazz, and Les Wanyika, augmented by the Kenyan star Fundi Konde, whose career began in the 1940s. Reviving the golden oldies of a bygone but fondly recalled era, Shikamoo soon won fans all over East Africa. The songs in this album are all Swahili classics.
$8.99 EAN: 5017742990921 WORLD
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KIDUDE, BI: Zanzibar CD (RETRO 012CD)
Originally released in 1998. When Bi Kidude died in 2013 none of the many tributes paid to her could state her age with any certainty. She herself hadn't known for sure, but researchers calculated that she was over 100 years old even though she was still giving concerts in the last year of her life. This much is factual: that Bi Kidude was born on the island of Zanzibar when it was still a sultanate and that in the 1920s she became known as the Queen of Taarab, the Swahili music of the East African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A featured singer and dancer with several of the top taarab orchestras, she toured widely over four decades before settling down in Zanzibar, where she became a sort of priestess, guiding girls through puberty rites. In the 1980s she resumed touring, traveling through the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe with the Twinkling Stars, the Taarab All Stars, and Shikamoo Jazz. The recordings on this album were made in Zanzibar, Tanzania; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Berlin, Germany; Helsinki, Finland; and Reading, England. In addition to definitive performances of taarab classics, the album includes a very rare field recording of an unyago girls' puberty rite, with Bi accompanied by an all-female chorus and drum corps.
$8.99 UPC: 740042991224 WORLD
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ORCHESTRE VEVE: Vintage Verckys CD (RETRO 015CD)
Originally released in 2001. Kiamuangana Mateta, better known as Verckys, is one of the most famous characters in Congolese music. An outstanding saxophonist with a vigorously funky sound, he was still a teenager when he started playing in prominent bands and only 20 when the great Franco recruited him into OK Jazz, the top band in the land, in 1964. In addition to being a talented instrumentalist, composer, and arranger, Verckys was a showman whose stage antics and dancing won him an avid following that stayed with him when he quit OK Jazz to lead his own Orchestre Vévé in 1969. He started his own record company, Vévé, and proved to be one of the savviest talent scouts and entrepreneurs in the Congolese music business, discovering or putting together many of the best bands of the second generation. His greatest legacy is probably the Orchestre Vévé records he made in the late '60s and early '70s, when Loko Massengo and Saak Saakoul were among the singers and the lead guitarist was Roxy Tshimpaka. Here are ten exemplary tracks for your listening delectation and dancing pleasure.
$8.99 UPC: 740042991521 WORLD
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BEMBO AND ORCHESTRE STUKAS DU ZAIRE, GABY LITA: Kita Mata ABC CD (RETRO 018CD)
Originally released in 2005. The second generation of Congolese pop groups emerged in the 1970s, and one of the engines of its rapid and prominent rise was a relatively new medium in Central Africa: television. No band benefitted from TV more than the Stukas. These guys put on a show, week after week, that was as entertaining to watch as it was to hear, and vastly more people around the country could get in on the fun than could ever get into a club in Kinshasa. The star of the Stukas was Gaby Lita Bembo, the energetic lead singer wearing flashy clothes, often brandishing humorous stage props, and always coming up with new dance moves. But the Stukas' visual appeal wouldn't have held up long without their substantial musical appeal, and RetroAfric wouldn't have put this compilation together if the band (which included guitarists Samunga Tediangaye and Bongo Wende, bassist Ngouma Lokito, and drummer Awilo Longomba) hadn't been so talented, tight and dynamic.
$8.99 UPC: 740042991828 WORLD
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CAPTAIN YABA: Yaba Funk Roots CD (RETRO 019CD)
Originally released in 2003. Captain Yaba was the professional name of Azongo Nyaaba, who was born and raised in the dry grasslands of the far north of Ghana. He was four or five years old when he started playing the koliko (also known as the molo), an ancestor of the banjo. Mac Tontoh of the internationally famous band Osibisa brought Nyaaba to the Ghanaian capital, Accra, and there he began performing with various groups and as a soloist under the name Captain Yaba. In 1994 he recorded his second album of traditional Fra Fra songs, this one with a modern funk band called Ninkribi, and that raised sufficient interest abroad for Captain Yaba & Ninkribi to tour Europe. After returning to Ghana, Captain Yaba continued to perform on his own and in groups, but in 2001 he died of tuberculosis at barely past the age of 30. Two years later RetroAfric reissued the Captain Yaba-Ninkribi album, duplicating five of the tracks in their rough and even funkier mixes.
$8.99 UPC: 740042991927 WORLD
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TRULZ & ROBIN PRES. KSMISK: Change EP 12" (RIF 003EP)
Number three in Prins Thomas's Rett i Fletta excursion (following 2014's Blusketuta (RIF 001EP) and Åpne Slusa (RIF 002EP)) welcomes the label's good friends from Full Pupp, Trulz & Robin. "Change" is a ten-minute deep techno buildup piece in a somewhat classic, almost Trentemølleresque soundscape+ tradition. Minimalistic but huge in a motoric wall-of-sound-style long-unheard. Large! "Dunjon" sets the counterpoint, with bass-ridden, sparse, bubbling, sturdy grooving techno. "Is Dub" comes back to the richer atmosphere of "Change" for another hallucinatory, deep, and dubby piece. Written and produced by Trulz & Robin (Truls Kvam and Robin Crafoord).
$9.79 UPC: 827170549968 ELECTRONIC
A1. Change
B1. Dunjon
B2. Is Dub
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VA: Psychedelia 5CD BOX (RUBBOX 002CD)
Rubble presents a deluxe five-disc box set comprising of all four original volumes of the highly revered Psychedelia compilation series originally issued in limited quantities by Tiny Alice Records in the early '90s. Disc five is the previously unreleased volume originally intended as the last in the series. An herbal mixture of psychedelic remedies and freakbeat fantoms collected together for your listening pleasure. Ultimately rare and genuinely obscure sounds recorded around the world between 1966 and 1974, with a particular eye on the hidden rumblings of British psychedelia. Spans the psychedelic period with ultra-rare and previously un-compiled nuggets from Enough's Enough, Wheels of Time, Virgin Sleep, Mandrake, Now, The Scene, The Factory, The Difference, Autumn, Mooche, Blue Effect, No to Co, and many others. A musical hocus pocus with 67 blasts of psychedelic artifacts and freakbeat enigmas. Fully remastered; includes 32-page full-color booklet with expanded liner notes, detailed biographies, full discographies, and a plethora of rare and original photos and memorabilia not originally available in the vinyl series. Also includes tracks by David, The Matadors, Alan Avon and the Toyshop, Svensk, The Jackpots, Junior's Eyes, State of Micky and Tommy, The Bluejeans, Cape Kennedy Construction Company, Giorgio and Marco's Men, The Hi-Fi's, The Gibsons, Kinetic, Glass Opening, Freedom, Edwick Rumbold, Executives, John Carter and Russ Alquist, Favourite Sons, The Tangerine, Motivation, Tickle, Kirkbys, Anteeks, Kippington Lodge, The Fire, Wayne Faro's Schmaltz Band, Steerpike, Smoke, Orange Machine, The Barrier, Ron Grainer Orchestra, Jigsaw, Team Dokus, Tales of Justine, Nimrod, White Trash, Flames, Nashville Teens, The Mirage, George Bean, The Majority, Esperanto, 1984, Electric Food, Henry Schifter, Harsh Reality, LA, and Shere Khan.
$41.00 EAN: 5059179000330 ROCK
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ATKINSON, FELICIA: A Readymade Ceremony CD (SHELTER 055CD)
Félicia Atkinson (visual artist, writer, musician, graduate of École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris) presents A Readymade Ceremony, a concrète/post-digital oratorio in five parts. In pursuit of a radical economic autonomy, she created A Readymade Ceremony entirely on her laptop using basic software. The album's first foundational element is a text collage of extracts from Atkinson's own 2014 book Improvising Sculpture As Delayed Fictions, French poet René Char's 1955 Recherche de la base et du sommet, and Georges Bataille's 1937 erotic prose piece Madame Edwarda, as well as found texts, mostly from the Italian magazine Mousse. Objects speaking, sculptures arguing: there is a surrealistic feeling in the dark whisperings that one hears responding to Madame Edwarda on "L'Oeil." The other foundational element is Atkinson's return to her early artistic influences, including The Martenot Method; such literary figures as Antonin Artaud, Henri Michaux, and Jean Genet; Structures Sonores Lasry-Baschet, Pierre Henry, Cornelius Cardew, John Cage, Fluxus, Robert Ashley, Morton Feldman; noise, punk, drone, folk, and electronic music; and the filmmakers Brian de Palma, Nicolas Roeg, and Dario Argento. There's something potentially frightening that happens here, reminiscent of a feeling she felt while listening to Henry's Apocalypse de Jean as a child; something both scary and beautiful; something uncanny, like Ruth White reciting Baudelaire... a readymade ceremony. Notes on each track: "'Against Archives': What can a French woman in her 30s answer to this mostly masculine core of references? 'L'Oeil': What about asking a sweater or an electronic device to speak? 'The book is the territory': It's all about nostalgia; how the shifting of time changes our vision of the past and the future, like an echo or a delay. 'Carve the concept and the artichoke': Is this a waiting room? the prologue of an inexistent play or an introduction for a possible delayed climax? 'Recherche de la base et du sommet': Translates to 'research of the base and the peak,' as a raw reading of René Char. 'There is always a lack in the accident. There is no accident in the expression... the poet is not made of wood. The mouth and the eye speak separately.'" The music can be related to the work of Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Valerio Tricoli, Grouper, Geoff Mullen, Sachiko M, and Kassel Jaeger. Mastered and cut by Helmut Erler at Dubplates & Mastering. CD limited to 1000 copies.
$10.99 UPC: 769791955134 ELECTRONIC
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SHOEBOX: Electric Blue 12" (SHOEBOX 003EP)
Shoebox mostly bide their time, inhabiting the shadowy space at the back of the cupboard alongside out-of-date cans of food, forgotten records, and misguided charity-shop purchases. Electric Blue is their third hand-stamped record, and their first since 2013. It's as dusty, fuzzy, musty, and intoxicating as their previous outings, shuffling between enveloping dancefloor voodoo and otherworldly downtempo beats. Unlikely doses of off-kilter drum-machine soul for horizontal joggers, wayward dancers, and armchair ravers, created during sporadic Sunday-night sessions spent hammering away on a well-worn MPC, mostly from beats, samples, and melodies rediscovered in shoeboxes piled high with vintage zip disks.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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TAKEN: Terrorfish 12" (SKUDGEX 002EP)
A collaboration between Elias Landberg and Nihad Tule. They started this conceptual project in November 2014 with the goal of recording and mastering a complete EP in one day. The resulting analog jams are pretty different from each other. The A-side, "terrorfish," is reminiscent of simplistic acid rave tunes from the '90s while the B-side, "halcyon," is a dreamy ambient trip. Pressed on red and black marbled vinyl with a printed A4 inlay.
$11.79 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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CARAGNANO & DONATO DOZZY, ANNA: Sintetizzatrice CD (SP 038CD)
Sintetizzatrice is the first recorded document of the collaboration between veteran DJ and producer Donato Dozzy and female vocalist Anna Caragnano. Through his solo work, and in his collaboration with Giuseppe Tilleci (Neel) as Voices from the Lake, Dozzy has achieved some of the most remarkable vistas contemporary electronic music has seen since the turn of this century. By removing himself from his areas of mastery to shift his focus on the voice, he has achieved a new peak with Sintetizzatrice. Over nine tracks, Dozzy works exclusively with the voice of Rome-based vocalist Anna Caragnano, with no other instruments. Heavy layering and effects processes are used to display an astoundingly versatile voice-centric vocabulary. Rarely can a record morph from R&B to kosmische, through traditional Italian folk music, to Fluxus styles and traditional chamber choir with no additional instrumentation. Just a singular, beautiful voice. The results are simply phenomenal. With the opening, "Introduzione," an immeasurable cosmic weight arrives and remains through the duration of the album. "Star Cloud" ascends with melancholy extended drones that evaporate concepts like time and being, rendering basic human perceptions void all the way through "Parallelo." "Parola" dances around the stereo field with dazing rhythms and melodies, while "Festa (A Mottola)" is an homage to the traditional music found in the rural region where, coincidentally, both Dozzy's mother and Caragnano were born and raised. The album's closing pieces "Love Without Sound" and "Conclusione" hit hard in a way to which no words can do justice. By fearlessly entering uncharted territories, Dozzy and Caragnano have made a collaboration which is truly experimental. Sintetizzatrice is a grand debut for Anna Caragnano and a fantastic twist for Donato Dozzy. Produced and mixed by Dozzy at Alaska Studio, Rome, in 2014. Mastered by Giuseppe Tilleci at EnissLab Studio, Rome. Transferred to tape by Pietro Micioni, Angelo Compagnoni, and Massimo Zuccaroli at Village Studio, Rome. Cut by Christoph Grote-Beverborg at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin. Front cover painting by Angela Scaramuzzi. Cover design by Koto Hirai.
$10.99 EAN: 5050580630345 ELECTRONIC
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ZINGER & DON ROGALL, EARL: Vol. 2 10" (STAGO 062EP)
The second of two limited 10"s, following 2014's Vol. 1 (STAGO 055LP). The contents of both 10"s are collected in the 2015 CD In the Backroom (STAGO 063CD). Deep down from the swamp delta of Berlin, D.C., and straight outta Gin Lane, Londinium, the feral stepsons of carpet dealers and long-forgotten record sellers, Don Rogall and Earl Zinger, with their long-awaited debut. As Alan Lomax once said, "I wish I could have done those recordings with Earl and Don." The music? Rock 'n' blues, dealing with some nasty boogie, jive, and ingredients of exotic origin -- a new breed of juke-joint anthems. Earl Zinger's biography would fill books: poet, mountebank, musician, physician, beast showman, and, to some extent, diviner and sorcerer, he is also the orator of the public marketplace, the man adored by the crowd to whom he offers his songs and couplets. Questions of morals and politics; toothache; pious legends; scandalous tales about priests, noble ladies, and cavaliers; gossip of grog shops; and news from the Holy Land are all in his domain. Rogall has been around, too. Jimmy Castor himself told him once to continue with the music, and there's even a John Lee Hooker tune, "Messin with Don." His music straight from the underground, not quite complete unless you can visualize the dancers who respond to it, the solo exhibitionists like the cigar-puffing, rubber-legged man and the woman whose pelvic grinding would shame any burlesque queen, and this amid a room filled with thrusting, swaying couples including, invariably, one in which a young man's joyous movement is gradually breaking down the shy reserve of his partner -- shouting out loud: "Rock 'n' Rogall!" All efforts have been made to make this release possible; it took years to distill these tunes out of live performances and studio recordings. Already solid hits in the Berlin underground, these releases on Stag-O-Lee are a document of something that otherwise would have been left to the "oral culture" forever.
$11.79 EAN: 4030433006214 ROCK
A1. Camel Twist
A2. Tight Spot
A3. Over Board
B1. Jeannie
B2. Lala
B4. Coxsone Hop
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CZAR: Czar LP+CD (SBM 5604LP)
Originally released in 1970, Czar is firmly established as one of the most sought-after progressive rock albums ever released in the UK. An intense brew of Hammond organ, Mellotron, and scorching psychedelic guitar, it's certain to appeal to fans of King Crimson, Atomic Rooster, The Nice, and Led Zeppelin. Presented here complete with eight bonus tracks and a full-color booklet (incorporating rare photographs and comprehensive sleeve-notes), this definitive reissue is simply essential for all lovers of heavy progressive psychedelia. 180-gram LP with 15-track CD and booklet.
$18.39 EAN: 5051125560417 ROCK
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BRECHT, JOHANNES: In My Time of Dyin' 12" (SMR 010EP)
Johannes Brecht follows up his previous Sunday Music release, 2013's Holla EP (SUNDAY 007EP), with In My Time of Dyin', a reflection of jazz and classical minimal music into electronic music. Deep trippy music with a strong swing on the A-side. Cleverly written patterns with a hypnotic vibe. Side B features a live jazz version in 6/8 signature on piano and drums (with the drummer of German pop star Max Herre). When a classically trained musician looks into electronic music and manages to bring together the best of both worlds the results can be very exciting.
$8.99 UPC: 827170582163 ELECTRONIC
A1. In My Time of Dyin'
B1. In My Time of Dyin' Pt 2
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INTERSTELLAR FUNK: Untitled 12" (TAPE 008EP)
First solo EP by Interstellar Funk, Amsterdam. Driving sinister tracks giving you an eerie sensation of spaciousness supported by subtle melody-lines bubbling up and touching you right where it matters.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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LILAC TIME, THE: No Sad Songs LP+CD (TR 310LP)
LP version. Includes CD. A prose poem, which Stephen Duffy composed especially for the release of the ninth album by his band The Lilac Time, contains the lines, "I was a flower child, now I'm a flower man." It took a long time before one became the other. When viewed from space, Duffy's path may well appear labyrinthine, filled with loopholes and trapdoors. Yet a sober perspective reveals the path of a musician and poet who is independent in the very best sense of the word. Nevertheless, a lot has happened since the young boy kept his Praktica camera trained on street scenes in the Birmingham of the Cold War. Back in 1979, an 18-year-old Duffy was a founding member of Duran Duran. Yet he did not board the train to superstardom. The visionary instinct of the young artist had other intentions. He might have had Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, and The Incredible String Band in mind, but he himself was not allergic to success. He quickly understood that a songwriter with an acoustic guitar had little access to the merry-go-round of the charts in the early '80s. Instead, he formed the band Tin Tin, trading his guitar for a synthesizer and making chic, clever, and sparkling pop music. The young man with the melancholy expression even landed two international hits with "Kiss Me" and "Icing On the Cake." But before the record company was able to put their plan into action and turn Duffy into the next Rick Astley, he took flight. He mothballed his pop persona and founded a band with his brother: The Lilac Time. On their debut in 1987, they made what Duffy had long dreamed of: flower music. The 1988 single Return to Yesterday conjured visions of Simon & Garfunkel. In an era of slapping basses and smacking snares, the instrumentation was exceptional: mainly acoustic, with guitars, banjos, fiddles, and accordions, all beautifully arranged by Nick Duffy, who was also responsible for composing the instrumental pieces on the record. Keep in mind that the new acoustic movement, which brought forth bands like Belle and Sebastian and Kings of Convenience, was still more than ten years away. Often in diametrical contrast with this melancholy folk pop were Stephen Duffy's lyrics, with descriptions of suburban tristesse placed seamlessly alongside biting commentary on the issues of the times and courageous reports of the singer's moments of excess and aventures amoureuses.
$18.39 EAN: 4015698000382 ROCK
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BORROWED IDENTITY & MECHANICAL SOUL BROTHER: Caps and Chords EP 12" (TDPR 017EP)
Borrowed Identity and Tenderpark have been exchanging letters of enthusiasm for each other for quite some time, and the result is the Caps and Chords EP. Borrowed Identity teams up with his longtime musical partner Mechanical Soul Brother. As the title of the EP suggests, the two studio wizards come up with three very elegant deep house tracks that indulge in tender chords complemented by sweet soul vocals and funk samples, with Borrowed's powerful trademark beats -- it all reflects the two men's mastery and perfectly fits Tenderpark's musical route. Mastered and cut by Helmut Erler at Dubplates & Mastering.
$9.79 UPC: 827170579965 ELECTRONIC
A1. Groove On (7:35)
B1. All Night Long (7:29)
B2. Dance With Us (6:27)
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MAESTRO: Mountains of Madness CD (TSR 028CD)
Maestro is a Franco-Scottish duo that debuted in 2010 with the release of A War Zone EP on Tigersushi. Frederic Soulard is behind the machines -- he's the sound wizard previously known as Joakim's live sound engineer and as a producer for Poni Hoax, Jeanne Balibar, Limousine, Viking, Viva and the Diva, and others. Mark Kerr is the voice. Born and raised in Glasgow, Kerr has been a drummer all his life, touring with Les Rita Mitsouko since the '90s before joining Joakim's band and other cutting edge Parisian electro acts like Bot'Ox. With Maestro he drops the drumsticks and reveals what an amazing singer and songwriter he is, fuelling the project with his post-punk and industrial influences (from the likes of Throbbing Gristle). After debuting in 2010, the pair won some high-profile admirers with 2012's Timbuck, which included a remix by The Horrors. 2014's freaky, obsessive Mechant (TSR 067EP) (literally "Mean"), and Thriller Killer (TSR 069EP), with an amazing remix by Matias Aguayo, set the stage for Mountains of Madness, their debut full-length release.
$10.99 UPC: 687077969432 ELECTRONIC
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BIOSPHERE DEATHPROD: Stator CD (TO 099CD)
stator (ˈsteɪtə)
n
1. (Electrical Engineering) the stationary part of a rotary machine or device, esp of a motor or generator
2. (Aeronautics) a system of nonrotating radially arranged parts within a rotating assembly, esp the fixed blades of an axial flow compressor in a gas turbine
[C20: from Latin: one who stands (by), from stāre to stand]
Biosphere is the main recording name of Geir Jenssen, a Norwegian musician who has released a notable catalog of ambient electronic music. He is well known for his "ambient techno" and "arctic ambient" styles and his use of loops and peculiar samples from sci-fi sources. His 1997 album Substrata is generally seen as one of the all-time classic ambient albums. Deathprod is a pseudonym used by Norwegian artist Helge Sten. Sten began creating music under this name in 1991, and in 2004 a self-titled retrospective box set collecting most of his recorded work was released. Sten uses homemade electronics, old tape echo machines, ring modulators, filters, theremins, samplers, and other devices to craft his sound. Jenssen and Sten previously collaborated on Nordheim Transformed (RCD 2005CD), a 1998 collection of reworked Arne Nordheim compositions. Stator is a split release, with three tracks by Jenssen and four by Sten. Mastered by Sten at Audio Virus Lab, Oslo. Commissioned by Tape to Zero. LP includes full-color insert card by Jon Wozencroft.
$10.39 EAN: 5027803149922 ELECTRONIC
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TRAFFIC SIGNS & JAKE THE RAPPER: Cookie Jar 12" (TRAFFIC 007EP)
The first tunes by Steve Bug as Traffic Signs were classic jack tracks that devastated dancefloors, and "Cookie Jar" is a more than worthy successor. Berlin legend Jake the Rapper adds a spoken vocal fit for an age of internet sextapes and celebrity photo hacking. Steve Bug makes fine adjustments for the club, bouncing around the kick drums and doubling the synth riff with strings, while Joyce Muniz's dark, strobing treatment adds a dirty bassline for sexy, sweat-drenched dancefloors. Stripping away the vocal on the dub, Muniz's production talents are all the more scintillating, irresistibly kinetic from beginning to end.
$9.79 EAN: 4250382429203 ELECTRONIC
A1. Cookie Jar (Steve Bug's Dirty Fingers Mix)
A2. Cookie Jar
B1. Cookie Jar (Joyce Muniz Remix)
B2. Cookie Jar (Joyce Muniz Dub Remix)
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DJ DEEP & ROMAN PONCET: Hydraulic Pressure 12" (TRESOR 275EP)
The debut collaboration between Deeply Rooted House founder DJ Deep and emerging artist Roman Poncet, presented as two 12" EPs (this release and Extraction (TRESOR 274EP)). DJ Deep, uncovered by Laurent Garnier in the early '90s, has always rested on the cusp of modernity, whether in house or techno, and continues to seek out likeminded artists, including Poncet, to propel his vision. Roman Poncet surfaced in 2013 on Len Faki's Figure. His catalog has since expanded to include releases on Deeply Rooted as well as Taapion Records. The blend of these two profoundly compatible producers is simply incendiary.
$8.99 UPC: 666017287966 ELECTRONIC
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KLEIN, NICK: Failed Devotee 12" (PRECEPT 004EP)
Nick Klein delivers a roaring and deafening debut EP for Unknown Precept: the live recording of Failed Devotee from his lair in Brooklyn. Five whirring pieces of slowed and throwed techno and heavy analog rhythms. Its powerful approach, marked by sooted synthesizers, watered down melodies, and grinding grooves, shows Klein at his finest, whether it brings soiled theatrics or rusty progressions.
$10.39 UPC: 880918221595 ELECTRONIC
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TRASH KIT: Confidence CD (UTR 061CD)
Trash Kit, formed in 2009 by Rachel Aggs, Rachel Horwood, and Ros Murray, have become the glowing core of London's DIY underground. Their music is primal yet thoughtful, affirming yet sincere, drawing on the potential of post-punk and the naturalism of an internal folk music. Although Trash Kit have their forebears in bands like X-Ray Spex, The Ex, and The Raincoats, their sound is very much their own take on facing forwards. Galloping polyrhythms, overlapping sung-spoke lyrics and wordless vocals, and entwining guitars are all drawn together into a taut unity, sounding willfully alive. Both Rachels tangle their vocals with each other while expressive drumbeats and restless guitar flurries provide the rhythmic drive. Aggs's guitar playing is as much informed by African fingerstyle patterns as the percussive attitude of various no wave shredders. Horwood approaches her drum-kit with an untamable freedom, pushing it into the realm of a vivid lead instrument. Trash Kit's music is full of pauses, woven silence, and punctuation too, and this is where Murray and her resonant, soulful bass work finds a perfect home. In 2010, Trash Kit released their self-titled debut album on Upset the Rhythm to critical applause. The Sunday Times called it "tumbling, spirited and joyously nimble," while The Quietus remarked, "female punk can sound like cocoons cracking open in full fierce sunlight." As a follow-up to their exuberant debut album, Confidence sticks with their beloved "play it all live" pluck. There's a minimal bent, a lyrical directness, an unadorned ethic that all evoke the sense that the song is being written at the same time as it's performed. Yet while the first album at times felt too fleeting, its succinct songs flashing by so fast, Confidence is startlingly more assured, allowing ideas to develop, and conclusions to be gathered. Tracks like "Hair," "Skin," and "Boredom" embrace dynamics like never before. Their clatter and chime are complemented with subtler passages of introspection and the occasional noisy breakdown, with snare and cymbals approaching roar. Ros is joined by her previous bandmate Verity Susman (of Electrelane) on a few tracks, including the adventurous "Shyness" and lead single "Medicine," lending some fluently inventive saxophone flourishes. It all adds to the heady sensation of free-falling through the album. A feeling that the horizon has become broader. Recorded at Sound Savers with Mark Jasper; mixed by Sherry Ostapovitch; mastered by Mikey Young (Total Control, etc.).
$11.99 UPC: 828887006126 ROCK
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CHATWIN, BEN: The Sleeper Awakes LP (VG 008LP)
LP version. Composer and producer Ben Chatwin presents The Sleeper Awakes, his first album to appear under his own name. The Sleeper Awakes follows Chatwin's acclaimed 2013 release as Talvihorros, Eaten Alive, and moves away from the more textured, heavily layered soundscapes of his Talvihorros work into something more succinct and melodically driven. Inspired by the writing of H. G. Wells, the album was made by sourcing a 100-year-old dulcitone and using it extensively alongside modern electronics and synthesis. Written and recorded at Chatwin's home studio in Scotland. For fans of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley, and Arvo Pärt.
$14.39 EAN: 5051083086837 ROCK
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ELLIS ISLAND SOUND: Divisions CD (VG 021CD)
Hot on the heels of their critically revered 2014 krautrock-meets-Afrobeat longplayer Regions (VG 007CD/LP), Ellis Island Sound's Pete Astor and David Sheppard return with a seven-track mini-album. Inspired by the main flow of Regions, Divisions is another fertile marriage between motorik Mitteleuropa pulse and subtropical guitar- and percussion-textures. This time, however, the emphasis is less on throbbing, NEU!-beat-propelled blow-outs and more on intricate, highly melodic arrangements for guitars, keyboards, and tuned percussion, with a spacious sound palette propelled by polyrhythmic marimbas and xylophones and layered with infectious lead lines and choral vocals -- the latter sourced by Astor and Sheppard from dusty archive recordings and manipulated into subtle, stirring descants on several tracks. Reference points might be the Penguin Cafe Orchestra's "Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter," Cluster's Sowiesoso, Steve Reich's Counterpoint compositions, or the juju pop of King Sunny Adé, with EIS taking such implicit influences and molding them into shapes that are distinctive and very much to their own design, a modus operandi that the gentlemanly duo have deployed for the duration of their unhurried but enduring career since 1996.
$10.39 EAN: 5051083084116 ROCK
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ELLIS ISLAND SOUND: Divisions LP (VG 021LP)
LP version; includes poster and download code.
$14.39 EAN: 5051083083577 ROCK
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TEAGUE, RYAN: Last Known Position 12" (VG 023EP)
Ryan Teague is a Bristol-based composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. His music combines acoustic instrumentation and arrangements with electronic and processed material, often incorporating minimalist, ambient, and electroacoustic styles. Last Known Position is the first single from Block Boundaries (VG 015CD/LP, 2014), Teague's fifth album. It demonstrates a sonic and thematic shift toward a more focused and energized sound. Teague beautifully extends the album version of "Last Known Position" for the EP, taking it into new, unchartered territory to enthralling effect. Remixes come from techno aficionado The Field, Warp's Plaid, and Errors. For fans of Phillip Glass, Max Richter, and Walls.
$9.79 EAN: 5051083086202 ELECTRONIC
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TRAGO, TOM: Hidden Heart of Gold 12" (RH VD21-EP)
Tom Trago has supplemented a nonstop schedule of DJ gigs, remixes, and studio collaborations by using Voyage Direct to promote the music of Dutch producers old and new, including Aardvarck, Boris Werner, Maxi Mill, San Proper, Elias Mazian, and Magnesii. Here he delivers his first solo single since 2013, "Hidden Heart of Gold," with virtual waves of ambient chords, eyes-closed melodies reminiscent of classic stargazing techno, and disembodied vocal samples over a tough but unfussy machine drum rhythm and addictive bassline. The "Ambient Mix" is a winding, beatless excursion brimming with hazy, late-night beauty. Gentle, immersive, grandiose.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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AMOS & CREW: True Tears LP (WEX 011LP)
A quintessentially sinister masterpiece reissued for the first time in an edition limited to 365 copies. A mysterious 1982 cassette masterpiece by Amos & Crew from the It's War Boys catalogue remastered from the original tapes by Amos himself. Sailored, Dutchwifed, and highly-refinedly laid-out by Studio Shitless. Art by Err o'. Large four-page full-color insert with an essay by Ed Baxter and a text translated by Derek Bentley from the original Japanese (1982). "Recorded in Tokyo, Japan on Mr Shiotas old four track cassette in Mr Kitamuras kitchen in sporadic three day binge," according to the original insert. Recorded by Amos while on tour with The Work in Japan. Not on the Nurse With Wound list! Existing exactly mid-way between the dropping of the atomic bomb and the time a moment ago when you opened this insensibly incendiary package, the throwaway aesthetic of True Tears now glows like a malevolent object in an ever-expanding universe. It's an emetic emissary from the senseless empire of the incredible shrinking man, an attack of a fifty-foot pylon into which The Three Stooges recklessly bang nails in the hope of a hereafter. It's above all an invocation of a truly plastic world. Nails are forced into each other's heads. Heels clatter on new vinyl steps, the apartment rents out at only slightly more than average, and this is a good neighborhood. We watch the traffic as if alert to the nuances of a symphony, the choreography at midnight might as well be some modernist masterpiece, and the descent of the planes in the darkness, tubes of incandescent cells, strikes terror into all the denizens of the deep. So when I say plastic, Douglas, I mean consider the landmarks that emerge from the fog in the landscape of the last two centuries. Ruin. Cot. Window. Corpse. Airplane. Aerial Photograph. Fossil. Groove. Pine grove. Hoover. Hoe. And so on. And then consider too the tools that allow for the forensic examination of all that matters in the last 100 years or so, the age of relativity that has thrown up parallel universes, murder mysteries, musique concrète, detail, childhood, The Other, and a dismissal even by savants of consensus reality.
$17.79 UPC: 769791751118 ROCK
A1. Tokyo Golden Night
A2. Rex Humbard World Outreach Ministry
A3. Number One Beast in Japan
A4. The Little Red Dot On the Screen
A5. Urban Masterpiece
A6. Closed Off
A7. Key Role Fragments
B1. Hero of Western
B2. Armed Truth Foreigners
B3. Nippon Slave Mentality
B4. How Much American
B5. Training the Pets
B6. The Voice of God
B7. True Tears Epitaph
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SCHUMACHER, MICHAEL J.: Room Pieces 2CD (XI 127CD)
2003 release. Two CDs for the price of one. Much has been written to guide listeners through the course of a preconceived form. Although Michael J. Schumacher's music is distinctly his own it has been inspired by David Tudor and Morton Feldman as well as La Monte Young. Like their music it is about hearing sounds in themselves, about allowing the ear to register sonorities and then the hearing imagination may go to work, navigating amongst temporal realities and imaginary spaces, negotiating between a sense of control and perceived randomness, stasis and movement, finitude and limitlessness, Schumacher thrives on those creative tensions. At its most personal and expansive his singular music has the capacity to convey "intimate immensity." Room Piece provides a unique solution and musical experience in reference to "the room." Generated by a specific method and possessing a decidedly emotional character, Room Piece is not merely "ambient music" but creates a bridge between the "eventfulness" heard in Cage-ian and serial music, and the new American drone music that has arisen intuitively to create the sound of a vibrant universe with rich interior activity.
$10.39 UPC: 725531032725 CLASSICAL
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LICHT, ALAN: A New York Minute 2CD (XI 128CD)
2003 release. Two CDs for the price of one. Alan Licht wears many hats. Over the years, he's been a curator of music as well as a tireless performer. And he's as well-known an author as he is a musician. It's one thing to have eclectic tastes; it's another to make a practice of them. While Licht's earlier records have seamlessly melded his improvisational guitar playing with extended plundered sounds, A New York Minute takes things a few steps further. Instead of fusing the many sides of Licht into one monolithic mega-mix, this disc separates them into discrete compositions. There's a lot more at stake here: the guitar pieces are showcased as guitar pieces and the plundered works are just that. The conceptual tendencies in Licht no longer hide behind his talent as a guitarist; likewise, the guitar pieces are no longer propped on hooky concepts that take our attention away from his fretwork. The good news is that both work: Licht is as strong a conceptual artist as he is a composer.
$10.39 UPC: 725531032824 EXPERIMENTAL
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BEHRMAN, DAVID: My Dear Siegfried 2CD (XI 129CD)
2005 release. Two CDs for the price of one. David Behrman has been active as a composer and artist since the 1960s. Over the years he has made sound and multimedia installations for gallery spaces as well as musical compositions. Sam Behrman and Siegfried Sassoon met in 1920, when Behrman, then a young writer working at The New York Times, was sent to interview Sassoon at the start of the English poet's postwar American lecture tour. In that tour Sassoon was billed as "England's Soldier-Poet." He had a reputation both as a war hero and an anti-war poet and peace activist. Many years later, each author wrote about this youthful meeting, which inaugurated a long-lasting friendship and a correspondence, mostly conducted via trans-Atlantic letters between England and America, which continued into the 1950s. My Dear Siegfried provides a performance environment in which musicians interact with texts by the two authors and with music software designed to respond to the performers' actions. The texts and the software elements are arranged as a linear thread along which the piece progresses. In QSRL (1998) a sensor listens to what the performer is doing and a computer music system provides responses to information the sensor takes in. Viewfinder (2002) is a sound installation using software based on homemade synthesizer music of the early 1970s. In A New Team Takes Over (1969), homemade synthesizer modules were used in this piece to distort recordings made off the air of press conferences by members of the new Nixon administration following the American election of 1968. Touch Tones (1979), from the early days of music done with the help of newly-available, small, inexpensive "microcomputers," made use of a kind of primitive artificial intelligence scheme. Pools of Phase Locked Loops (1972) was one of four pieces made in response to commissions to the artists of the Sonic Arts Union (Robert Ashley, Alvin Lucier, Gordon Mumma, and Behrman). The recording is from a live performance at Radio Bremen in May 1972.
$10.39 UPC: 725531052921 EXPERIMENTAL
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BURT, WARREN: The Animation of Lists and the Archytan Transpositions 2CD (XI 130CD)
2006 release. Two CDs for the price of one. There are any number of ways to hear Warren Burt's music for tuning forks; as many ways as there are listeners, probably. The most immediate one is simply to revel in its beauty and enjoy the music as sound. Or, to be more accurate, as clouds of sound; sonic colors that momentarily hover here and there, as they move slowly across the musical horizon. Of course, Warren Burt's music may also be heard as the mature work of a major experimental composer, one secure in his craft, and still filled with a sense of sonic adventure. An explorer in sound. A composer willing to experiment with multiple versions of the same piece, not to mention one who allows chance to determine the precise placement of the composite pitches of his three individually composed lines. Each aggregate of the combinations of tones -- because the tuning is acoustically pure and non-tempered -- sounds clearer and more colorful, with unique personalities, and, sometimes, more of an edge. In this tuning, the chance-determined pairings of the composed lines always ring true, with even the dissonances vibrating cleanly, free of acoustic distraction, and with no sonic clutter to muddy up the sound. And within this microtonal world, sounds combine without losing their individuality, as the music slowly reveals its pitch and rhythm in slow, unhurried, chance-determined clouds of sound. In Warren Burt's hands, these tuning forks become some strange new instrument, complete with its own exotic tuning system, singing its songs somewhere on the verge of memory.
$10.39 UPC: 725531063026 EXPERIMENTAL
Disc 1
CD1: The Animation of Lists
01. 1
CD1:
02. 2
03. 3
04. 4
Disc 2
CD2: And the Archytan Transpositions
01. 1
02. 2
03. 3
04. 4
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ROGALSKY, MATT: Memory Like Water 2CD (XI 131CD)
2006 release. Two CDs for the price of one. "The six (or seven) pieces on these CDs document live performance works which span 1996 to 2006. Most of the solo pieces are structured improvisations, in that they have a broad form which is repeated from performance to performance while the detail is always quite different. Conceived as two halves of a single piece, Resonate (noise) and Resonate (tones) seamlessly crossfade from one to the other. Both are sustained-sound pieces, the first exploring noise textures, the second exploring dense, quasi-orchestral harmonic territory. The three works titled Kash are all related in that they employ the same original software instrument (of that name) initially developed in 2001 and still in use at the time of this release. This software enables me to interact with live performers (or other sound sources) in fluid and lively improvisational situations, accumulating and processing fragments of low-level sounds (the "spaces between the notes"). Kash (vln) is a collaborative improvisation between myself and violinist Jane Henry. Sprawl (western magnetics) is a document of a live solo performance. Transform is a manipulation of a live radio signal, tuned to any music station; the frequency content of the source radio program is brought out by a series of tunable delays which create strong harmonic resonances."
$10.39 UPC: 725531063125 ELECTRONIC
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WATSON, DAVID: Fingering an Idea 2CD (XI 132CD)
2007 release. Two CDs for the price of one. "Fingering an Idea (a phrase pulled from a Chris Mann piece) resulted from a Phill Niblock invitation to make a double CD for bagpipe and guitar. A bagpipe CD is a particular challenge. A high beam spatial explorer, it is the kind of unstable phenomena that is hard to enjoyably reproduce on your stereo player. The first pipe recording session was an ensemble piece, the score including walks around the concert hall. The second, a solo multi-track session. The third with Rob Ramirez, recorded material was played back in the concert hall through an eight-channel MSP patch. A carnival of colliding pans, exits and entrances, re-recorded for stereo. For 'Sinister,' an old cassette recorded at Amica Bunker was the original germ. A sequence of re-tuning and de-stringing, starting with six strings pitched across a whole-tone and ending with an improvisation on one string. This old piece was dusted off and reworked through an image of bell-ringing, another outdoors vernacular." --David Watson
$10.39 UPC: 725531073223 CLASSICAL
Disc 1
CD1: Dexter: Music for Highland Bagpipe
01. 1
02. 2
03. 3
04. 4
05. 5
06. 6
07. 7
08. 8
Disc 2
CD2: Sinister: Music for Acoustic and Electric Guitars
01. 1
02. 2
03. 3
04. 4
05. 5
06. 6
07. 7
08. 8
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SCHUMACHER, MICHAEL J.: Five Sound Installations DVD-ROM (XI 133DVD)
2007 release. Five Sound Installations is a DVD-ROM (for Mac and PC) that contains five sound compositions generated in "real time" by a computer algorithm. The works are: "Room Piece Twenty-Four"; "Noema"; "Steiner Suite"; "Unintending"; "Scene." Sound Art, algorithmic composition, chance operations, multi-channel sound systems, immersive installations, computer music; these terms all intersect at a point defined by Michael J. Schumacher's Five Sound Installations. Schumacher is a composer, curator (he runs Diapason, NY's only "sound art" gallery), and performer. His output at the time of this release includes five solo CDs, but these were by necessity adaptations of works designed for more or less "permanent" listening situations, in which auditors could explore various modes of listening within sound environments. These works were composed with installation settings in mind -- they had no "beginning-middle-end" (even out of order) in the traditional sense. For the CD releases, the pieces needed to be manipulated in various ways to accommodate the medium. A better way needed to be found. Schumacher has always been interested in creating algorithmic works that extend the boundaries of the genre, investing them with hundreds of constituent parts that form sonic mobiles in space and time. Now he presents the ambitious (and technically savvy) listener with a means to experience Schumacher's installations in the home, through up to eight separate speaker channels and for as long as the computer keeps running. No question, this is not an iPod experience! For some, just understanding the reason for such a project will be difficult. But the composer and XI believe that the time is apt for challenging a complacent public and industry. This release, more than anything else, is a challenge to break boundaries in both content and distribution, a call for a new way of thinking about sound in the home, which is more than ever the predominant place for listening. NOTE: These compositions must be installed on a computer to be heard. Instructions are enclosed. Minimum system requirements: one gig processor speed, five gig free disc space; Mac OS 10.3 or Windows XP.
$26.99 UPC: 725531073322 CLASSICAL
01. Room Piece Twenty-four
02. Noema
03. Steiner Suite
04. Unintending
05. Scene
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FIRST, DAVID: Privacy Issues (Droneworks 1996-2009) 3CD (XI 134CD)
2010 release. Long overdue overview of composer David First's drone works. Featuring Chris McIntyre and Peter Zummo, trombones; "Blue" Gene Tyranny, keyboards; and The Black Jackets Ensemble. "This was something unexpected and truly different: pulsing electronic textures that derived their rhythm from the beating patterns of closely-tune pitches -- as if Alvin Lucier and Philip Glass had gone on a blind date to CBGBs... David put the beat in beating patterns" --from the liner notes by composer Nic Collins (on his initial exposure to First's music in 1987). This special and specially priced set (three CDs for the price of two) contains nine works composed between 1996 and 2009. "1996 was the beginning of a new period for me," says First. "I had spent the prior five or six years creating a lot of music for other players and larger ensembles -- culminating in 1995 with a couple of mountings of my opera, The Manhattan Book of the Dead. I was a little burned out on this and decided to return to a more personal, intimate format -- one that ended up including an even more extensive exploration of tunings, alternative compositional softwares and how my playing techniques interacted with these things. I think I just wanted to go deeper and have more control over the results. During the ensuing years I've had a few pendulum swings -- forays into beat-oriented pop music with lyrics and vocals and, of course, the re-animation of my rock band from the late 70s -- The Notekillers. But I've continued, through all of the changes, to maintain my grounding in my love of the drone and associated acoustical phenomena -- a love affair that began in my teenage psychedelic years and will, no doubt, be a most significant aspect of my music path for as long as I am at it. The tracks here represent almost every major work created from 1996 to the present and I'm grateful that they will be heard by a wider swath of people than those who lived in NYC or happened to be at one of my touring performances during these years."
$20.39 UPC: 725531073421 EXPERIMENTAL
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MORROW, CHARLIE: Toot! 3CD (XI 135CD)
2011 release. Charlie Morrow (b. 1942) is a sound artist, composer, sound poet, event maker. Charlie Morrow is a conceptualist whose music- and sound-work explores many styles and forms, from events for media and public spaces to commercial soundtracks, new media productions, museum installations and programming for broadcast and festivals. Assembling expert project groups, Morrow employs a collaborative style that fuses arts, artists, and environment. Charlie Morrow, for an artist who has been making music for over 50 years, has been vastly underrepresented on recordings. This three-CD retrospective set attempts to rectify that situation to some degree. The 15 works on these discs span the years from 1957-2007 and include: Morrow's first major work, Very Slow Gabrieli, a super slow motion performance of G. Gabrieli's Sonata Pian e Forte for double brass ensemble; Book of Hours of Catherine of Cleves, a beautiful polychromatic, almost tactile collage where chattering sparrows and mellifluous songbirds join the measured undulations of devotional voices. Brass rings out over cradles of bells, doves coo, gulls mew and the wash of the tide ushers in the late medieval intricacies of dulcimer, recorder and viol. You can experience the sound made by herds of instruments through the two instances of Wave Music included in this set. As well as environmental works, chanting pieces, audio collages, and so much more.
$20.39 UPC: 725531073520 ELECTRONIC
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TRIPMASTAZ: Ain't Made 4 U 12" (YKZ 002EP)
Following its inaugural release from Quenum & Cesare vs Disorder (YKZ 001EP, 2015), Barcelona-based Yakazi Records continues its mission to move people. Tripmastaz aka Andrew Guyvoronsky is one of a few underground producers from Russia making serious tidal waves in the international dance community, with tracks featured on Fabric (FABRIC 123CD) and DJ-Kicks compilations. "Ain't Made 4 U" is a swirling house-funk journey; "Live from the Basement" takes a more minimal approach to percussive techno. Two remixes of "Ain't Made 4 U" follow: Christian Burkhardt & Andre Buljat return to the heady, peak-time dancefloor; Hitch delivers a rolling, hypnotic take.
$8.99 UPC: 827170591561 ELECTRONIC
A1. Ain't Made 4 U
A2. Live from the Basement
B1. Ain't Made 4 U (Christian Burkhardt & Andre Buljat Remix)
B2. Ain't Made 4 U (Hitch Remix)
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TELEVISION PERSONALITIES: They Could Have Been Bigger Than the Beatles LP (IF 015LP)
2011 release. "Comprised of early singles, demos, outtakes and unreleased tracks recorded between 1979 and 1982, They Could Have Been Bigger Than the Beatles was Television Personalities' third full-length. The unannotated retrospective is a surprisingly cohesive collection of singular and classic tunes, from the haunting single 'Three Wishes' ('If I had three wishes I'd wish for three more') and the brilliant 'David Hockney's Diaries' (a different and much better version from the one on Mummy Your Not Watching Me) to the perennial punk classic '14th Floor' and the enthusiastically sloppy versions of The Creation's 'Painter Man' and 'Making Time,' to the gentle freakbeat of 'The Boy in the Paisley Shirt' and 'Psychedelic Holiday.' It's a perfect autumn soundtrack, and autumn is the whole year."
$13.50 UPC: 852545003158 ROCK
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TELEVISION PERSONALITIES: Painted Word LP (IF 016LP)
2011 release. "Originally released by Illuminated Records, the Television Personalities' 1984 album The Painted Word is a near-perfect collection of jangly, riffing guitars, organ chords, freaky tambourines and Velvet Underground-like drumming. Every song on this dark, hauntingly beautiful masterpiece is a gem in the rough. It's easy to hear similarities to Swell Maps, The Only Ones and The Modern Lovers in the group's unique style that draws from both DIY punk and post-punk psychedelia. Is Dan Treacy one of England's last great songwriters? With even more Britishness than Ray Davies, this wounded romantic's lyrics are both detached and resonant. The Painted Word is a stark, heartfelt album made by a vulnerable and damaged genius backed by an amateurish band offering loads of brilliantly adapted pop-art weirdness."
$13.50 UPC: 852545003165 ROCK
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EKMAN: Gödelian Argument 12" (BDN 004EP)
"Ace, eagerly-awaited, five-track EP, after drops for Trilogy and Berceuse. Ramped-up, banging and decayed, computer-age and apocalyptic, in fine signature style. 180g vinyl, handsomely sleeved; short run."
$12.50 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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BROKEN ENGLISH CLUB: Scars 12" (CITI 016EP)
"Four-song EP by Broken English Club. After the strong reception of the Violence and Divinity split with Silent Servant as well as his solo EP for Jealous God, here Oliver Ho (also known for his Raudive alias) continues in a similar vein, delivering sparse vocals and shards of live instrumentation over heavy, stuttering beats and bleak synths. The tracks on this EP are rich and darkly atmospheric, pulsating loudly through a smog-filled dance floor. A subversive spin on dance music, the blank-stared, pin-point-focused electronics and layers of noise betray no/wave and post-punk influences, dragging together industrial experimentation and pitch-black techno. Artwork designed by Veronica Vasicka and sourced from the archives of Silent Servant, the Broken English Scars EP features a one-of-a-kind vinyl pressing of white inside clear -- limited to 999 copies and housed in a matte printed sleeve."
$16.00 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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DE STIJL (UNITED STATES):
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NOTHING, CHARLIE: Outside/Inside LP (DESTIJL 042LP)
2015 restock. "Charlie Nothing was the fractured-psyche pseudonym of author, father, horsekeeper, organic farmer, beekeeper, philosopher and clown Charles Martin Simon, inventor of the dingulator (guitar sculptures made out of the metal from American cars). Charlie's only visible offering to the record buying public was really anything but. Due to its rarity, The Psychedelic Saxophone of Charlie Nothing, issued by Takoma Records in 1967, has been a source of consternation for in-the-know types for years. Outside/Inside, the second and only other Charlie Nothing LP, originally issued by Everitt Enterprises, thematically follows with two sidelong flute-based instrumentals. Nowhere on wax will you find a more palpable preserved air of a real-time dropout scene than with these sides of Nothing. It is a wonder that these records circulated at all outside the vacuum in which they were created. Nothingness, a California existentiality looping back on itself, preserved and disseminated as evidence. There are indeed very few records like these. Fully authorized / fully legit."
$12.50 UPC: N/A ROCK
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ROGERS, D.J.: D.J. Rogers CD (FD 7504CD)
"DeWayne Julius Rogers was an extraordinary talent and a beacon of gospel soul. This first ever CD edition of his debut album is a self-assured and soul-searching declaration of salvation straight from the pulpit. All songs are written and arranged by Rogers, who had worked under the direction of Harrison Johnson in the Los Angeles Community Choir and with the venerable Reverend James Cleveland as director of the Watts Community Choir."
$9.50 UPC: 639857750426 ROCK
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SYLVERS, FOSTER: Foster Sylvers CD (FD 7505CD)
"Foster Sylvers' self-titled debut album features one of the greatest slabs of kid-soul ever released, 'Misdemeanor.' It has been sampled numerous times, perhaps most famously by Dr. Dre for The D.O.C.'s 'It's Funky Enough.' Following up that amazing cut is a great album of seventies pop/funk/soul in the mode of the Jackson 5, plus a bonus unreleased remix of the classic track."
$9.50 UPC: 639857750525 ROCK
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FUZZ, THE: The Fuzz CD (FD 7506CD)
"Their 1971 self-titled debut LP featuring the Top 10 R&B single 'I Love You for All Seasons.' Written by then 19 year old lead singer Sheila Young, that record is now regarded as a soul harmony classic and a all-time favorite of the low-rider oldies scene."
$9.50 UPC: 639857750624 ROCK
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BUSTA RHYMES: When Disaster Strikes... 2LP (GET 52719LP)
"By the time Busta Rhymes hit with his second solo album, When Disaster Strikes, he was already cemented as one of the most powerful voices in the rap game. With a lead single that countered that statement 'Put Your Hands Where MY Eyes Can See' he proved he is more than just a one act man. The single was an immediate smash and was followed by an equally amazing album. The albums second single 'Dangerous' continued to push Busta creatively and was accompanied with a stellar video gained him major air play on BET and MTV. Critics and fans alike applauded this release for its depth and well-crafted songs which made it platinum at the time of its release. Songs like 'Turn UP,' the Flipmode-assisted 'We Could Take It Outside,' and 'Rhymes Galore' showcase Busta at his best; rapidfire delivery over hard pounding beats. Other standout cuts include 'So Hardcore' and 'One,' which is a great collaboration with Erykah Badu. On the production side Busta brings along his trusted team; Rashad Smith, Dilla, Rockwilder, and DJ Scratch to serve him just what he needed for When Disaster Strikes to be full on dope!"
$18.00 UPC: 664425271911 HIPHOP
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RUN DUST: Serf Rash LP (IP 018LP)
"Luke Calzonetti, following up on the Zeckenentferner tape from Opal Tapes: eleven tracks ranging from proper songs to brutal techno, romantic melodic stuff to dystopian minimal. A unique feel for texture and storytelling holds it all together, infused with a melancholic, fragile wanderlust."
$17.00 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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PIOULARD, BENOIT: Sonnet CD (KRANK 193CD)
"'The basis of the album was a series of field recordings of tones and unintentional harmonies that I made in the summer & fall of 2013 -- whistling industrial air conditioners, bird songs, locust drones, washing machines -- that I mimicked or interpreted on the guitar, making loops that developed into fuller compositions. Several of the pieces are recreations of harmony loops that I heard in a series of extraordinarily vivid dreams, and then woke up and recorded. A few pieces had lyrics and vocal parts that I ultimately removed; at a certain point the album became an exercise in restraint, so I strove to leave only what I felt absolutely essential. Unlike most of my previous recordings, there are no digital/software after-effects on the album; all sounds are from analog tape and/or my few guitar pedals' --Thomas Meluch (Benoit Pioulard). The sound of the fifth Benoit Pioulard full-length is lush and verdant, a temperate rainforest of ear ecstasy that reflects the environment surrounding the artist. A mostly instrumental work, it is an adept melding of song and sound, melody and texture, the intangible and the palpable, that in an abstract sense recalls the more fractured and loose end of the '70s krautrock movement."
$9.50 UPC: 796441819324 ELECTRONIC
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PIOULARD, BENOIT: Sonnet LP (KRANK 193LP)
LP version.
$10.00 UPC: 796441819317 ELECTRONIC
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HUFF & SPECIAL DELIVERY, TERRY: The Lonely One CD (SOL 1209CD)
"Timeless sweet soul classics including 'The Lonely One' and the brilliant 'I Destroyed Your Love.'"
$9.50 UPC: 639857120922 ROCK
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BWANA: Tengo 12" (AUS 1577EP)
Aus Music follows 2015 EPs from Tom Demac (AUS 1575EP), Escape (AUS 1573EP), and Youandewan (AUS 1576EP) with the second offering on the label from Toronto-born Bwana, who broke a two-year silence with his Flute Dreams EP (AUS 1472EP) in December of 2014; with his Tengo EP, he reaffirms the benefits of patience and proves that he's an artist capable of touching many bases effectively. The A-side opens up with a trance-minded thud colored with thick, swooning melodies before "Drop Mechanism" sets impassioned strings and sweeps over a thick, booming low-end and "Due West" sets out a snapping, forthright groove.
$9.79 EAN: 4012957157702 ELECTRONIC
A1. Tengo
B1. Drop Mechanism
B2. Due West
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LINZATTI, STAFFAN: Dividing in Two 12" (BALANS 017EP)
Swedish-born Staffan Linzatti presents his second release on the Dutch imprint Balans, following 2013's View from the Collapsing Centre (BALANS 011EP). Dividing in Two is an energetic two-track EP consistent with the label's vision of delivering classic techno rhythms. "Dizziness" opens the EP with a hypnotizing yet airy signal, immediately captivating. Combined with a rolling bass and quintessential claps, it is sure to enchant any listener. On side B, "Clarity" takes a things in a new direction, opening straight into a full-blown kick with hi-hats that persist throughout the track.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Dizziness
B1. Clarity
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BIOSPHERE: Microgravity 2CD (BIO 003CD)
A remastered version of Biosphere's debut album Microgravity on double CD and triple LP with a bonus album of previously unreleased tracks. From Wikipedia: "Geir Jenssen began releasing his music as Biosphere on obscure Norwegian compilation albums. His first Biosphere releases were the 12-inch single The Fairy Tale and the album Microgravity, both of which were rejected by SSR as unmarketable. Microgravity was released in 1991 on the Norwegian label Origo Sound, and saw wider release via the R&S Records subsidiary Apollo in 1992, to much critical acclaim." All tracks written and produced by Geir Jenssen. All tracks on CD2 and sides E-F are previously unreleased. Recorded in Skippergata 42, Tromsø, Norway, between 1990 and 1991. Mastered by Stefan Betke. Artwork by Philip Marshall.
$14.39 EAN: 7090029000177 ELECTRONIC
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BIOSPHERE: Microgravity 3LP (BIO 003LP)
Triple LP version.
$27.59 EAN: 7090029000160 ELECTRONIC
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BERROCAL/DAVID FENECH/VINCENT EPPLAY, JAC: Antigravity CD (BLACKEST 011CD)
Legendary trumpeter Jac Berrocal joins two fellow travelers in the French avant-garde, David Fenech and Vincent Epplay. A lugubrious mise-en-scène in which ice-cold outlaw jazz meets musique concrète, DIY whimsy, and dubwise studio science, all watched over by the lost souls and hungry ghosts of rock 'n' roll. The trio's first album together, Antigravity is a richly imagined universe combining original compositions and détourned standards. Berrocal revisits his own signature piece "Rock 'n Roll Station," which first appeared on his '77 LP Parallèles (TES 037CD) with chain-wielding, leather-clad wildman of British rock 'n roll Vince Taylor singing the lead, and Berrocal on mic'd up bicycle; here, the Frenchman takes the vocal reins. A barely recognizable interpretation of Talking Heads' "The Overload" pushes beyond the bush of ghosts into a fourth world dread-zone of stalking drum-machine rhythms, humid electronics, and jagged guitar phrasing, while "Where Flamingos Fly" reroutes the Gil Evans Orchestra's classic rendition through the seamiest back-streets of the 13th arrondissement; there, as on the trio's reading of "Kinder Lieder," the mood is romantic, but stark, isolationist: imagine Chet Baker falling through the glacial sound-world of early PiL or Scott Walker's Climate of Hunter. Originals include the agitated Iberian psychedelia of "Spain," and "Panic in Bali," which begins in seemingly trad-jazz fashion only to swell into a cacophony of a gurgling electronics and fevered "Lonely Woman" quotations. "Solaris" is a swirling, suspenseful arabesque of whiplash guitars and Black Ark FX, Berrocal's trumpet hitting deep blue notes while his vocals are sliced and diced and tossed into a yawning void of tape-delay -- like Antigravity at large, the result is oblique, dissolving, forever out of reach. Despite the chilly, sometimes austere mood of the album, it is, ultimately, a deeply human and welcoming work, with a playfulness and sly humor pervading; see the anarchic cross-hatch of "Ife Layo," or the CD-only track "L'essai des Suintes ou le bal des Futaies," Berrocal's poetic disquisition on the infinite variety of female genitalia. Mischief and misdirection are rife here, and fans of Officer!, Henry Cow, and the ReR axis will find much to chew on. Play, as we know, is serious business. Put another way, and to quote Berrocal entirely out of context, Antigravity is completely crazy, completely timeless, completely out. As its title suggests, the objective is nothing less than lift-off, weightlessness, a total unshackling from earth. Sunglasses on, collar up, let's go.
$11.79 EAN: 5055869511063 EXPERIMENTAL
01./A1. Nanook
02./A2. The Overload
03./A3. Panic in Bali
04./A4. Rock 'n Roll Station
05./A5. Where Flamingoes Fly
06./B1. Kinder Lieder
07./B2. Tsouking Chant
08./B3. La Valse des Lilas
09./B4. Nanooks
10./B5. Solaris
11./B6. Ife L'ayo
12./B7. Spain
13./B8. Riga Centraal
14. L'essai des Suintes ou le bal des Futaies
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BERROCAL/DAVID FENECH/VINCENT EPPLAY, JAC: Antigravity LP (BLACKEST 011LP)
LP version.
$16.99 EAN: 5055869511056 EXPERIMENTAL
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O'FLYNN: Tyrion/Desmond's Empire 12" (BLIP 001EP)
O'Flynn first achieved circulation around blogs and channels with his 2013 track "Mantle" on the Aliasizm label. His notable work since then includes official remixes of Ella Eyre's "Deeper" and Miguel's "Adorn," the latter featured and uploaded by the popular Eton Messy channel. It is in his own original material that O'Flynn is more experimental, creating bold left-of-center dance music that shows a distinct difference from his other releases. O'Flynn's core component for this release is the African influence. The tracks are spearheaded by his ability to re-contextualize and stylistically deliver his own sound for these dancefloor-friendly cuts.
$11.79 EAN: 5055300385239 ELECTRONIC
A1. Tyrion
B1. Desmond's Empire
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RAP: Let's Get Serious 12" (BORN 014EP)
Debut release by London-based duo RAP, consisting of Enchante and Burning Bush, both from the Top Nice crew.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
01. Peckingham Palace
02. Bad Preacher
03. D-Niz
04. Up Wembly
05. Feels Good
06. Peckingham Palace (Haunted House Mix)
07. Let's Get Serious
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OVER THE HILL: Mums Mums & Bananer 12" (BORN 015EP)
Over the Hill is Daniel Savio and Samo DJ. Here with something similar to a road movie but without the road or the movie.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Side 1
B1. Side 2
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POWDER: Spray 12" (BORN 016EP)
Debut EP from this Cos/Mes associate. Every night before sleep she spends time hammering tracks alone in the dark. Far out and far eastern electronics!
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Spray
A2. Kiwi Blue
B3. Ma Ki
B4. Alien
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EMPFANGER: Lost Track 12" (BORN 018EP)
Swedish duo Empfanger (towLie and Sling) delivers a slab of demented mongo EBM. Creepy asylum music!
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Halleluja
A2. Säure Planeten
A3. Sacke kommer ut
B1. Lost Track
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WONDERFULS: Only Shadows Now LP (BRD 013LP)
Brisbane cousins Robert Vagg (vocals) and Dan McGirr (guitars) return with their second LP, augmented by the presence of Natasha Buchanan (synth, vocals). Their first record was privately pressed in an edition of 100 precious copies in 2012. This release sees them tackling more sadness and loneliness than ever, with Vagg's solemn and desperate voice mixed upfront while the music engulfs the alienated words in a swirl of delicate love. Vagg's ten confessionals drift around tragedies, hopelessness, and failed systems, entwined in the sparse guitar-and-synthesizer lines of McGirr and Buchanan. The overall sound and tone of this record recalls that of Lou Reed's Berlin, a classic.
$18.99 EAN: 5055869507325 ROCK
A1. Sit With Me
A2. These Moments
A3. Dynasty
A4. Language Forgotten
A5. Thieves Who Dream
B1. Car Parks
B2. So
B3. Broken Shell
B4. What Do You Think Of
B5. Time Come for Me
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GUMMIHZ: Club Cuts 12" (CLAAP 019EP)
Two heavy dancefloor tracks spanning from acid to dub house/techno. "Acid jazz" is a serious dancefloor weapon with a characteristic killer TB 303 bassline and airy jazz piano licks, produced in 2010. "8AM groove" is a dub cut that, with typical GummiHz finesse, rolls effortlessly between Detroit house and techno.
$8.99 UPC: 827170588660 ELECTRONIC
A1. Acid jazz
B1. 8AM groove
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VATH, SVEN: Ritual of Life (Adam Port 108 Mix) 12" (COR 126EP)
Keinemusik co-founder Adam Port remixes techno shaman Sven Väth's 1993 classic "Ritual of Life". Following his 2013 überhit "Our Fate," Port takes the original elements of "Ritual of Life" and turns them into a 2015 tech-house bombshell. He uses tribal-flavored beats similar to those in his 2011 club monster "The American Dream" and merges them with the original dub-atmosphere. Hypnotic beats mixed with mystical sounds creates a special spiritual vibe and a genuine musical journey that delivers one clear message: dance until the morning sun! Strictly limited single-sided green vinyl edition.
$9.79 UPC: 827170581067 ELECTRONIC
A1. Ritual of Life (Adam Port 108 Mix)
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SHADOW MOVEMENT: Whales Part 1 & Part 2 12" (DOC 004EP)
After their stunning 2014 debut EP I.D. (DOC 002EP), Shadow Movement (Raphael Bartel and Raul Monteiro) return with their second record, Whales, the fourth release on Gui Boratto's label D.O.C. The limited edition EP was announced at ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) in 2014 and has been highly anticipated since. It brings all the darkness and deep harmonies with a melodic touch the duo is known for; an exciting step for the project.
$9.79 UPC: 880319686214 ELECTRONIC
A1. Whales (Part 1)
B1. Whales (Part 2)
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AGNELLI, LUCA: Optical 12" (DESOLAT 042EP)
Luca Agnelli returns to Desolat for the first time since his 2013 joint effort with Marco Faraone, Jambo (DESOLAT 022X-EP), with his first solo outing on the label. "Optical" is a clear-cut peak-time affair with warbling synths and climbing drum kicks that pull the listener with it on its winding journey. The title of "Bubbles" perfectly describes its feel, effortlessly combining a driving bassline and hypnotic synth to create a spine-tingling experience. The punchy bass, frantic pace, and melodic overtones of "Swiss Train" precede "Raw," an intricate, pulsating affair that pulses, bends, and creeps through the listener's mind.
$9.79 EAN: 4260148770951 ELECTRONIC
A1. Optical
A2. Bubbles
B1. Swiss Train
B2. Raw
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URULU & STEVE HUERTA: 25 Cent Color EP 12" (DIRT 087EP)
Cali boys Urulu & Steve Huerta follow their 2013 debut, Things I Didn't Mean EP (DIRT 068EP), with another release full of blissful deep house cuts. Both relocated to Berlin in 2014 and have been extremely busy since with their respective solo outputs on labels like Let's Play House, Needwant, Shabby Doll, and Urulu's Amadeus Records. This EP's A-side features two club bangers while the B-side explores the deeper side of things with more laid-back vibes and dubbed-out jazzy elements, including the irresistible "D.E.G.L.", which best describes the Urulu & Huerta sound.
$9.79 UPC: 827170565661 ELECTRONIC
A1. Urulu & Steve Huerta - Settle Back Easy Jim
A2. Urulu - Laura Don't Touch That
B1. Urulu & Steve Huerta - D.E.G.L.
B2. Steve Huerta - Jamais Vu
B3. Urulu & Steve Huerta - Katsu Dub
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EM RECORDS (JAPAN):
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TAPES: No Broken Hearts On This Factory Floor CD (EM 1135CD)
Shifting tectonic plates, as two island nations collide! London resident Jackson Bailey aka Tapes makes Jamaica-drenched lo-fi bass music, a forward-looking mix of dub, dancehall, and electro roots channeled and filtered through old-school rhythm machines, synths, spring reverb, and delay. Recorded with glorious grit on cassette, sometimes in the red, tape hiss intact but somehow sounding bigger, better and beatier than it should, with a sweet analog patina. There's an aquatic feel here on this first full album from Bailey, a rich brew of deep and soulful sunny JA roots, hints of UK melancholy and industrial smoke, even some icily funky NYC early electro. With an old island soul and a new ear to the future, this first album from Tapes features six previously unreleased tracks plus ten tracks previously issued on his own label and other labels, including Jahtari, in various formats, included here with remastered sound in previously unreleased mixes. With a total running time of 43 minutes, these 16 tracks are available on CD and double LP (45 RPM). UK, JA, NYC: all these letters, and more, spell Tapes. Front cover art by Jimmy Cauty (The KLF). Co-production of EM Records and Corner Stone Music.
$14.39 EAN: 4560283211358 ELECTRONIC
01. Helix Dub
02. Skankless Tascam
03. Dubbing in Bed
04. Gun Dance
05. Gold Love Riddim
06. Old Pan Sound
07. Brain Hunger Riddim (Digi mix)
08. Atomica Rydim (Police in Helicopter)
09. Skanking to Riddim
10. Phyzikal Dub
11. Pipe Cleaner - This Weed's Making Me Nervous (Disco Mix)
12. Freak Riddim
13. Ticker Tape
14. Good Thing You Came Along
15. Oberheimer
16. Tape V
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TAPES: No Broken Hearts On This Factory Floor 2LP (EM 1135LP)
Double LP version. Plays at 45 RPM.
$17.79 EAN: 4560283217350 ELECTRONIC
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THIS SOFT MACHINE: On & On/This Place Was Meant for Me 7" (ESK 507061)
This Soft Machine presents his debut EP, featuring electric guitar from Dave Harrington of DARKSIDE, alluring vocals by Lorraine Nicholson for "On & On," and synth recording help from Dan Whitford of Cut Copy fame. "This Soft Machine is a band at heart. Recorded live at Linear Studios in Sydney in January 2015, everything you hear on the record was recorded by human hands, played by some of my oldest, dearest friends and some hired musicians." --Tim Sullivan aka This Soft Machine
$8.99 UPC: 541416507061 ELECTRONIC
A1. On & On
B1. This Place Was Meant for Me
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U.S. EXCLUSIVE (No Exports)
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VA: Eskimo Recordings Presents: The Orange Collection 2CD (ESK 507080)
Belgium's music scene has a few cornerstones: R&S in the '80s, Soulwax in the '90s, and Eskimo in the early '00s, with Eskimo's evolution more colorful than anything preceding it in Belgium's musical history. The Orange Collection is the bright, genial, and buoyant fourth installment in Eskimo's color-themed compilation series. Following the Pink (ESK 506032, 2013), Blue (ESK 506345, 2014), and Green (ESK 506768, 2014) compilations, Eskimo once again presents 12 songs selected with exquisite care. An effortless journey encompassing a range of sounds through indie dance, nu disco, and electronica, it's reassuring to find that Eskimo still stands for timeless quality and originality. Includes tracks by Anoraak, Ary, Majestique feat. Lakshmi, Du Tonc, NTEIBINT feat. Birsen, This Soft Machine, Tarjei Nygård & Are Foss, Moscoman, Horixon feat. Maya, Trulz & Robin feat. Ost, Marvin & Guy, and Hydrogen Sea (remixed by Mees Dierdorp). Includes bonus mixed CD.
$11.99 EAN: 5414165070801 ELECTRONIC
CD1:
01. Anoraak - Odds Are Good
02. Ary - Higher
03. Majestique - Renegades (feat. Lakshmi)
04. Du Tonc - Animals
05. NTEIBINT - Riptide (feat. Birsen)
06. This Soft Machine - On & On
07. Tarjei Nygård & Are Foss - Flog
08. Moscoman - Fernandez
09. Horixon - Hold It Like I Own It (feat. Maya)
10. Trulz & Robin - Find My Love (feat. Ost)
11. Marvin & Guy - Unfailing Fall
12. Hydrogen Sea - Wear Out (Mees Dierdorp Remix)
CD2: Bonus Mix-CD
01. Anoraak - Odds Are Good
02. Ary - Higher
03. Majestique - Renegades (feat. Lakshmi)
04. Du Tonc - Animals
05. NTEIBINT - Riptide (feat. Birsen)
06. This Soft Machine - On & On
07. Tarjei Nygård & Are Foss - Flog
08. Moscoman - Fernandez
09. Horixon - Hold It Like I Own It (feat. Maya)
10. Trulz & Robin - Find My Love (feat. Ost)
11. Marvin & Guy - Unfailing Fall
12. Hydrogen Sea - Wear Out (Mees Dierdorp Remix)
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4004: Bringing It All Back EP 12" (FACES 1219EP)
Fabricio Gerardo Tepetitlan aka 4004 is a Mexican producer known for his previous work with Sebastien Vorhaus and as Soul of Hex for labels like Quintessentials and Vicario Musique. This killer four-track EP feature three original tracks and one remix from Concrete Paris resident S3A (Sampling As An Art). From Mexico to Paris via Amsterdam, a serious weapon for the dancefloors from a name to watch.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Reciprocal
A2. Round Streets
B1. Round Streets (S3A's Ravist Mix)
B2. Real All Night
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KEZ YM: Escape to the Vibe EP 12" (FACES 1220EP)
Japanese deep house king Kazuki Yamaguchi aka Kez YM delivers his third release on the FACES imprint following 2011's Stride EP (FACES 1210EP) and Root Bound EP (FACES 1215EP). Escape to the Vibe EP is Kazuki's first release after his relocation to Berlin. As usual, he mixes ingredients from Detroit techno, Chicago house, funk, disco, and Afro styles into the blend of his signature recipe. His reputation extends beyond his productions, as one of the standout Japanese house DJs endlessly rocking dancefloors and hearts from Berlin to Tokyo.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Black Box Jam
A2. Free Show
B1. Escape to the Vibe
B2. Fall Together
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FAUXPAS MUSIK (GERMANY):
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U.S. EXCLUSIVE (No Exports)
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BRAMBLES: Half-Gramme Holiday 12" (FAUXPAS RSD15)
RSD 2015 release. Street lamps glimmering to a flicker of static. Brass and woodwind bursting through the interstices of dank and smoky bars. A thousand shades of grey, interminably looping. Bring me a half-gram, a flight far north! Vinyl tastes better... Colored single-sided 12" with screen-printed B-side.
$9.79 UPC: 827170593060 ELECTRONIC
A1. Half-Gramme Holiday
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GEORGE MAPLE: Vacant Space 12" (FCL 122EP)
Future Classic, home to the likes of Chet Faker, Jagwar Ma, and Flume, presents the debut EP from Sydney-based singer and producer George Maple. Based in London since 2013, George Maple has worked in both live and studio environments with artists including Snakehips, Flume, and Flight Facilities, and in the summer of 2014 she performed her first Australian shows, supporting Swedish outfit Little Dragon, to excellent reviews. Vacant Space features an appearance from Kilo Kish. White 180-gram vinyl; includes download code.
$9.79 EAN: 3610158074081 ELECTRONIC
A1. Vacant Space
A2. Talk Talk
A3. Gripp (feat. Kilo Kish)
B1. Began to Say
B2. Call of the Wild
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TRISTANO, FRANCESCO: Body Language 16 2LP (GPM 108LP)
Get Physical Music invited Francesco Tristano to mix the 16th volume of their Body Langauge series and join the ranks of M.A.N.D.Y., Dixon, DJ Hell, Catz 'n Dogz, andhim, and DJ T. Melodic and harmonic elements constitute the core of Tristano's first DJ mix release, which is itself a hybrid production/mix/live session -- Tristano performed live synths on top of the tracks. The basis of the session is in fact his own work, along with tracks by his entourage and a few special appearances, including the "Reboot Remix" of KhalifeSchumacherTristano's "Afrodiziak," edits, and mash-ups. The mix includes several tracks produced specially for the occasion, and exclusive and previously unreleased tracks by Julio Victoria, P41, and Studiovacanze (aka Francesco Tristano and P41). Also includes tracks by Danton Eeprom and NYMA & Carreno Is LB.
$16.39 EAN: 4260129253305 ELECTRONIC
A1. Francesco Tristano - Ongaku
A2. P41 - My Difficult Child (Studiovacanze Mix)
A3. Francesco Tristano - Chester Copperpot (feat. P41)
B1. Julio Victoria - Impermanent
B2. Danton Eeprom - Hungry for More
C1. Francesco Tristano - Gaza World Cup (feat. P41)
C2. P41 - Lalguer
D1. NYMA & Carreno Is LB - Lunar Fringe
D2. KhalifeSchumacherTristano - Afrodiziak (Reboot Remix)
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WHOMADEWHO: Ember LP (GPM 300LP)
Genre-bending Copenhagen trio WhoMadeWho continue their string of acclaimed releases, including their 2005 self-titled debut (GOMMA 060CD), 2012's chart-topping Brighter (KOMP 097CD/KOM 254LP), and 2014's Dreams (DACD 001CD/DALP 001LP), which was touted by many as one of the best things to come from the indie-dance sector of music in some time. No surprise coming from a band that's played and toured alongside the likes of Justice, LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, and Hot Chip, who, in 2011, also asked to remix the trio's song "TV Friend" while WhoMadeWho covered "Don't Dance" in return. Other remixers include underground heavy-hitters The Mole, DJ Koze, and Michael Mayer, proving WhoMadeWho's ability to go from mega-stage to basement seamlessly. Ember is another foray into the world of machine music and dreamy soundscapes, in which the band stays true to its pop tendencies while spinning things around and taking a trip right back to its roots. Band member Tomas Barfod, who also produced the release, says, "After many years of emphasizing 'the song' more and more, we felt like just playing around with our instruments, like when we recorded our first album... it was like renewing our band-wedding vows; we found our way back to our fun and free approach of making music together." "Fun" and "free" might very well be two of the best ways to describe this seven-track creation of skewed pop, surf-rock, and slow, meaningful dance music. Beachy guitar licks, ethereal crooning, and enough distinct flavor to set each track apart from the rest, in the dreamy puzzle that is Ember.
$10.99 EAN: 4260129253374 ELECTRONIC
A1. Birds
A2. There's a Way
A3. Need
B1. Yes
B2. Ember
B3. Subliminal
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SCOTCH BROOM COLLECTIVE: Scotch Broom Collective LP (ROWF 053LP)
Amazing, whacked archival recordings from Bob Fay (ex Sebadoh/Deluxx) and a host of Western Massachusetts friends, including Conrad Capistran (TARP), Jason Loewenstein (Sebadoh), Ann Slinn (Somerville Players), and Mark Perretta (Deluxx/Deluxx Folk Implosion), initially slated for release on Thurston Moore and Byron Coley's Ecstatic Yod Actuel Ass Run series. Featuring great, snarky Byron Coley liner notes, the LP collects home cassette recordings from between 1987 and 1995 that offer a fantastic aural bridge between the grunge-offcut, Northeast American, lo-fi sludge-rock scene of the very early '90s and what later became known as "New Weird America." Stylistically all over the place and beyond brilliant, this record represents the nascent weirdo mind of a Golden Lab Records that, at the time, didn't even know it would come to be.
$18.39 EAN: 5060366782007 ROCK
A1. Mark & Bob - Of the Wide World, I Stand Alone
A2. Mark & Bob - These Vernal Seasons
A3. Ann & Bob - The Desire to Take Medicine
A4. Ann & Bob - Hailing from a Different Stata
A5. Joe P. - You Owe Yourself a Drunk
A6. Conrad (walkman) - Salem Willows
A7. Flood & Bob - Secular Alliance
B1. Vegas 89 - Nice Lady
B2. Not for the Heavy Folk - Millers Pedal
B3. Walkman Window/Sun Ra
B4. Westy Space - Mandolins of Our Time
B5. 3 Prong Step
B6. Deluxx - Desert Forest Fire
B7. Jeep Piano Innards - Voter Info Tape
B8. Geoff, Conrad & Bob - Models Realm
B9. Deluxx Drum Devide
B10. More Vegas Noise - Turtle Circus
B11. Pocket Skylab Love
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BRAME & HAMO: The Parish Rumors EP 12" (HEIST 009EP)
180-gram vinyl. The Irish town of Sligo might not mean a whole lot to you, but after this release, you'll know that it has brought forth two of the funkiest Irish guys you've ever seen. This EP follows their chart-topping 2015 #001 EP on their Splendor & Squalour label, and it's filled with jazzy chords, lovely loose percussion, and soul samples. "Parish Rumors" will fill your peak-time needs; "Ghetto for You" and "Hotshot" have a nice low-slung vibe and come with enough low-end and swing to get even the stiffest of hips swinging.
$9.79 UPC: 827170571167 ELECTRONIC
A1. Parish Rumors
B1. Ghetto for You
B2. Hotshot
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HANCOCK & THE HEADHUNTERS, HERBIE: Omaha Civic Auditorium 17th November 1975 CD (HH 002CD)
This superlative set at The Omaha Civic Auditorium, November 17th, 1975, was taped for FM broadcast soon after the release of Herbie Hancock's groundbreaking 1975 Man-Child album, and finds the great keyboardist backed by the awesomely tight combo of DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight (guitar), Bennie Maupin (reeds), Paul Jackson (bass), Bill Summers (percussion), and Michael Clarke (drums). This selection of Hancock's finest tracks includes his early classic "Watermelon Man," and is offered here in its complete form as originally broadcast, with digitally remastered sound, background notes, and rare images.
$11.99 EAN: 5297961900219 JAZZ
01. Watermelon Man
02. Hang Up Your Hang Ups
03. Steppin' in It
04. Bubbles
05. Shekere
06. Heartbeat
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RETURN TO FOREVER: Electric Lady Studio, NYC, June 1975 CD (HH 003CD)
Return to Forever are firmly established as one of the most important fusion bands in history. Featuring the classic line-up of Chick Corea (keyboards and synthesizer), Al DiMeola (guitar), Stanley Clarke (bass), and Lenny White (drums), this remarkable set was taped in the summer of 1975 for FM radio broadcast to promote their classic No Mystery album, and is presented here in its entirety, with digitally remastered sound, background notes, and rare images.
$11.99 EAN: 5297961900318 JAZZ
01. Band Intros
02. Dayride
03. Beyond the 7th Ga1axy
04. The Shadow of Lo
05. No Mystery
06. Vulcan Worlds
07. Celebration Suite
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MORGAN, LEE: Both/And Club, San Francisco, June 1970 2CD (HH 004CD)
One of the greatest trumpeters of the post-bop era, Lee Morgan died aged only 33 in 1972. This classic recording was made for FM broadcast in the summer of 1970, immediately before he made his classic 1971 album Live At The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. Featuring Bennie Maupin (tenor sax), Harold Mabern (piano), Jymie Merritt (bass), and Mickey Roker (drums), it showcases some of the best music Morgan's group ever performed, and is presented here in its entirety, with digitally remastered sound, background notes, and images.
$16.39 EAN: 5297961900417 JAZZ
1.01. Peyote
1.02. Ceora
1.03. Speedball
1.04. Willow Weep for Me
1.05. Neophilia
2.01. Rakin' and Scrapin'
2.02. Ujamma
2.03. Something Like This
2.04. Ceora
2.05. Speedball/Theme & Closing
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TAYLOR, CECIL: Michigan State University, April 15th 1976 CD (HH 005CD)
Capturing the groundbreaking Cecil Taylor Unit's second set at the Power Center, Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, on Thursday, April 15th 1976, this document was recorded for broadcast on WCBN-FM's Jazz Alive program. Featuring Taylor on piano, backed by his long-term sideman Jimmy Lyons (alto sax), David S. Ware (tenor sax), Raphe Malik (trumpet), and Marc Edwards (drums), it offers a fascinating glimpse into Taylor's uncompromising vision, and is presented here in its entirety, with digitally remastered sound, background notes, and rare images.
$11.99 EAN: 5297961900516 JAZZ
01. Wavelets Part 1
02. Wavelets Part 2
03. Wavelets Part 3
04. Petals
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BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS, ART: Rutgers University, NJ, April 15th 1969 2CD (HH 006CD)
Recorded live for FM broadcast in the spring of 1969, this superb set captures legendary jazz drummer Art Blakey putting his band through their paces on a series of incendiary extended tracks. Featuring the young Woody Shaw on trumpet, as well as Carlos Garnett (tenor saxophone), George Cables (piano), and Scotty Holt (bass), it's presented here in its entirety, with digitally remastered sound, background notes, and images.
$16.39 EAN: 5297961900615 JAZZ
1.01. The Moontrane
1.02. Round About Midnight
1.03. Unknown
2.01. Moanin'
2.02. A Night in Tunisia
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WEATHER REPORT: The Agora, Columbus, Ohio, October 17th 1972 2CD (HH 007CD)
Weather Report are widely regarded as America's finest ever jazz fusion band. Originally recorded for FM broadcast, this superb live set at The Agora in Columbus, Ohio, on October 17th, 1972, was taped a few months after the release of their classic 1972 album I Sing the Body Electric, and features Joe Zawinul (keyboards), Wayne Shorter (saxophone), Miroslav Vitous (bass), Eric Gravátt (drums), and Dom Um Romão (percussion). It's presented here in its entirety, with digitally remastered sound, background notes, and images.
$16.39 EAN: 5297961900714 JAZZ
1.01. Unknown Soldier
1.02. Vertical Invader
1.03. Improvisation
1.04. Percussion
1.05. Directions
2.01. Band introduction
2.02. Improvisation
2.03. Dr. Honoris Causa
2.04. Improvisation
2.05. In a Silent Way
2.06. It's About That Time
2.07. Percussion
2.08. Orange Lady
2.09. Percussion
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KING, B.B.: United Western Recorders Hollywood LA, October 1 1972 CD (HH 008CD)
In the early 1970s, B.B. King was basking in the glow of crossover success, with his brand of soulful blues reaching all audiences, not just African-American ones. In this 75-minute radio broadcast from October 1, 1972, his stinging guitar runs through a mix of old and new classics, from his mid-'50s R&B hit "Everyday I Have the Blues" to Leon Russell's "Hummingbird." Other highlights include the standard "Rock Me Baby" and his biggest hit, "The Thrill Is Gone." It's presented here in its entirety, with digitally remastered sound and background notes.
$11.99 EAN: 5297961900813 ROCK
01. Everyday I Have the Blues
02. How Blue Can You Get?
03. Just a Little Love
04. I Got Some Outside Help I Don't Need
05. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother
06. Don't Answer the Door
07. Rock Me Baby
08. Ain't That Just Like a Woman
09. Hummingbird
10. Walking Dr. Bill
11. Ain't Nobody Home
12. The Thrill Is Gone
13. Instrumental
14. Guess Who
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PISTOL DISCO: Bad Wisdom/Egypt 7" (HNR 001EP)
The duo behind the transpop krautish sound of Pistol Disco consists of Alexander Palmestål and Mikael Enqvist. After four albums, including the critically acclaimed Evergreen (2009), they recorded only two more songs: "Bad Wisdom" and "Egypt." These two darlings psych your sanity away while you dance to the hypnotic discobeat.
$7.79 EAN: 7393210502017 ELECTRONIC
A1. Bad Wisdom
B1. Egypt
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PSYCHEDELIC SCHAFFERSON JETPLANE, THE: Membrillo's Ride/Rugby 7" (HNR 007EP)
Two tracks from The Psychedelic Schafferson Jetplane, the only available material outside their 2010 self-titled, analog-recorded debut LP, which sold out instantly. The A-side takes off with a linear psych-blues vibe until the riffs pleasantly start to cut and frantically stimulate our eardrums; "Membrillo's Ride" is the sound of ZZ Top on the run, on choppers, after a drunken shoplifting bender on the wrong side of town. Anyone who studies the cover of their LP can't miss that the band loves Spacemen 3. The B-side shares a name with the English trio's hometown, Rugby.
$7.79 EAN: 7393210502093 ROCK
A1. Membrillo's Ride
B1. Rugby
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DUNGEON ACID: Northern Acid/All-Nighter 7" (HNR 008EP)
Jean-Louis Huhta aka Dungeon Acid is a member of The Skull Defekts and has played in Anti-Cimex, Cortex, and Lucky People Center. As Dungeon Acid you'll hear him behind analog synthesizers, drum machines, and effects. The result are raw and a bit left-field-grimy, but always with an undeniable groove rooted in punk, techno, electro, and acid. "Northern Acid" creeps upon us, an almost frighteningly perfect soundtrack for November in the Nordic climate; grey skies, sideways rain, dark days, and black nights. Then "All-Nighter" reminds us of the importance of dancing away the night in dark spaces together with like-minded freaks.
$7.79 EAN: 7393210502116 ELECTRONIC
A1. Northern Acid
B1. All-Nighter
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KRATER: Labyrint/Felix Culpa 7" (HNR 009EP)
Craters can form when two celestial bodies impact each other, or as a result of volcanic activity, or from other underground explosions. Friction, tension, and direct physical confrontation are common denominators behind these often stunningly beautiful phenomena. Krater consists of three dope musicians with their roots in Uran and Neneh Cherry & The Thing. Their fluffy psych-pop sounds like a bastard child conceived during a warmhearted orgy with Jacques Dutronc, Air, and The Byrds minutes before a meteorite hits the Earth. In a very good and mellow way. To put it simply: babymaking psych music.
$7.79 EAN: 7393210502123 ROCK
A1. Labyrint
B1. Felix Culpa
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DREAM WEAPONS: The Moonland Remixes 12" (HOLGER 006EP)
Dream Weapons' "Moonland" from his 2014 Pathways EP (HOLGER 003EP) has been a favorite of many. Accordingly, remix duties have been entrusted to Barnt and Jens-Uwe Beyer -- two of the co-founders of acclaimed Cologne label Magazine. An expert in mixing and structuring, Barnt carves out the hidden capabilities of "Moonland" while Beyer takes a slightly more humorous but no less feet-moving approach to things. Weirdo techno in typical Magazine/Holger style.
$9.79 UPC: 880319706813 ELECTRONIC
A1. Moonland (Barnt Remix)
B1. Moonland (Jens-Uwe Beyer Remix)
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NOBODY HOME: Where We Come From EP 12" (HOMER 002EP)
This record is a monument to discoveries in the search for the Self. Contemplating and exploring the questions, "Who and what am I? Where do I come from? And what is this 'I' that we all are referring to?" These two musical pieces and the artwork were created with these matters in mind.
$9.79 UPC: 827170592162 ELECTRONIC
A1. Where We Come From (11:27)
B1. Sonata for Henrietta (11:25)
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HOMEBOY: Kaprije 12" (HIOK 006EP)
House Is OK co-owner Marko Pelaic aka Homeboy steps away from traditional house music to explore more experimental, modern sounds. "Kaprije" shines with a joyful piano hook challenged by heavy synth noise and cosmic weirdness. Inspired by a memorable day spent on the island of Kaprije in the Adriatic Sea, this is an uplifting hit for any serious collector. "The Simple Things in Life" is a warm, melancholic, mid-tempo swinger that transforms into beautiful absurdity, while "Somewhere a Band Is Playing" closes with a spacey, jazzy feel. No-nonsense house for anyone bored with 909 hi-hats and rolling snare drums.
$8.99 UPC: 827170590861 ELECTRONIC
A1. Kaprije
A2. The Simple Things in Life
B1. Somewhere a Band Is Playing
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VA: Edit Service 001 - Special Delivery 12" (EDITSERV 001EP)
I'm a Cliché's Edit Service, a constant online source of quality edits for DJs and music-lovers, presents a limited-edition vinyl-only EP of entries 56 and 57 in the series. Israeli duo Red Axes' distinctive, catchy "Der Sexa" is an elegant, synthetic groove with lush female vocals, a genuine bass guitar line, and plucked strings. French producer Roman Azzaro aka Rouge Mecanique delivers "Cosi Cosi," with ominous synths, spoken-word vocals, and an atmosphere that conjures images of dystopian horror. A slow pulse of a beat gradually picks up alongside funky guitar licks as the edit goes from dark to hedonistic.
$9.79 UPC: 880319709616 ELECTRONIC
A1. Red Axes - Der Sexa
B1. Rouge Mecanique - Cosi Cosi
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GONNO: Obscurant (incl. Call Super Remix) 12" (IFEEL 040EP)
180-gram vinyl. In 2011 Gatto Fritto sent International Feel a track called "Acdise #2" by a Japanese artist called Gonno, which International Feel then released as an EP (IFFM 001EP). It became a big tune, played by everyone from James Holden to Todd Terje, Tim Sweeney to Ewan Pearson. As hypnotic and compelling as "Acdise #2," "Obscurant" is slo-mo electronic Steve Reich packed with drama and moments of joy and "A Life With Clarinet" oozes enough emotion to overload your system. Includes a remix of "Obscurant" by Call Super, who turned Gatto Fritto on to "Acdise #2" in 2011.
$10.39 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Obscurant
A2. A Life With Clarinet
B1. Obscurant (Inna Loft Mix By Call Super)
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COBBLESTONE JAZZ: Northern Lights 12" (IIWII 016EP)
Canadian trio Cobblestone Jazz debuted on Itiswhatitis Recordings in 2002, and now return to the label for the first time since 2006 with arguably their most musical and expansive release, recorded over a three-day period in 2013 and edited in the winter of 2014. The 11-minute "Northern Lights" features tight gated keys layered with complex harmonies and soaring pad swells. "Drawn from the Side of Crime" is another twisting musical journey, running just shy of 13 minutes with a meditative bassline rolling underneath for the duration and hints of a beautiful modal Rhodes line teasing throughout the arrangement.
$9.79 UPC: 827170593565 ELECTRONIC
A1. Northern Lights
B1. Drawn from the Side of Crime
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VA: Bunny Lee's Kingston Flying Cymbals: Dubbing With the Flying Cymbals Sound 1974-1979 CD (JRCD 057CD)
Bunny Lee's flying cymbals or flyers rhythms dominated the dancehalls and the charts in 1974 and 1975. The style, based on Philadelphia disco and featuring the sound of an open and closed hi-hat, was not necessarily novel, but Lee's use of a number of different elements most certainly was. Johnny Clarke's 1975 interpretation of Earl Zero's "None Shall Escape the Judgement" opened the floodgates for the flyers style. The story had begun the previous year with Lowell "Sly" Dunbar: "Sly played the flying cymbals first... I said to Sly, 'You played it on the Delroy Wilson tune for Channel One named 'It's a Shame' and Sly played it before that with Skin, Flesh & Bones on 'Here I Am Baby (Come and Take Me),' the Al Green tune... with the 'tsk, tsk, tsk' sound on the hi-hat, I named it flyers, but they didn't know what flyers was!" --Lee. Before too long, "every tune we put out we put the rhythm behind it," and every Kingston producer followed suit with their own variations of Striker's flying cymbals rhythms... CD includes four bonus tracks.
$9.79 EAN: 5060135761844 WORLD
01. This a Best Version
02. Believe in Dub
03. Botheration Dub
04. Feel So Good Dub
05. General Dub
06. Get Ready for Master Dub
07. A Moving Version
08. God Father Dub
09. Behold Dis Ya Dub of Class
10. Sunny Dub
11. Judah Dub
12. Another Version
13. Talkative Dub
14. Revenge of the Flying Cymbals
15. Dub Magnificant*
16. Dub from the Roots*
17. A Closer Dub*
18. Dub You Can Feel*
*CD Bonus Tracks
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VA: Bunny Lee's Kingston Flying Cymbals: Dubbing With the Flying Cymbals Sound 1974-1979 LP (JRLP 057LP)
LP version.
$10.99 EAN: 5060135761851 WORLD
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MOORE & THE RHYTHM ACES, BOBBY: Dedication of Love CD (JMAN 074CD)
Much is said in the mainstream media about million-selling records, yet the opposite is true of the no-hitters -- the obscurities that sold badly and sank without a trace. Represented here is the bittersweet experience of a hard-working soul band that experienced the elation of a million-selling chart-topper (1965's "Searching for My Love"), but also the dejection of a self-released flop that sold so few copies that barely a handful can still be found. The 1976 album Dedication of Love by Bobby Moore & the Rhythm Aces is that flop, and it exists in 2015 as only a handful of copies, selling for up to $2000 on the highly competitive rare soul market. This is its first ever reissue. From Jazzman's exclusive interviews with long-standing band member Bobby Moore Jr., this reissue's detailed liner notes tell the story of Bobby Moore & the Rhythm Aces from inception through 2015, including all the highs and lows that membership of a touring soul band can bring, as well as some spectacular, previously unseen vintage photos. The notes dig deep to find out just why this record was made, and why, despite such a wonderful array of heartfelt soul, street funk, and downhome funky blues, it became such a rarity. Part of the Jazzman Holy Grail Series. LP version with insert limited to 1000 numbered copies.
$10.39 EAN: 5036468200749 ROCK
01./A1. Love's Got a Hold On Me (3:03)
02./A2. Groovin' With the Aces (5:38)
03./A3. Sweet Sixteen (4:58)
04./A4. What Is That You Got? (2:33)
05./B1. Love's Gonna Make Us Free (5:34)
06./B2. Witch Doctor (4:29)
07./B3. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen (4:18)
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MOORE & THE RHYTHM ACES, BOBBY: Dedication of Love LP (JMAN 074LP)
LP version. Includes insert. Limited numbered edition of 1000.
$18.39 EAN: 5036468000745 ROCK
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HUNTER/GAME: Genesis EP 12" (JT 002EP)
Hunter/Game, two Italian techno producers based between Milan and New York, combine a deep groove with indie and electronic influences. They are founders of the Milan event Just This and they've performed at Fabric, Cable, Studio 80, Sankeys Ibiza, Hive, Winter Music Conference in Miami, Amsterdam Dance Event, Berlin Music Days, and Playground Festival in Berlin. They won acclaim in 2012 for their track "Touch Me" and their remix of "Lonely Days" by Blond:ish. They've released on Jamie Jones's Hot Creations, Solomun's Diynamic, Get Physical, and Sasha's Last Night On Earth. This EP includes remixes by Ripperton and Chymera.
$9.79 UPC: 880319700415 ELECTRONIC
A1. Genesis
A2. Genesis (Ripperton Remix)
B1. Tree of Life
B2. Tree of Life (Chymera Remix)
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BUTTERFIELD BLUES BAND, THE: A&R Studios, NYC December 14th 1970 2CD (KH 9047CD)
Recorded in December 1970 to boost Christmas sales of The Butterfield Blues Band's classic 1970 Live LP, this superb set was broadcast on WPLJ-FM and finds the band at the height of its powers. The legendary Paul Butterfield turns in some outstanding solos, the great David Sanborn and cohorts provide exhilarating support on horns, and new drummer Dennis Whitted slots in beautifully. It's presented here in superb fidelity, complete with background notes and photographs.
$16.39 EAN: 5291012904720 ROCK
1.01. Born Under a Bad Sign
1.02. Play On
1.03. Driftin' & Driftin'
2.01. The Boxer
2.02. Everything's Gonna Be Alright
2.03. Stuck in the Countryside
2.04. Love March
2.05. Get Together Again
2.06. Radio Announcer
2.07. So Far So Good
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KOLSCH: Speicher 84 12" (KOM EX084EP)
Danish mastermind and global fan favorite Kölsch delivers the epic "Derdiedas" and the immersive "Two Birds," marking a return from his remix work for Coldplay, Monkey Safari, and Henry Krinkle, and appearing in the wake of acclaimed performances at DGTL Amsterdam, Fabric, and Miami's Winter Music Conference. When his cozy, playful melodies collide head-on with the stirring thrust of his beats, there's magic to be had. For fans of his highly praised 2013 long-player 1977 (KOMP 107CD/ KOM 276LP), it should also be noted that these cuts serve as primer for his second album, 1983.
$8.99 UPC: 880319801815 ELECTRONIC
A1. Derdiedas
B1. Two Birds
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IRON BLU: Cold Harbour EP 12" (LBL 003EP)
LBL presents its third release and its first ever artist EP. Iron Blu, a genuine electronic music veteran, made his first forays into synthesized music as part of seminal '80s group Naked Lunch (as championed by Trevor Jackson on his 2012 Metal Dance compilation). His career has spanned many guises, sounds, and labels, and with his contribution to LBL he provides a suitably genre-straddling release that displays shades of Chicago house, machine funk, krautrock, and Detroit techno in equal measure over the course of three original tracks. Mark E turns in an ambient, Quaalude-tinged "Forrest Version." Limited to 300 copies.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Cold Harbour
A2. Cold Harbour (Mark E Forrest Version)
B1. Dervish
B2. Bub Maya
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JOEFARR: Longanimity EP 12" (LSR 014EP)
JoeFarr inaugurates Leisure System's Gridlock 12" series, following a diverse history that includes three well-received releases on Turbo and records with DSNT and Power Vacuum; he has also remixed Tiga and been remixed by Truss. The clinical, kinetic "Oleum" hurdles toward a shatteringly powerful peak, while "Mormon Shuffle" boasts twisted functionality without sacrificing roughness in the brittle loops. The monolithic "Standard Issue" has an aggressive edge enhanced by whiplash percussion, and the broken piano melody of "FS3+4" inverts the joy typically found in that rave standby, dropping the instrument from to let the chords scatter and shatter as they please.
$9.79 UPC: 880319706110 ELECTRONIC
A1. Oleum
A2. Mormon Shuffle
B1. Standard Issue
B2. FS3+4
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WOO YORK: The Valley of Songs EP 12" (LAD 020EP)
Hailing from Ukraine, the hard-working duo Woo York craft strong, emotive techno and are known for their improvisational streak when performing live. The Valley of Songs EP shows an impressive range, moving from one mood to the next while always retaining the duo's cohesive sound. From the beautiful opening salvo of "The Valley of Songs" through the forward march of "Odyssey" and the unrelenting battle cry of "Black Soul" to the triumphant finale of "Distance," Woo York cover all the bases here, taking the listener on a trip that feels complete from start to finish.
$9.79 UPC: 880319707315 ELECTRONIC
A1. The Valley of Songs
A2. Odyssey
B1. Black Soul
B2. Distance
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ANDREW RED HAND: For My Mother 12" (MOSDEEP 023EP)
Romanian DJ and producer Andrew Red Hand, who has been called "the Romanian Underground Resistance," has a long history of making Detroit-inspired techno and electro. "My Guardian Angel" features cowbells and coarse claps offset with rich, heartwarming chords and teary-eyed strings. "Never Be the Same" is a busy cut stuffed with arpeggiated bass, bright melodies, glassy chords, and plenty of reflective surfaces. "Shattered Soul" is awash with trilling glassy sounds, echoing melodies, and oodles of atmospheric texture over hurried techno drums. The somber "Mourning My Mother" features classic Chi-town percussion and drums weighted down by long-tailed pads and poignant chords.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. My Guardian Angel
A2. Never Be the Same
B1. Shattered Soul
B2. Mourning My Mother
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ASOK: Future Wars EP 12" (MOSDEEP 024EP)
Liverpool producer Stu Robinson aka Asok follows EPs on M>O>S Recordings (Poltergeist, MOSDEEP 018EP, 2014) and his own Scenery label with the Future Wars EP. The beautiful, melancholic "Future Wars" features its doleful pads, paddy drums, and generous sense of space. Then comes the pricklier "Final Battle," with its spinning hi-hats, daubs of acid, and lingering pads. "Interaction" is a cleaner, clearer track focused on a squelchy lead synth-line. It's nicely mechanical and perfectly offsets the swirling soft-focus pads. "Abandoned Places" is a slo-jack track with skittish, broken-sounding hits and drums, more flecks of acid, and vivid, rusted textures.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Future Wars
A2. Final Battle
B1. Interaction
B2. Abandoned Places
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BAILEY, MARCO: Lost Soul EP (incl. Joey Beltram & Mark Reeve Reworks) 12" (MBE 140EP)
Marco Bailey returns to his legendary imprint MB Elektronics. "Lost Soul" is a powerful peak-time techno weapon guaranteed to fill the dancefloors with dancing souls. Indeed, only in techno can someone can find his lost soul and Bailey proves that again. This extraordinary package also includes Joey Beltram's monumental remix of Bailey's ''Sniper'' and Mark Reeve's remix of Bailey's hit ''Something I Remember'.' Techno is the way, and these three gems are three equally great paths toward the light and your lost souls.
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Lost Soul
B1. Something I Remember (Mark Reeve Remix)
B2. Sniper (Joey Beltram Remix)
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DARK SKY: Voyages 12" (MONKEY 055EP)
A two-headed monster of straight 4x4 club music, each side rendering Dark Sky's sounds into something entirely different. Fellow Londoner Francis Inferno Orchestra concentrates on the percussive motif of "Voyages," perverting its rattling structure into a frisky tribal house rhythm. On the flipside Redshape delivers a killer techno rework. His remix translates the central moody sci-fi theme of "Voyages" into a powerful bassline. The move proves perfect -- the fizzing bass synths drive the track into primetime material. It's no wonder the track has been dropped by some of the big BBC radio DJs. This is one to watch.
$8.39 UPC: 817231012340 ELECTRONIC
A1. Voyages (Original Version)
A2. Voyages (Francis Inferno Orchestra)
B1. Voyages (Redshape Remix)
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COMFORT FIT: Mezga EP 12" (MKR 044EP)
Boris Mezga aka Comfort Fit is no amateur; his chilled beats launch into orbit, the work of a specialist on the borders of hip-hop, electronic, abstract, jazz, broken beat, Detroit techno. Since 2001 he has moved through various styles, and here he delivers tracks to ignite and extinguish. The EP's title is a reference to the Hungarian television series Mézga Aladár különös kalandjai (The Adventures of Aladár Mézga), starring the eponymous animated character who could be Comfort Fit's big brother -- the resemblance is particularly apparent when Aladár inflates his spaceship from his violin case.
$9.79 UPC: 880319704819 ELECTRONIC
A1. Gib dem Zauber Zucker (5:54)
A2. Meta Kreta (6:20)
B1. Schlesischer Koller (5:09)
B2. Staubschicht (6:06)
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SEMTEK: Bad Teeth 12" (NNB 004EP)
Semtek returns with his first 12" since 2012, when he released work on World Unknown among other labels. The UK producer (Cambridge-born, Bristol-based) has been hard at work on his own label Don't Be Afraid, developing talent including Mr Beatnick and MGUN. Bad Teeth features two complementary tracks for the dancefloor, inspired by bleep 'n' bass, jungle, and two-step. Early DJ support comes from Jon K and Ben UFO.
$9.79 EAN: 5055300385031 ELECTRONIC
A1. Bad Teeth
B1. John of Worcester
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BLACK DEER: Pray for Us 12" (RHD 023DEER2-EP)
The Melanistic One returns...
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
01. Pray for Us
02. Leaving the Station
03. Frost to Mist
04. Second Time Around
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CHEVEL: Backward Loops I 12" (NONSERIES 017EP)
Part one of two. Non Series presents its third release of 2015, following Mark Broom's Attitude (NONSERIES 015EP) and Savas Pascalidis's Nightshades (NONSERIES 016EP). Backward Loops, from Italian producer Chevel (Stroboscopic Artefacts, Enklav.), is spread over two separate records, this 12" and Backward Loops II (NONSERIES 018EP).
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Oberdan Mall
A2. Steps
B1. Congas Tool
B2. Boat
B3. Self Research Afternoon
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CHEVEL: Backward Loops II 12" (NONSERIES 018EP)
Part two of two. Non Series presents its third release of 2015, following Mark Broom's Attitude (NONSERIES 015EP) and Savas Pascalidis's Nightshades (NONSERIES 016EP). Backward Loops, from Italian producer Chevel (Stroboscopic Artefacts, Enklav.), is spread over two separate records, this 12" and Backward Loops I (NONSERIES 017EP).
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Detrimental
A2. Summer
B1. 2020
B2. Nofilt
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BEPPU: Persuasion LP (OTR 008LP)
Blue vinyl. Limited to 300 copies. Beppu aka Andrew Hargreaves (The Boats) ratchets up the industrial levels with the second part of an album trilogy that started with Coercion in 2014. On Persuasion he allows the machines to lead the compositional process, letting himself be taken into the red by unrelenting, Vainio-style noise pulses and four-to-the-floor kicks with rail-gun 16ths side-chained to near-oblivion with a bone-head momentum. Sonically, one can trace the record's roots back thru the narky grooves of Spanish industrialists Esplendor Geometrico, while the album name and track titles pay tribute to James A.C. Brown's 1963 book on brainwashing, Techniques of Persuasion, with names and notions like "Institutional Neurosis" or "Subliminal Perception" firmly backed up by spirit-crushing drums and vicious synthetic atmospheres. It stomps on the fine line between anger and catharsis, freeform atonality and melodic sleight of hand. RIYL Shapednoise, AnD, Throbbing Gristle, Esplendor Geometrico, Pan Sonic. Mastered and cut by Matt Colton at Alchemy.
$15.79 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Thought Reform
A2. Channeling Guilt
A3. Breathing Regulation
A4. Subliminal Perception
B1. Institutional Neurosis
B2. Constructive Discontent
B3. Identity Crisis
B4. Final Confession
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MANIK: In Walks Bourbon EP 12" (OVM 253EP)
A long-standing veteran of Josh Wink's Ovum imprint, Manik presents his fifth release on the label, an EP of raw, chunky, house-influenced cuts. "Wink KD" opens with a catchy groove and hypnotic vocal sample, before the breakdown introduces an infectious acid bassline. "In Walks Bourbon" smooths things out here with a more head-bobbing groove, but don't let that fool you -- the track builds and builds with a rolling bass that takes the track into overdrive. The jacking "House Cut 2" features catchy synth stabs and various vocal samples, with snappy percussion that drives the track to a frenetic build.
$9.79 UPC: 678414002530 ELECTRONIC
A1. Wink KD
B1. In Walks Bourbon
B2. House Cut 2
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YA TOSIBA: Mollah the Machine Remixes 7" (PING 047EP)
RSS Disco remix "Maşın" by Ya Tosiba. The DJ-and-producer trio from Hamburg focuses on the bassline and makes the synth pads shimmer. The original Ya Tosiba song is about the sudden appearance of cars on the streets of Baku in the '80s -- decades later, it's a perfect cruising track. Patric Catani aka Candie Hank delivers a hilarious, bouncing remix of Molla, paying tribute to Zuzu's funky meykhana vocals.
$6.99 UPC: 880319712814 ELECTRONIC
A1. Maşın (RSS Disco Remix)
B1. Molla (Candie Hank Remix)
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RAHBEK & PUCE MARY, LOKE: The Female Form LP (PI 145LP)
The Female Form is the second collaborative record by two of Copenhagen's most prolific experimental music personas. Frederikke Hoffmeier's Puce Mary project is known from several solo records on Posh Isolation and her collaborative releases with Sewer Election, as well as countless shows and performances all over the world. Loke Rahbek is probably best known as a co-founder of Posh Isolation and his projects under the aliases Croatian Amor, Damien Dubrovnik, Lust for Youth, Vår, and an impressive body of work manifested both as records, performances, and strange places in between. Together they released The Closed Room on Posh Isolation in 2011, and now they present the second record of their planned trilogy. The Female Form was recorded partly in their shared studio in Copenhagen, located inside the venue and studio complex Mayhem, and partly at the historic Elektronmusikstudion in Stockholm. Thematically, the record deals with intimacy and the (im)possible relation of the sexes. It is obvious that the two artists have grown vastly, both as composers and lyricists, since their last collaborative effort. Still, it feels like The Female Form picks up where The Closed Room left of, walking a path in between industrial, drone, and electroacoustic music. The room is still closed, the doors are shut, and windows covered, and whatever insight the listener is granted is the kind of insight you get peeping through the keyhole or the crack between the curtains. Every motion is obscured and the outcome uncertain. Still, the seven pieces of The Female Form are a demanding and intriguing venture into the two artists' world, even if we are left at the doorstep with the door closed in front of us.
$12.99 UPC: 769791909038 ELECTRONIC
A1. Swim
A2. A Body Reimagined
A3. Swim ll
A4. Liquefying of the Flesh
B1. The Female Form
B2. With Complete Wlll
B3. Closure
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BRUNN, BENJAMIN: Live At Golden Pudel Club LP (PUDELVILLE 001)
RSD 2015 release. On October 28th, 2012, Benjamin Brunn played a heartbreaking ambient live set at the almighty Golden Pudel Club in Hamburg, using G1 and G2 Nord Modular synths. His set was recorded and released as a CD by Pudel Produkte in 2013. As it was the perfect soundtrack for the lazy days at the Smallville record store, Smallville felt the urge to release this on vinyl, and during a blurry Smallville night at Pudel, they decided to do it. Brunn cut out two parts of 20 minutes each for the vinyl release. There are two front covers on the full-color sleeve; one by Stefan Marx and one by Alex "C.I.A" Solman, the king of Pudel-related art.
$10.99 UPC: 827170594760 ELECTRONIC
A1. Part 1
AA1. Part 2
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SOOM T & MONKEY MARC: Bullets Over Babylon CD (RM 007CD)
Bullets Over Babylon drops from the womb of the renegade ma, ready to destroy neuro currents, reestablishing a new etheric body for the duration of its ten holy onslaughts. Diggin' deep into the underbelly of the bass-loving classes, it wanders into dark hip-hop territory with unmistakable homage to Cypress Hill of the early '90s while propping up the atmospheric slant of '50s jazz, occasionally coursing into uncharted rage-infused confusery. Many years in the making, this beast groomed itself into an idea worth sharing, drawn from two divergent camps: India-born, Glasgow-raised MC Soom T's activist words, poignant delivery, and spiritual vocal underpinnings; and the politically charged electronic wizardry of Monkey Marc (producer from Australian label Omelette and politico-activist stalwarts Combat Wombat). Each instrumental provides the backdrop, embellishing the gush of ideas that lean into epicurean drama when the mood brings it. The bullets from this Babylon-induced homage to truth carry the listener on a deep emotional journey that demands that they question reality and turn up the bass. Bullets Over Babylon -- get it... to know that you know nothing. May the source be with you.
$12.99 EAN: 5055300365798 HIPHOP
01. Living in Doubt
02. King of Song
03. Hungry for Love
04. Your Father's Eyes
05. Calling Out a Name
06. Every Child (Portrait of Wellman Braud)
07. Up a Hill
08. Dark End of the Street
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SOOM T & MONKEY MARC: Bullets Over Babylon LP (RM 007LP)
LP version.
$17.79 EAN: 5055300365750 HIPHOP
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GNOD: Infinity Machines 2CD (LAUNCH 072CD)
Salford, England-based Gnod's Infinity Machines explores a unique vision informed by experimental élan and metaphysical intensity. In an era in which the word "psychedelic" too often tends to signify a reductive and retrograde rag-bag of second-hand shapes, it was in Gnod's nature to venture forth in search of new and expanded sonic terrain. At first, this led them to pursue a purely electronic sound in the live arena, yet as they knuckled down to chronicle this expansion and experimentation for posterity, it became clear that a mixture of live instrumentation and binary audial research would be the path that would prove most fruitful. Thus began the process that would ultimately produce these recordings, and a far-reaching mission that would result in uncanny crepuscular atmosphere locking horns with sinister electronic intensity. Infinity Machines traverses between and beyond a variety of different headspaces, from the bleak to the beatific; yet, while touching on nocturnal jazz, soothing yet unsettling ambience, menacing aggro-industrial battery, and opiated bliss-out alike, it's shot through with an undercurrent of fiery countercultural zeal and small-hours revelation, as if the hive-mind of their home collective had manifested itself on disc. Tracks were put together from an initial blank canvas, and as the band themselves emphasize, "We got pretty tactical in the approach. We have certainly noticed that the emphasis has shifted from full on 'throw everything at it' Gnod vibes to a more stripped spacious sound which was not fully intentional but more of a natural progression."
$14.39 EAN: 5055300383730 ROCK
01. Control Systems
02. Inevitable Collateral
03. Desire
04. Importance of Downtime
05. White Privileged Wank
06. Spinal Fluid
07. Breaking the Hex
08. Infinity Machines
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GNOD: Infinity Machines 3LP (LAUNCH 072LP)
Triple LP version.
$23.79 EAN: 5055869506243 ROCK
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DRECKER, ANNELI: Rocks & Straws CD (RCD 2169CD)
Anneli Drecker's ethereal voice first became known through the music of her band with Geir Jenssen (aka Biosphere) and Nils Johansen, Bel Canto, in the '80s. The trio signed to the legendary Belgian label Crammed Discs, alongside Zap Mama and Tuxedomoon, and captured the zeitgeist of European electronic music in the late '80s. They have won the Spellemannprisen (Norwegian music award often called the Norwegien Grammy) three times, and are regarded as pioneers in the Norwegian electronic pop music scene. With her characteristic experimental singing style, often compared to other wonderful singers such as Lisa Gerrard and Liz Fraser, Drecker has collaborated with many great artists, including Hector Zazou, Jah Wobble, Gavin Friday, DJ Krush, Tim Simenon, Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins), Guy Sigsworth, and Ketil Bjørnstad; she has also recorded three albums based on poems by John Donne and Hart Crane. Drecker joined A-ha on two world tours as their guest singer, and toured the world for more than ten years with Röyksopp, co-writing a number of songs with them. In 2012, Drecker left Röyksopp to return to her own music, and Rocks & Straws is a homecoming album, an ode to her native town and region. The songs are based on lyrics by the North Norwegian cult poet Arvid Hanssen, translated to English by artist and writer Roy-Frode Løvland. Hanssen's poems are strongly influenced by the mysterious and powerful nature of this arctic region, like the writings of Knut Hamsun, born only a few miles from Hanssen's birthplace. Man and nature, and man in nature -- Hanssen captures the interaction of Northern Norwegians with their merciless but beautiful surroundings. Rocks & Straws is very much an acoustic album. In a world of electronic recordings, she has moved in another direction, and made an album based on recording techniques from the '70s. The music is played live, with some of Norway's finest musicians: guitarist Eivind Aarset, drummer Rune Arnesen, bassist Ole Vegard Skauge, and The Arctic Philharmonic, Tromsø's acclaimed orchestra. Drecker sings and plays the piano and organ, and produced the recording with the musicians. At the time of this release, Drecker is a Ph.D. candidate at the Arctic University of Tromsø, where she is researching voice techniques of indigenous people; this is apparent especially in the song "Ocean's Organ," with a Maori group singing kapa haka songs that Drecker recorded while in Auckland, New Zealand.
$11.99 EAN: 7033662021697 ROCK
01. Alone
02. Circulating Light
03. Come Summer's Wind
04. Green Leaves in the Snow
05. Fisherman's Blues
06. Ocean's Organ
07. Rain, Rocks & Straws
08. Seagull's Melody
09. Waiting for the Boat
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MOTORPSYCHO: En Konsert For Folk Flest 2LP/CD/DVD (RLP 2170LP)
On July 31st, 2014, Motorpsycho and Ståle Storløkken, together with Kammerkoret Aurum and Sheriffs of Nothingness, performed En Konsert For Folk Flest in the mighty Nidaros Cathedral in the band's hometown of Trondheim as part of Trondheim's biggest cultural festival, Olavsfestdagene (OFD). Luckily, they had the foresight to have it all filmed and recorded, and now this ambitious work is available in a lavish, heavy-duty Stoughton package containing two 180-gram records, one CD, one DVD, and a 24-page LP-size booklet. Documenting an event that most likely will never be repeated, this is a unique album in many ways, one being that all the lyrics, sung by the 24-piece choir, are in Norwegian for the first time in the band's history. The 2014 theme of OFD was "Folk." This is roughly analogous to the English "folk," but the term seems to have a slightly wider connotation in Norway. In Norwegian it can mean "people," in an ethnic sense, as well as "nation," in a cultural sense, and doesn't necessarily carry all the folkloristic connotations that it does in English. The lyrics of Motorpsycho's finished piece focus on the peculiar Norwegian notion of "folk flest." This is a term used by politicians and their ilk to signify "most people." Author and friend Johan Harstad, in addition to writing the prose pieces that were printed in the concert program specifically made for the occasion and included here in the booklet, functioned as a lyrics consultant in the process. Musically, this format also represented quite a few new challenges for the band. Writing for a choir is obviously quite a different task than writing for a hard rock trio, and one that the band hadn't grappled with before. To all involved, it was thus important that the music retained a genuinely Motorpsychodelic feel and did not come off like some choir music pastiche. Storløkken's take on the compositional minutiae of this work is obviously fully his own -- he remains a truly unique writer no matter the context -- but the combination of his and Motorpsycho's musical languages is also quite often a very special and explosive one. The DVD includes the full concert plus a 65-minute documentary. The 24-page LP-size booklet includes the Norwegian lyrics and Johan Harstad's text "Manifest For Folk Flest" with an English translation. One-time pressing of 2000 hand-numbered copies.
$31.59 EAN: 7033660021705 ROCK
01. Stille før stormen
02. Fragmenter av lys og skygge
03. Mammonumamikoma
04. Lykkepilgrim
05. Imens ved Biopolarsirkelen
06. Syv dager på Ekofisk
07. Kebabels tårn
08. Flere fragmenter av lys og skygge
09. Grandiosa
10. Folket reiser seg
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DRECKER, ANNELI: Rocks & Straws LP (RLP 3169LP)
LP version.
$15.79 EAN: 7033660031698 ROCK
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GONPUTH, SARAH: I'm Still in Love: The Remixes 12" (RMX 007EP)
So this EP exists because of nothing but Sarah Gonputh's voice track? How can you remix a song that does not yet exist? The BELP version is a tribute to a woman's voice; sepia-toned, wearing a long, pale raincoat in an industrial London from another time. Steril's bright, shiny version definitely uses Gonputh the most. Protein's version is the most reminiscent of the original reggae vibe -- something like acidofluorescentropical music. Everything good and dirty happens below the belt on Bartellow's version; Pacifico Boy's version is fit for a psycho-circus waltz ballroom; Eshna_TRON's version is the most hardcore thing ever.
$8.99 EAN: 4260028155113 ELECTRONIC
A1. BELP
A2. Steril
A3. Protein
B1. Bartellow
B2. Pacífico Boy
B3. Eshna_TRON
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MUNGO'S HI-FI FEAT. CHARLIE P: You See Me Star CD (SCOB 005CD)
Charlie P is a raggamuffin rudeboy youth with a natural talent for music. He first appeared on stage at the age of five and there are some grainy YouTube videos of him performing as a child. He started out singing motown and blues but reggae was in his blood, as he grew up surrounded by UK Jamaican culture. He started singing with the Goldmaster Allstars at the age of 11, but was soon drawn to sound systems, which is where he feels most at home. His uncle had been running a sound in Southend-on-Sea and it was his mother who encouraged him in his career. Charlie first came to Glasgow in 2010 for one of Mungo's Hi Fi's legendary nights at The Art School. This was the beginning of their working relationship, which has seen countless recording sessions and continuous touring around every corner of the globe. This album is the culmination of this ongoing relationship and brings together the best tracks across the styles that he loves, from roots reggae and dancehall to modern bass music. Some are surprised to see a young white guy with a Jamaican accent, but it is his musical language and Charlie is not pretending to be anything but himself -- a man with a passion for good ganja and reggae dancehall.
$10.39 EAN: 5055300385147 WORLD
01. You See Me Star
02. Music Politics
03. Traveller
04. Society
05. Imitators
06. Alphabet
07. Nice It Up
08. The System
09. Life Is What You Make It
10. Back to My Roots
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MUNGO'S HI-FI FEAT. CHARLIE P: You See Me Star LP (SCOB 005LP)
LP version.
$16.39 EAN: 5055300385130 WORLD
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MUNGO'S HI-FI: Give Thanks to Jah 7" (SCOB 051EP)
A-side features Mr Williamz.
$7.79 EAN: 5055300385116 WORLD
A1. Give thanks to Jah (feat. Mr Williamz)
B1. G20 riddim
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MUNGO'S HI-FI: Freedom Come 7" (SCOB 052EP)
A-side features Blackout JA.
$7.79 EAN: 5055300385123 WORLD
A1. Freedom come (feat. Blackout JA)
B1. Imitators riddim
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FISHERMEN: Remixed 2x12" (SKUDGEWR 001EP)
In December 2013, Fishermen released their well-received debut album, Patterns and Paths (SKUDGEWLP 001). They return with remixes of some of the standout tracks from the album by Cut Hands, Florian Kupfer, Steve Bicknell, and Abdulla Rashim and Varg's Ulwhednar project.
$16.39 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. Serpents (Cut Hands Remix)
B1. Serpents (Florian Kupfer Remix)
C1. Dyspnea (Steve Bicknell Remix)
D1. Sunken Mosque (Ulwhednar's Airokala Remix)
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VA: Groovallegiance: 10 Super Rare Original Funky Tracks from the Late Sixties to the Early Seventies LP (SP 10126LP)
Since 1993, Soul Patrol have established themselves as an indisputable reference when it comes to funky soul music. Soul Patrol made its name with compilations of obscure tracks originally released on 7", paying tribute to some artists who couldn't make the living they deserved with their music. Here, Soul Patrol strikes stronger than strong with Groovallegiance. Like its previous compilations, there are some gems to discover, some surprises, and some ear-openers, such as Spitting Image's "JB's Latin" or the ultra-efficient "Foxy" by Sam Jacobs, as well as "And I Love You" by The Darling Dears & Funky Heavy Prod.... Music from a time when soul music reflected political violence and misery, with dignity and freedom of the utmost importance. This record is a true gem, for the most curious listeners. Also includes tracks by T. J. and the Group, The Originals Orchestra, Monica, New Directions, The Concepts, Funk Machine, and Cool Creations of St. Maarten. Edition of 500.
$14.39 EAN: 3700187656812 ROCK
A1. Spitting Image - JB's Latin (2:25)
A2. T. J. and the Group - Blues for the B's (2:33)
A3. The Originals Orchestra - Who Dun It (2:50)
A4. Monica - I Don't Know Nothing Else to Tell You, But I Love You (2:39)
A5. New Directions - Trolley (3:57)
B1. The Concepts - Introduction (2:45)
B2. The Darling Dears and Funky Heavy Prod. - And I Love You (3:34)
B3. Funk Machine - Soul Santa (Part II) (2:29)
B4. Sam Jacobs - Foxy (2:40)
B5. Cool Creations of St. Maarten - Nightime On the Beach Island (5:08)
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CONTAINER: LP LP (SP 040LP)
Ren Schofield's Container took the world of underground electronic music by storm with the debut LP in 2011 (SP 007LP). Following massive amounts of touring and the powerful follow-up LP, LP, in 2012 (SP 025LP), the project became a must-experience staple everywhere from U.S. basements to Berghain. After two fantastic EP recordings on Morphine (Treatment, DOSER 016EP, 2013) and Liberation Technologies, Container returns with the first full-length album since 2012, simply titled LP. LP is the most explosive offering in the Container oeuvre, capturing the raw and unhinged essence of the live Container experience while exploring new compositional and sonic limits. Opener "Eject" wastes no time with its instant feedback squeal backed by a barrage of pounding, distorted percussion. The concomitant storm of misfiring FX and derailed drum patterns sets the stage for the aural pandemonium to come. "Remover" and "Peripheral" are dense and intricate structural compositions ruthless in their delivery and infectious in rhythm, stretching the known limits of the project's sound into welcome new realms. Tracks like "Appliance" and "Cushion" find Schofield in his most vicious form, with floor-destroying tempos and a miraculously adroit sense of arrangement. Somehow, LP manages to simultaneously be the most palatable and most damaged contribution yet. Patchwork polyrhythm motifs, melodic (albeit fully blasted) hook sensibilities, and ballistic synthesized sounds are melted down together and shaped into some of the most rewarding, enjoyable works yet heard on any of the LP offerings. The closing "Calibrate" pounds with a hypnotic churn, growing into a stasis of red-hot squelches and deranged electronic malfunction that recalls some of the earliest tape works Schofield created. LP gives a sense of "full circle," blurring the end and the beginning into a baffling riddle that can only be admired and never solved. Schofield has enigmatically crafted his most insane Container album to be the most architecturally dexterous and club-minded, never compromising his fundamentals while evolving the project in an utterly satisfying fashion. LP is his most locked-in full-length recording to date, long overdue and absolutely essential.
$14.39 EAN: 5050580635241 ELECTRONIC
01. Eject
02. Remover
03. Cushion
04. Absorb
05. Peripheral
06. Appliance
07. Calibrate
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AQUA: In Loving Memory of Aqua (1982-1988) CD (SPITTLE 055CD)
A stellar re-discovery from the heyday of the Italian post-punk scene. In 1985, Aqua's sole release appeared, a self-titled mini-album; the four-piece from Turin was praised by the main publications and underground 'zines of the country for their rhythmic, enveloping music, with more than one cross-reference to the British scene. The six-track record had a lot in common with early new wave, focusing on a melodic and surreal style. A genre-defying 12" that combined some goth influences with dream-pop, with lyrics sung in English. This reissue includes 17 tracks of bonus content and detailed liner notes from veteran journalist Federico Guglielmi. In addition to the complete 1985 record, there are three tracks from various compilations, four from their first demo, five live extracts, and five more songs tentatively scheduled for a long-player that was not to be. That is the full parabola: from the very beginning in 1982 to the unfortunate split in 1988. Through different line-ups and different ideas, with the language switching a few times from English to Italian, this is the full spectrum of Aqua's melancholic sound. RIYL: Echo & The Bunnymen, Bauhaus, The Cure.
$12.39 EAN: 8033706210550 ROCK
01. 4
02. 8
03. 3
04. Head of Toy
05. 1
06. Due
07. Necronomicon
08. Sedici
09. Ernesto
10. 1
11. 2
12. 3
13. 4
14. Animali
15. Hollow Men
16. Elephant
17. Plastic City
18. 8
19. Jerico (Snake Talks)
20. Human Guys
21. Franklin Scooter
22. But It
23. Goodbye Aux Vents
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REVOLVER: Revolver LP (SPITTLE 056LP)
"Demented rock" was one of the genuine forms of punk rock in Italy, characterized by a transgressive formula with tremendous sarcasm and attitude. Everything was set against the seeds of the counterculture, the pop heritage, and the exasperated technicality of progressive rock. First released in 1979 on Philips and now reissued for the first time since, this is the one and only effort from Revolver, a perfect example of the sub-genre, with hints of foolish Zappaesque interludes. Vocals on the single "Gay" courtesy of glam pop star Ivan Cattaneo. Features significant contributions from Baffo Banfi, iconic keyboard player with progressive heroes Biglietto Per L'Inferno and solo artist for Klaus Schulze's Innovative Communication label.
$14.39 EAN: 8033706210567 ROCK
A1. Il Signore Degli Imbecilli
A2. Sayonara
A3. I.a.c.p. Blues
A4. Dada Boutique
A5. Noi Stiamo Bene
B1. Eva-Jackie
B2. Mamma Aiutami Tu!
B3. East Ponziana
B4. Giù in Cantina
B5. Gay
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CHRISMA: Hibernation LP (SPITTLE 059LP)
In the Italian panorama of the '70s, Chrisma (Christina Moser and Maurizio Arcieri) skirted the common rules of Italian pop (the aura of progressive rock or the first wave of prolific folk singers); in fact, they created Italian new wave from scratch. After the release of their 1977 debut album Chinese Restaurant (SPITTLE 051LP) -- so far from the punk revolution and so deep into the algid dynamics of the Mittel-European sound -- came Hibernation, their creative peak on which they embrace the revelation of the man-machine and venture into the realms of incomparable robots Kraftwerk. Again the album was produced by Niko Papathanassiou (brother of the Greek legend Vangelis), and it features very sophisticated cover artwork created by famous photographer Mario Convertino. Chrisma, so far ahead of their time, crafted an opus that should be considered at the same emotional level as the most famous synth-pop bands from the UK and Germany. Highlights include "Vetra Platz," a long digital ride worthy of the most famous Kraftwerk singles; "Calling" and "Gott Gott Electron," a primeval couplet of furious post-punk numbers; and the lush "Lover," with Miss Moser still in top form. This reissue includes the original artwork with a silver background. RIYL: T. Rex, Nico, Kraftwerk.
$14.39 EAN: 8033706210598 ROCK
A1. Calling
A2. Aurora B.
A3. Rush '79
A4. Hibernated Nazi
B1. Gott Gott Electron
B2. We R.
B3. So You Don't
B4. Lover
B5. Vetra Platz
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VA: iV3SCR (The Great Complotto 2) LP+CD (SPITTLE 060LP)
The second chapter in the Great Complotto manifesto from Pordenone (birthplace of Italian punk). Originally issued in 1983, though most of its songs were recorded in 1981, Italian Records' second compilation of Italian punk is even more attractive than its first (The Great Complotto - Pordenone (SPITTLE 048LP)). What glues together all the contributors (Sexy Angels, Gigolo' Look, Cancer (credited on the cover as 0010110000010011), and Mess) is their innovative and creative use of electronics. This reissue includes the original artwork (a giant poster folded in four parts) and an extra CD with the LP's tracks and five bonus tracks from the ultra-rare 7" single originally enclosed with the Onda 400 fanzine in 1980 (including contributions from Andy Warhol Banana Technicolor, 001011000010011101, Sexy Angels, Fhedolts, and Mind Invaders). RIYL: The Cure, DEVO, Joy Division.
$16.39 EAN: 8033706210604 ROCK
LP:
A1. Sexy Angels - Mathematic Mind
A2. Sexy Angels - Neutronic War
A3. Gigolo' Look - Elegant
A4. Gigolo' Look - Nouveau Riches
B1. Cancer - Naonian Style
B2. Cancer - Wheels
B3. Mess - Kunst und Technik
B4. Mess - Get Proud
CD:
01. Sexy Angels - Mathematic Mind
02. Sexy Angels - Neutronic War
03. Gigolo' Look - Elegant
04. Gigolo' Look - Nouveau Riches
05. Cancer - Naonian Style
06. Cancer - Wheels
07. Mess - Kunst und Technik
08. Mess - Get Proud
09. Andy Warhol Banana Technicolor - We Aren't Devo Revo
10. Fhedolts - Monster in the Disco
11. 001011000010011101 - 000 011
12. Mind Invaders - Stealnak
13. Sexy Angels - Devil
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VA: Taboo: An Exploration Into the Exotic World of Taboo, Volume 1 10" (STAGO 069LP)
Stag-O-Lee inaugurates its Journey to the Centre of the Song series, dedicated to celebrating one song at a time in its many guises and interpretations, with Taboo. The classic "Tabu" was written by Margarita Lecuona (also responsible for "Babalu," a classic as well), a cousin of the famous Cuban composer and pianist Ernesto Lecuona. "Tabú" (also recorded as "Tabou," "Tabu," and "Taboo") is a jazz and popular music standard that was first recorded by Cuarteto Machín in 1934 and later made popular by the Lecuona Cuban Boys (included here) and others. The aforementioned guises and interpretations span genres, represented here by Charles Blackwell Orchestra's upbeat surfstrumental shaker, the brassy exotic tones of Tito Rivera & His Cuban Orchestra, the Cumbian island sounds of Cyril Diaz & His Orchestra, Sylvie Mora's silky-smooth popcorn rendition, and versions by The Shangaans, Caterina Valente, and Frankie Trumbauer's Orchestra. Completing the record is Arthur Lyman's crazy voodoo lounge version that evokes visions of palm trees and sun-drenched white sand. Sit back and enter the intoxicating world of... "Taboo."
$13.79 EAN: 4030433006917 ROCK
A1. Charles Blackwell Orchestra - Taboo
A2. The Shangaans - Taboo
A3. Lecuona Cuban Boys - Tabou
A4. Caterina Valente - Taboo
A5. Tito Rivera & His Cuban Orchestra - Taboo
B1. Frankie Trumbauer's Orchestra - Taboo
B2. Cyril Diaz & His Orchestra - Tabu
B3. Sylvie Mora - Taboo
B4. Arthur Lyman - Taboo
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KOLETZKI, OLIVER: Iyéwaye 12" (SVT 149EP)
With Iyéwaye, his first solo EP since the 2014 release of his fifth album, I Am OK (SVT 131LP), Oliver Koletzki appears in a new, but not altogether unfamiliar light; not since his breakthrough in 2005 with Der Mückenschwarm has Koletzki sounded this hard. But even here, in the techno realm, Koletzki demonstrates his inimitable sense for melody; thus, the gloomy, driving framework of "Iyéwaye" is lit up by a crystal-clear synth-sequence. Similarly, "Ipuza," which hypnotizes by way of reduction and repetition, is funky at its core thanks to a rolling tribal groove. Functional, but with heart and soul.
$8.99 UPC: 827170593169 ELECTRONIC
A1. Iyéwaye
B1. Ipuza
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D-OPERATION DROP & PIEZO: Don't Breathe EP + Wayfarer Remix 12" (SUBALT 008EP)
Italian collective D-Operation Drop opens this dark, menacing EP with the apocalyptic vocal of "Don't Breathe," complemented by roaring synth-monsters and a stone-cold sub-bass to take you to the edge of the dance with relentless fury. "Flumen," an unreal collaboration with Piezo, begins with gentle harmonies before erupting into a carefully curated symphony of driving bass and cutting-edge mids. Carried by truly haunting atmospheres, "Flumen" builds up and falls down over and over, finishing in mad broken-beat turmoil. Young British talent Wayfarer shows off his razor-sharp sound design and production, adding his trademark melodies and devastating growls to "Don't Breathe."
$9.79 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
A1. D-Operation Drop - Don't Breathe
AA1. D-Operation Drop & Piezo - Flumen
AA2. D-Operation Drop - Don't Breathe (Wayfarer Remix)
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VON SEIN, TILL: Precious LP+CD (SUOL 006LP)
How did the myth surrounding the proverbial "difficult second album" come about? And who first started the rumor that you have a lifetime to finish the first album, but two years at most for the second? It's likely that all these platitudes simply got churned out of the cliché machine at some stage, but the fact remains: they are out there and they sometimes make life tough for musicians. But not for Till von Sein. The German DJ and producer simply approached the dictatorship of the schedule with a shoulder shrug; stress rolled off him like water off a duck's back, and he follows up his 2011 full-length debut, #LTD (SUOL 003CD), with Precious. But isn't Tilly the guy whose tour schedules barely leaves any corner of the earth untouched? That's right. In reality, the years between #LTD and Precious were compressed into a time frame during which other artists on the scene manage to put out a few EPs and remixes at most. More importantly, von Sein's Precious is not merely a follow-up: von Sein has re-calibrated himself and re-assessed his approach to creating an album. He sums up his approach to recording this release with unambiguous brevity: "I wanted the album to get to the point." While its predecessor could be described as performing a loyal service to the functional aspects of house, the tracks on this album dance to the ever-changing tune of their author. Precious effortlessly does its name justice, forming a collection of interpretations of all the musical treasures that have left the deepest impression on von Sein as an artist. The album shifts between house, R'n'B, and soul-inflected pop, stylishly connecting the most remote bpms and succeeding where many others have failed in combining dancefloor compatibility with a touch of songwriter inspiration and even airplayability. Features appearances from Kid Enigma, Russoul, The Black 80s, Diamond Setter & Maria Leonard, Mr. V, and Meggy. Only available in LP+CD format.
$14.99 UPC: 673799410611 ELECTRONIC
01./A1. One Feat. Lazarus
02./A2. Booty Angel (feat. Kid Enigma)
03./A3. It's All in the Spirit (feat. Russoul)
04./A4. No Luxury (feat. The Black 80s)
05./A5. Young Again (feat. Diamond Setter & Maria Leonard)
06./B1. Tilly´s Vibes
07./B2. The Manifest (feat. Mr. V)
08./B3. Like Air (feat. Meggy)
09./B4. Electric Love (feat. Diamond Setter & Maria Leonard)
10./B5. Nothing More (feat. Meggy)
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LOPEZ, FRANCISCO: UNTITLED#300 LP (TAIGA 030LP)
Pressing of 300 copies on crystal-clear 200-gram virgin vinyl packaged in a custom letterpress jacket printed, die-cut, and hand-assembled at Studio On Fire in Minneapolis, with particular care taken to retain the fine detail of the cover's microscopic type. "Francisco López is internationally recognized as one of the major figures of the sound art and experimental music scene. For more than 30 years he has developed an astonishing sonic universe, absolutely personal and iconoclastic, based on a profound listening of the world. Destroying boundaries between industrial sounds and wilderness sound environments, shifting with passion from the limits of perception to the most dreadful abyss of sonic power, proposing a blind, profound and transcendental listening, freed from the imperatives of knowledge and open to sensory and spiritual expansion" --Pedro Higueras, Sonom Studios. "UNTITLED#300 is an LP based on multi-track field recordings I did in 2011 of a large colony of seagulls in a group of small islands right in front of the Moroccan-Algerian border, together with hydrophone and contact mic recordings of sea creatures underwater from the same location (side A and B of the LP, respectively). Being interested in going beyond a traditional 'soundscape' perspective, I've played freely with mixing and editing, in an unorthodox way, different multi-channel recordings I did. Side A ('abovewater') is the large seagull colony. In side B ('underwater') what you hear is predominantly millions of very small shrimp-like crustaceans, dolphin sonar (the beating pattern of the first section), and occasional fish (the 'frog-like' calls)" --Francisco López. Original environmental sound matter recorded in the Chafarinas Islands off the coast of Morocco, summer 2011. Edited, mixed, and mastered at mobile messor, The Hague, the Netherlands, summer 2012. Field work carried out with the collaboration and support of the SIGEIN-Chafarinas research group (Integral Ecological Management System of the Chafarinas Islands), directed by Francisco J. Acosta (Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain) and coordinated by Javier Zapata (Spanish National Park Service).
$16.99 EAN: 7697919090395 EXPERIMENTAL
A1. abovewater (16:53)
B1. underwater (20:19)
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PAZES: Induced LP (TNP 017LP)
Haunting in its ardor for subdued atmospheric murk and dissipating electronic dream-pop transmissions, Pazes's debut full-length album, Induced, is an exercise in musical intent vs. the unknown forces that forge the end result. Commenting on the process, the Berlin-based (by way of Brazil) Pazes remarks, "I like to think feelings and ideas are separate things and if I'm expressing anything with music, I want it to be the latter. However within the process it becomes very hard to control what you're doing and where you're going. Naturally, this is analogous to many other realms of experience, this difficulty in exerting some sort of control over actions even when things are very clear and defined." Focused and fluid, Induced curiously exudes an uncommon sense of mystery and melancholy presenting itself in vaguely menacing starkness, wistful ambience, creeping bass groan, and the exploration of textures ranging from almost weightless to gritty. Cascading arpeggios meet off-kilter rhythm structures containing elemental traces of hip-hop/trip-hop and leftfield techno/dubstep, yet the mood of Induced has as much in common with bleary-eyed post-punk or shoegaze as it does with any contemporary electronic music scenes. Largely an instrumental journey, with Istanbul's Biblo contributing vocals to otherworldly songs ("Sion" and "Every One") and Paris-based pop chanteuse Andrea Balency appearing on the heart-wrenchingly gorgeous album closer "Remnants."
$13.79 UPC: 880319696336 ELECTRONIC
01. Be Told
02. Poltergeist
03. Left & Right
04. Sion (feat. Biblo)
05. Wall Five
06. Astir
07. Everyone One (feat. Biblo)
08. Grace
09. Induced
10. Guest
11. Remnants (feat. Andrea Balency)
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ZU & EUGENE S. ROBINSON: The Left Hand Path CD (TROST 133CD)
Zu has always been a mercurial and ever-changing entity: unafraid of cross-genre explorations, eager to break down barriers between musical styles. Despite playing traditional instruments, major influences on Zu's music have always been sonic explorers like Coil, Throbbing Gristle, or early Neubauten. The sound of The Left Hand Path is the somewhat hidden side of Zu, though latent in all of its previous music. It's like digging out a box from the earth, containing everything the band had wished to highlight in previous works: ambient and droney landscapes; acoustic explorations in obscurity. The album starts programmatically with the sound of a shovel digging the earth -- a soundtrack for a descent into the underworld. It's moon musick. All of the members played electronics and Massimo focused mostly on guitars. The recordings were then sent to Eugene S. Robinson of Oxbow fame. Zu knew he was the right person to add vocals to it, and to transform the music again, into a sort of contemporary post-everything voodoo blues. Luca T. Mai: saxophone, electronics; Jacopo Battaglia: electronics; Massimo Pupillo: acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, electronics; Eugene S. Robinson: vocals.
$10.99 EAN: 9120036681859 ROCK
01. Waiter Waited
02. Taking the Give
03. Nightly a Sky
04. A Slick Not Spoken of Now. Or Again
05. In the Corner. Of the Corner Apartment
06. Looking for the Devil.
07. The Relaxing
08. Take-Away Truck
09. Phone Call from a Well Dressed Man
10. Beg
11. Shame On Me
12. 6 O'Clock
13. Praylude
14. Land Lord
15. The Key to Good Dental Health
16. We're All Friends
17. Enterlude
18. Near to Sleep
19. Pinning the Body to the Soul
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CESARE VS DISORDER: Vortex to Unreason 12" (VA 061EP)
"It's not a simple thing to write about your own tunes... I wanted to make a few tunes that reminded me about those lost feelings of the '90s, when electronic music was made not only for the clubs but also for the soul and the mind... 'Vortex' and 'Unreason,' one I would say more spaced-out and heavy-orientated, the other almost resembling those electronica times when I really enjoyed flying with my brain and my emotions... Romanian rising star Cristi Cons and Italian talent Fango... both delivered unique, stellar interpretations and I am happy to present the project to the world."
$9.79 UPC: 827170588264 ELECTRONIC
A1. Vortex
A2. Unreason
B1. Vortex (Cristi Cons Remix)
B2. Vortex (Fango Remix)
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VA: Voyage Direct: First Mission Sampler 1 12" (VD 022-1EP)
Voyage Direct's message comes through loud and clear on the label's first compilation, Voyage Direct: First Mission (VD 022CD), a collection that takes in both previously unreleased tracks and a hand-picked selection of classics from the imprint's first five years, 2010 through 2015. This sampler includes tracks by Ebokai, Efdé & Tom Ruijg, Magnesii, and House of Jezebel. Released alongside two other 12" samplers, Voyage Direct: First Mission Sampler 2 (VD 022-2EP) and 3 (VD 022-3EP).
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
01. Ebokai - Metae
02. Efdé & Tom Ruijg -The Slightly
03. Magnesii - Want Need
04. House of Jezebel - Quantum Fawn
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VA: Voyage Direct: First Mission Sampler 2 12" (VD 022-2EP)
Voyage Direct's message comes through loud and clear on the label's first compilation, Voyage Direct: First Mission (VD 022CD), a collection that takes in both previously unreleased tracks and a hand-picked selection of classics from the imprint's first five years, 2010 through 2015. This sampler includes tracks by Maxi Mill, Simon Weiss, Overlast, and Melon. Released alongside two other 12" samplers, Voyage Direct: First Mission Sampler 1 (VD 022-1EP) and 3 (VD 022-3EP).
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
01. Maxi Mill - Do You Want It?
02. Simon Weiss - Tele-vision
03. Overlast - Nipples
04. Melon - Raw Funk
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VA: Voyage Direct: First Mission Sampler 3 12" (VD 022-3EP)
Voyage Direct's message comes through loud and clear on the label's first compilation, Voyage Direct: First Mission (VD 022CD), a collection that takes in both previously unreleased tracks and a hand-picked selection of classics from the imprint's first five years, 2010 through 2015. This sampler includes tracks by Awanto 3, Tom Trago, and William Kouam Djoko. Released alongside two other 12" samplers, Voyage Direct: First Mission Sampler 1 (VD 022-1EP) and 2 (VD 022-2EP).
$8.99 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
01. Awanto 3 - The Girl Is Hot
02. Tom Trago - Only Believe
03. William Kouam Djoko - Hold Me Close
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VA: Voyage Direct: First Mission CD (VD 022CD)
Voyage Direct's message comes through loud and clear on the label's first compilation, a collection that takes in both previously unreleased tracks and a hand-picked selection of classics from the imprint's first five years, 2010 through 2015. Includes tracks by William Kouam Djoko, Dexter, Interstellar Funk, Tom Trago (remixed by Carl Craig), House of Jezebel, Boris Werner, Elias Mazian, Overlast, Benny Rodrigues, and Maxi Mill. Released alongside three 12" samplers, all of which include material not featured here: Voyage Direct: First Mission Sampler 1 (VD 022-1EP), 2 (VD 022-2EP), and 3 (VD 022-3EP).
$11.99 EAN: 8718723049757 ELECTRONIC
01. William Kouam Djoko - Intro
02. Dexter - Junofest
03. Interstellar Funk - House Train
04. Tom Trago - Use Me Again (Carl Craig rework)
05. House of Jezebel - Love & Happiness
06. Boris Werner - Acid Casino
07. Elias Mazian - Future Times
08. William Kouam Djoko - Deflourished
09. Overlast - Range Rover
10. Benny Rodrigues - Master French
11. Maxi Mill - Lost and Found
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OPOLOPO: Superconductor CD (ZEDD 036CD)
Opolopo first hove into view for many as the man behind the genre-crossing house remix of Gregory Porter's "1960 What?", a tune that finished in the top ten of many DJs in 2012. Labeled future jazz by some, it's only a minor part of the Opolopo story, which spans genres like a musical suspension bridge. Opolopo was born Peter Major in Zirc, Hungary, a short drive away from the beautiful tourist spot Lake Balaton, but spent a large part of his childhood touring around with his keyboardist father, listening to the fusion sounds of Herbie Hancock, Jeff Lorber, Jean Michel Jarre, and Tomita, before finally ending up in his current residence of Sweden. It's little wonder he's ended up where he is. His work, both on remixes and original productions, is imbued with a life spent listening to the soul, funk, jazz, and fusion of his youth. Yet, while clearly inspired by the past, Opolopo's work still has enough clank and clamor to suggest its feet are firmly in the present, whether it's channeling the sound of a 21st century D-Train; dark, fathoms-deep house; or doom-laden dubstep. His reworking of St Germain's "Sure Thing" suggests someone inheriting Ludovic Navarre's own jazz-house crown, while his remix of Omar's "Treat You" is underpinned by all sorts of wonkiness. His remix and production work has appeared on JVC Japan, Tru Thoughts, Warner Bros, Tokyo Dawn, and, of course, Z Records. Arguably, the best way to consume Opolopo is live, where he brings together DJing with an array of gadgetry that suggests an electrified Bob Dylan, switching between playing records and tweaking the vocoder while still finding time for tasty keyboard flurries in between mixes. While Opolopo's remixes dart from René & Angela basslines to delicious house music, Superconductor channels the '80s, a decade that has been a constant, enriching source for the Opolopo sound. Superconductor is firmly built around the song, with collaborations with Colonel Red, Keni Burke, Diane Charlemagne, Taka Boom, Pete Simpson, Paul Randolph, Sacha Williamson, and Erik Dillard. "The Run" sounds like a theme from a long-lost sci-fi program, while "Monolith" sounds like a tune exhumed from the vaults at Tabu Records. In short, Opolopo is a one-man Jam & Lewis. "Opolopo" means "plenty" in the Yoruba language, and on Superconductor there is a superabundance of sounds, styles, and, yes, tunes. Come feast.
$10.99 EAN: 5060162573045 ELECTRONIC
01. The Best (feat. Colonel Red)
02. Get On Up
03. So Good (feat. Keni Burke)
04. Round and Round (feat. Diane Charlemagne)
05. Feels Good 2 Me (feat. Taka Boom)
06. Staying Power (feat. Pete Simpson)
07. Superconductor
08. The Run
09. Sustain (feat. Paul Randolph)
10. Candy Coated Perfection (feat. Sacha Williamson)
11. Monolith
12. Just Feel the Music (feat. Taka Boom)
13. Spare Me the Details (feat. Erik Dillard)
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HOWLING HEX, THE: Butterfly/Party Shoes LP (DC 622EP)
"'Butterfly' and 'Party Shoes' are compact pop songs with lyric hooks, vocal harmonies, guitar leads, crazy rhythms and themes of love and peace, mixed together into a beguilingly physical sound. As per the standards of the format, both songs compress all their virtue into classic two-and-a-half minutes flat -- the perfect length for popular music in the days when rock and roll radio was the supreme voice of America's youth."
$4.00 UPC: N/A ROCK
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VA: White Glove Test: Louisville Punk Flyers 1978-1994 Book (DC 627BK)
"White Glove Test: Louisville Punk Flyers 1978-1994 is a rich visual history of an ephemeral and overlooked art form: the DIY concert poster. Beautiful, funny, and profane, the collection of more than 700 flyers compiled here vividly represents the golden age of this fugitive street art, revealing a neglected facet of punk's expressive force. Clipped, collaged, and photocopied, meticulously hand-painted and lettered, or designed on a glowing computer screen in the early days of desktop publishing, these flyers were outsider broadcasts stuck to phone poles and storefronts, a makeshift gallery installed with staple guns and wheat paste. As a lavishly detailed document of Louisville's vibrant and diverse music scene, this book offers an insider's view of one seminal community's rise from bold beginnings to eminent, international status. The images also chart the thriving, interconnected underground that extended well beyond New York and Los Angeles, offering a parallax view of American punk from an influential yet removed location. Assiduously assembled from rare originals, sure to appeal to any fan of independent music in Louisville and beyond, White Glove Test uncovers a previously hidden history of prodigious do-it-yourself production, illustrating a national phenomenon in microcosm and illuminating a vital style of pre-internet social media. Edited by: Mike Bucayu, Steve Driesler, Tim Furnish, John Kampschaefer, Douglas Maxson, Shawn Severs."
$41.00 EAN: 9781937112165 ROCK
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DREYBLATT, ARNOLD: Nodal Excitation LP (DC 629LP)
"By the late '80s most of the burgeoning minimal underground had been forgotten, especially one amazing character, Arnold Dreyblatt. Dreyblatt only had one record, Nodal Excitation (on the mostly post-AACM jazz label India Navigation), before he packed and moved to Berlin, where he concentrated on his other activities, making only two more records over the next 10 years. But for those who caught the action, Arnold was the man. He was more rock that any of the others combined, and he was also the only one to really tap into that massive proto-minimal sound that Conrad had squelched out of his tin-contact mic violin in the early '60s. Indeed, in the early '70s after being in school in Buffalo, where Conrad taught, Dreyblatt moved into Manhattan to work for Young, where he witnessed first-hand, and listened first-ear to those legendary recordings of the Theatre of Eternal Music. He got interested in long string sounds, and bought a bass that he wired with piano wire. By hitting the strings instead of bowing them, Dreyblatt was able to get those ringing overtones, but he also had added something new: pure rhythm. Dreyblatt couldn't get the rock singles he'd grown up with out of him, and couldn't become the full-on new-music man that seemed to be a requirement in the '70s, and it wasn't until the '80s that the fence could be straddled, if not knocked over. It was time to start a band. In 1998, dexter's cigar were on the scene, excavating the valuable stuff from that semi-recent past for Nodal Excitation's first-ever appearance on CD. It brought it into a lot of new ears -- but times have changed and so have the ears. So what you have here is the first ever LP reissue of Arnold Dreyblatt's freshman record, a slice of minimal history that is STILL as potent now, if not more, as it was in '98 and '81 before it. It was a lighthouse that was aiming the wrong way when the tugboat came by, but now it's shining right in your face."
$15.00 UPC: 781484062912 CLASSICAL
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CHASNY, BEN: The Hexadic System Book (DC 634BK)
"Introducing a new approach to playing and composing music. It doesn't require the use of a computer or an internet hookup; all that the interested player will need is a guitar, a copy of The Hexadic System book -- and a regular deck of playing cards. The struggle of habit is a problem in all walks of life, particularly creative work. We don't always have an instinct to question the systems we are taught -- but consider the old adage about history being written by the winners. What does that imply about the processes with which we learn? Have alternate teachings been discarded over the years, like the lost gospels of the Bible, when their approach to lesson-making was deemed less worthwhile? 'The greatest value of the Hexadic System is to dissolve the musical structures that have been imposed on the player's mind... Composing music without the outer-self, using the tools of games and divination,' suggests Ben Chasny, in the text of The Hexadic System. In music, it is generally accepted that perceptions of tonality may vary, depending on where in the world one learns about music (as exemplified by the fundamental differences in western and eastern scales). One of the concerns that led to the writing of The Hexadic System was to proceed from a multimodal understanding available to 21st century musicians, but also to suggest an ordered approach to unfamiliar choices and techniques when composing and playing guitar music. Inspired by explorations in the thought of Ramon Llull, Gaston Bachelard, Heinrich Agrippa, and many other theorists in the various schools of combinatorial and image theory, Chasny's goal was to make a system of his own, addressing the most important form of decision making in his life -- the choices made with his guitar."
$14.50 EAN: 9781937112172 ROCK
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CHASNY, BEN: The Hexadic System Playing Cards CARD SET (DC 635BK)
"Any regular deck of playing cards can be used to execute the correspondences of The Hexadic System. You can play poker with them, or solitaire. However, to accent the ritual aspect of the Hexadic methodology, a custom deck was designed by Steve Quenell in collaboration with Ben Chasny. Face cards pay tribute to a number of figures who have influenced Six Organs of Admittance over the years. Markings on the cards specific to the Hexadic System are a part of the custom design of the Hexadic Deck. This deck can be purchased separately from The Hexadic System book, and is sure to be of interest for enthusiasts of this new system as well as members of the card collector community."
$8.25 UPC: 781484063537 ROCK
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KRANKY (UNITED STATES):
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VALET: Nature CD (KRANK 195CD)
"For the last seven years fans of Honey Owens' Valet have been patiently wondering if they would ever hear another record of her trademark ephemeral, fractured blues. Owens herself had been unsure she'd revive the Valet name after six busy years exploring psychedelic house music in the Miracles Club with her partner Rafael Fauria. But the arrival of Owens and Fauria's first child would soon inaugurate a time of change and reflection that would lead to the surprising arrival of Valet's third LP, Nature. Recorded at home over the course of a year, Nature evolved as a collaboration between Owens, Fauria, and drummer/bassist/keyboardist Mark Burden. The album finds the trio crafting enveloping layers of guitars, synthesizers, and reverb to create a shimmering, wide open sound. It's a restrained, direct style, but tying it all together is a lulling, dreamy melodic sense that is distinctively Valet. At the center stands Owens' ethereal voice, which has transitioned from evoking trippy fantasies to creating space for honest contemplation. Informed by Owens' early musical life in the 90s Bay Area underground music scene, Nature slyly synthesizes the DIY spirit of punk, the expansive guitar whorl of shoegaze, and the propulsive rhythmic drive of dub. For Valet, Nature's sound is a change in style, but not substance. From the haunted blues of 2006's Blood is Clean to the Fourth World free fusion of 2008's Naked Acid, Owens and company have always demonstrated a mastery of bringing together disparate musical genres into a unified musical whole."
$9.50 UPC: 796441819522 ROCK
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VALET: Nature LP (KRANK 195LP)
LP version.
$10.00 UPC: 796441819515 ROCK
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SUPERIOR VIADUCT (UNITED STATES):
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BRANCA, GLENN: The Ascension LP (SV 056LP)
2014 release. "Glenn Branca's first full-length album The Ascension is a colossal achievement. After touring much of 1980 with an all-star band featuring four guitarists (Branca, fellow composers Ned Sublette and David Rosenbloom, and future Sonic Youth member Lee Ranaldo) along with Jeffrey Glenn on bass and Stephan Wischerth on drums, Branca took his war-torn group into a studio in Hell's Kitchen to record five incendiary compositions. Originally released in the summer of 1981, The Ascension effectively tears down the genre-ghettos between 20th century avant-garde and ecstatic rock 'n' roll. On 'The Spectacular Commodity,' chiming, shimmering tones unfold into sinister drone-territory à la Tony Conrad, while abrasive guitars and repetitive beats retain the raw primitivism of No Wave. The title track attains a densely packed, larger-than-life sound and (as author Marc Masters says best) 'never stops climbing skyward.' With artist Robert Longo's stark front cover that depicts Branca battling an unidentified man, The Ascension is a must-have record not only for fans of early Swans and Sonic Youth, but also of Steve Reich or Slint's Tweez."
$15.00 UPC: 857176003560 ROCK
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THE TRILOGY TAPES (UK):
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MIX MUP: Skip Intro 12" (TRILOGY 031EP)
"'Skip Intro' heads these four tracks of tape crackly 808 rhythm experiments from Leipzig artist Lorenz Lindner's Mix Mup moniker. Poly rhythms galore with cold analog synthlines and textures swaying back on forth in the mix. If you like beat counting to Mark Fell, check this out." --Norman Records
$12.50 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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REZZETT: Goodness 12" (TRILOGY 032EP)
In silkscreened sleeve. "'Goodness' sees a return to the decayed, drawn-out techno-ambient that pulled me in the first time round. Each bar is led with a strong kick that quickly fades back into the maelstrom of rusted textures washing over the track. There might be three different hi-hats blundering into each other throughout, occasionally interrupted by dulled bumps and clangs. As 'Goodness' swells and snowballs, the cascade of descending synths turns the stomach over each loop -- a rollercoaster cart that relentlessly chugs its way to the top of the rails, only to find itself lost in the clouds." --Pitchfork, February 2015
$15.00 UPC: N/A ELECTRONIC
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TRYANGLE RECORDS (UNITED STATES):
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DEATH: N.E.W. CD (TRY 1217178CD)
"Since the discovery of Death in 2008 and the release of the archival LP ...For the Whole World to See, the story has been often told. Three African-American brothers, David, Dannis, and Bobby Hackney, tapped into the surging energy of their hometown rock-and-roll scene (mid-'70s Detroit) to produce a style and a set of songs that, while completely unappreciated in their day, proved later to be a powerful missing link in the evolution of punk rock. The question always asked was, Will there be a new record? Now, there literally is, and Death and Drag City are proud to bring it to you, titled simply N.E.W. Inspired by the positivity brought to them by ever-increasing numbers of new fans, the current performing Death (Bobby Hackney, Dannis Hackney, and Bobbie Duncan) completed several songs started back in the late 1970s by Bobby and David, and composed entirely new songs that continue the timeless vibe, feel, and resolve of Death with remarkable drive and vigor. For many years after disbanding the original Death, Bobby and Dannis played different styles of music, but with the same deep spiritual investment. Bringing that spirit back to Death, their ability to make new songs in the same vein is fantastic."
$9.50 UPC: 781484480129 ROCK
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DEATH: N.E.W. Cassette (TRY 1217178CS)
Cassette version.
$6.00 UPC: N/A ROCK
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DEATH: N.E.W. LP (TRY 1217178LP)
LP version.
$14.50 UPC: 781484480112 ROCK
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