B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Sense Of Future (6:18)
Strummer (7:00)
Nightcreeper (7:05)
Cold December (6:35)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
For the latest missive on his Up The Stuss label, Chris Stussy has joined forces with fellow Dutch star Locklead for a first collaborative EP as Across Boundaries. As you'd expect, it's a bouncy, chunky and melody-rich affair whose four tracks remain focused on the dancefloor throughout. Title track 'Sense of Future' is warming, dreamy and undeniably summer-ready, with talkbox vocals, elongated chords and bubbly electronic lead lines leaping above a thickset bassline and energy-packed beats. 'Strummer' is a more tech-tinged affair - check the meandering, TB-303 style motifs, sci-fi sounds and rolling drums - while 'Nightcreeper' is a foreboding peak-time pumper and 'Cold December' sits somewhere between classic deep house and elastic European tech-house.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Signals
Shadowspace
No Closer Than The Moon
Landfall
Zonal Prospect
Air Foundry
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
The Frequency Domain label has been quietly issuing some of the most compelling electronica of recent times, with a staggering cast of characters including Anthony Child, Bass Clef, Luke Sanger and more delivering more introspective, experimental material over the past couple of years. Now it's the turn of Apologist, a lesser-known project from Brendan Nelson which manifested in one 7" back in 2006. If you appreciate dreamy, slightly dubby electronics which move through different moods and scenes without getting you up off the sofa, this is the perfect trip. Many layered, richly rendered and full of grit and personality, it's the kind of record you'll discover new secrets in every time you visit.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged and dirt on sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Space Rock (9:33)
Give Contact (5:57)
Deadline (7:50)
The End Of Rain (5:39)
Sputnik (9:16)
Eyes In The Sky (10:58)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged and dirt on sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
Next up on Outer Place Records is the fifth installment coming from the vault of Meister Bert Ashra, a veteran from Berlin's '90s underground scene who is still active in the city today. His solo project B. Ashra has existed since 1993 as a live act, DJ, composer, sound designer and mastering engineer. He's been known to delve into ambient, experimental, soundscapes, trance and techno, as well as deep house and electronic jazz. Much of the aforementioned is explored on the Eyes In The Sky EP: from the deep 303 swing of 'Space Rock', the chill downtempo electronica of 'Give Me Contact', to the heady acid house of 'The End Of Rain' and the hypnotic techno of 'Sputnik'.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Cry Baby Cry (2:24)
Child Of Nature (2:34)
The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (2:27)
I'm So Tired (3:03)
Yer Blues (3:24)
Julia (3:34)
What's The New Mary Jane (2:29)
Revolution (3:54)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (2:30)
Circles (2:09)
Sour Milk Sea (3:25)
Not Guilty (2:58)
Piggies (2:00)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
If you use the online network-cum-existential-need-to-know community Reddit, then it won't surprise you to learn there's a vast and almost unfathomably broad sub group dedicated to The Beatles. Within this, at least a handful of people have posed the question: "if the Beatles had done an MTV Unplugged concert in approx 1968 what stripped down classics might be in the resulting brilliant Unplugged Album?" Forgive the grammar - we took the speculative quandary verbatim from an internet that long-since descended into a linguistic void. Nevertheless, those stumped by this query will be delighted to know that such a record does exist for us to use as a touchstone. Albeit without the MTV bit. And what tracks made the cut? Well, 'Why My Guitar Gently Weeps', 'Revolution', 'Julia', 'Cry Baby Cry', and 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill', among others.
West London label Slip 'N' Slide continues to refresh the classics, as Seth Troxler and Franck Roger deliver remixes of the 1997 Blaze favourite 'Lovelee Dae'. An artist who needs little introduction, Seth Troxler's name is synonymous with American house and techno of the last two decades, with his formative years in Detroit shaping his sound before moving to the techno capital of the world Berlin. His ventures as a label boss, and club owner of Night Tales, further cemented the talent as an underground hero, and he now joins the likes of Carl Craig, Roman Flugel, and Isolee in giving 'Lovelee Dae' an expertly crafted remix, building from minimal grooves to a grand and immersive wash of sound. Also stepping up on remix duties comes Parisian producer, crate digger and label boss of Real Tone Records, Franck Roger, adding his signature beat focussed approach to the iconic track.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Intro (feat Apocalyptica) (2:23)
Her Voice Resides (4:19)
4 Words (To Choke Upon) (3:43)
Tears Don't Fall (3:38)
Suffocating Under Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do) (5:38)
Hit The Floor (3:30)
All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me) (3:40)
Hand Of Blood (3:23)
Room 409 (3:53)
The Poison (2:19)
10 Years Today (4:45)
Cries In Vain (3:54)
The End (6:17)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
The debut studio album from Brigend crew Bullet for My Valentine emerged in 2005 on Visible Noise Records and catapulted the Welsh band to success, going on to sell more than two million copies worldwide. Here it is again, celebrating (almost) two decades of life in a flurry of hard, jagged riffs and distinctively screamo-flavoured vocals courtesy of Matthew Tuck. The band reputedly formed to cover Metallica and Nirvana songs and while their sound doesn't ape either of them, they all share a cunning knack for combining memorable hooks and sonic brutality. Choose your Poison.
There's a fair chance you'll already have heard "Cola", experienced production duo Camelphat's collaboration with vocalist Elderbrook. The original version, with its rumbling bass, atmospheric builds, subtle bassline house influence and "she sips the Coca-Cola" refrain, has become something of an anthem since first appearing on digital download earlier in the year. For this first vinyl release, Defected has packaged the now-familiar original mix with a trio of reworks. The most impressive of these comes from German veteran Mousse T. He brilliantly re-casts the track as a bumpin' chunk of celebratory disco-house complete with thrilling piano riffs and an elastic bassline.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
A Once & Meaningful Life
Remaining Stretches (0:45)
Separations & Reactions (3:05)
Doubts Of Words (4:46)
Unless They Were Beautiful (7:22)
In The Bright The Days (3:42)
If Disabuse Is So Hard, Then (1:18)
What Our Mouths Make Them (2:30)
Hanging Herself On The Lonely Fifth Column (13:22)
Openings Of Love (Fireworks) (17:01)
Extended Sways Of Silence (18:11)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Will Thomas Long's and Danielle Baquet-Long's magnificent album Celer is an alluring fusion of classic ambient and minimalism that comes steeped in a very real sense of romance. It comes with underlying themes of longing, melancholy, and nostalgia and begins with the sound of a train evoking a sense of travel. Throughout the piece, grandiose string loops alternate with various field recordings, creating contrasts between the concrete and abstract, the mundane and the exalted. Despite the epic feel of the string loops, the title, 'Engaged Touches', hints at intimacy. This powerful romanticism characterises much of Celer's work, making this another noteworthy addition to their growing repertoire.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Spacewoman (instrumental) (5:45)
Let Go (4:31)
Dark Waver (5:09)
In The Night (4:46)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Polish sensation Charlie delivers the instrumental mix of title track, 'Spacewoman,' on Wrong Era. It is a real gem that features powerful percussion and mesmerising, infectious arpeggios that stay true to her authentic Proto-Italo style. Charlie's mysterious vocals craft an esoteric narrative with lyrics like "I fly where infinity expands" propelling listeners deeper into her universe and the euphoric chorus offers a transcendental experience that only adds to the interstellar journey.
Timeless digital roots and dub from The Disciples here featuring the late Jamaican singer Creation Stepper, who i most famously well known for his iconic 70s roots reggae classics. This release includes a fresh take on Stepper's 1978 track, 'Kill Nebuchadnezzar' and it is paired with another vocal gem, 'Ozone Layer,' plus two powerful dub versions. Originally mixed and produced by Russ D in The Disciples' studio in 1991, this music finally saw the light of day in 2011 on the Disciples Vintage label where it quickly sold out. Now back on a great sounding 12", this is a must for roots and dub heads.
B-STOCK: Slight creasing to outer sleeve, record slightly warped
Black Shuck (3:20)
Get Your Hands Off My Woman (2:43)
Growing On Me (3:24)
I Believe In A Thing Called Love (3:31)
Love Is Only A Feeling (4:18)
Givin' Up (6:53)
Stuck In A Rut (2:51)
Friday Night (3:53)
Love On The Rocks With No Ice (2:00)
Holding My Own (4:54)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight creasing to outer sleeve, record slightly warped***
Permission To Land is the debut album by glam rockers The Darkness, originally released in 2003. True to their name, The Darkness were dark horses indeed, having been sorely underestimated by the guffawing gatekeepers at Sony, who failed to see any promise in the band after being deemed "uncool", perhaps due to their bombastic rock & roll sound and high vocal drawl from Justin Hawkins. Sony were easily knocked off their high horse, however, when the band later signed with Atlantic, after which the album would top the US Albums Chart, peaking at number two. For the fans, this reissue harks back to their earliest hits, such as 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love', and 'Growing On Me'.
Permission To Land is the debut album by glam rockers The Darkness, originally released in 2003. True to their name, The Darkness were dark horses indeed, having been sorely underestimated by the guffawing gatekeepers at Sony, who failed to see any promise in the band after being deemed "uncool", perhaps due to their bombastic rock & roll sound and high vocal drawl from Justin Hawkins. Sony were easily knocked off their high horse, however, when the band later signed with Atlantic, after which the album would top the US Albums Chart, peaking at number two. For the fans, this reissue harks back to their earliest hits, such as 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love', and 'Growing On Me'.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Rave On Time
There's No One Left To Trust
The World Inside
Common Era
Wahr Ist Sie Dann
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
On Rave On Time, her third EP of 2020, Charlotte De Witte giddily pays tribute to the throbbing, warehouse-ready techno sound of her home city of Ghent - and particularly the intense, mind-bending brand particularly associated with R&S Records in the early 1990s. De Witte sets the tone via the razor-sharp and insanely heavy title track, where ragged acid lines and spiky synth stabs leap above a stomping techno groove, before opting for drums, drums and more drums on the restless 'There's No One Left To Trust'. Acid techno is the order of the day on 'The World Inside' and 'Common Era', while triple-time closing cut 'Wahr Ist Sie Dann' is an odd, alien-sounding treat.
Dynamic Forces are indeed on show in this slamming new slab from Arts. There is a real sense of control to the opener 'Lyra' despite its forward motion and punchy kicks, while 'Vaulting' gets much wilder and looser with its manic synth lead and raw onset of percussive pressure. Switching up things once more, 'Parallel' is a dubby techno tool and 'Shimmer' reverts to the careful tweaking of a deft lead synth over incendiary beats. 'Radiant' and 'Meraki' bring more raved-up and bouncy peak-time techno fun. This is a very useful and varied 12".
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Lifetime Supply (3:40)
Lonely Wealth (3:28)
The Real Deal (3:34)
This Is For Real (4:31)
Money Drives Me (Crazy) (3:54)
Comfort Zone (3:10)
First One's Free (2:28)
Empty Bed Memories (4:27)
Blurred (3:32)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
If you don't know (well, even if you do know it is still true), Californian multi-instrumentalist Brian Ellis is Egyptian Lover's keyboard player, and is also a member of Campus Christi with Peanut Butter Wolf. He steps out alone here with a new and outlier funk album that shows off his idiosyncratic style. It is a raw and dense sound that mixes up bold funk and gritty psychedelic soul while embracing the darker edges of both styles. Along the way, Ellis explores themes of truth, authenticity and the pitfalls of wealth while reflecting on the cost of giving away one's heart. Tracks like 'The Real Deal' and 'Money Drives Me Crazy 'capture these ideas with unfiltered emotion.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
My Peaceful Place (6:04)
Day Of Rest (6:27)
Eat Sleep Repeat (5:20)
Losing (4:21)
Silver Linings (5:03)
Cascade (5:42)
Begin Again (5:55)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Depending on your personal circumstances, the Covid pandemic was either a blissed-out paid holiday or a stressful and seemingly never-ending time of loss and hardship. Both ends of the spectrum are gorgeously captured here by London-based Joy Ellis, who wrote her third album 'Peaceful Place' during those strange weeks. Though a renowned singer, she decided to strip things back to just piano for this record, with long-time collaborators Adam Osmianski on drums and Henrik Jensen on double bass fleshing out the sound. It is a poignant listen from front to back, with all the many different emotions of that time conveyed perfectly, from grief to uncertainty, hope to despair, in one immersive record. The sheer beauty of these songs and the meaning of the melodies stay with you long after they have finished playing, making this a real triumph out of adversity and one that is sure to stand the test of time.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Da Starga Tora
Borealis
Alina
Exile
Nussing
Baboobap
Prelude
All Is Changing
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Back in the heyday of the Scando-Disco scene, Jann Marius Dahle had a flurry of records as Fjordfunk and under his own name. Rightly recognised by the leaders in that scene, he's been quiet for the best part of 20 years, but now he returns with the stunning, fully-rendered wonderment of "Infinite Zest". This is an album bursting with colour and musicality, as gorgeous instrumentation meets with tenderly executed disco with a distinctly Norwegian mood. From the starry-eyed synth interplay of "Alina" to the noodling funk of "Nussing", Marius Dahle's skill as an arranger and producer is a revelation. A well-deserved, long awaited return to the fray from a rightful peer of Prins Thomas, Lindstrom et al..
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Love You More (6:58)
Night Moves (feat Ruby Cesan) (5:48)
Just Holdin' On (feat Eo) (3:48)
Journey To The Peak (7:06)
Brother Of Mine (feat Vanessa Freeman) (5:44)
Sleek (5:02)
Come Into The Light (feat La Coco) (5:25)
Storm (feat Rachel Clerk) (5:20)
Don't Think (feat Eo) (6:45)
Running Man (1:51)
Give Thanks (feat Arjuna Oakes & Mark De Clive-Lowe) (4:38)
Belo Dia (6:06)
Notes (5:26)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
]Nathan Haines, the renowned New Zealand musician, unveils his 11th studio album, marking his first solo venture since 2014. Known for his talents of saxophone, flute, and composition across jazz, electronic and dance genres, Haines melds his signature jazz sound with vibrant electronic and disco influences on Notes. This labor of love began years ago in collaboration with the late UK producer Phil Asher, whose influence permeates the album despite his passing during its creation. Featuring guest vocalists like UK soul-diva Vanessa Freeman and emerging talents Ajuna Oakes, Ruby Cesan, La Coco, and EO, Notes showcases a diverse range of voices intertwined with Haines's own instrumental strength. With contributions from bassist Jkriv and electronic jazz innovator Mark de Clive-Lowe, alongside beats by Marc Mac and acoustic bass by his father Kevin, the album is full of spirit and musical evolution. Frank Booker's production on three tracks adds depth, while the acoustic rendition of Rare Silk's 'Storm,' featuring vocalist Rachel Clarke, stands out as a poignant artistic highlight.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Slink 'N Slide (6:22)
Viral Vendor (Trance mix) (6:20)
Pumba (5:52)
Clarkey's Car Keys (6:02)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Chris Stussy's Up The Stuss label is one of the hottest out there right now - a fresh label setting the underground with its mix of spaced out breaks and deep house, slick minimal and futurist techno sounds. Jhobei is part of that revolution and lands here with a fresh four tacker that cones on nice blue vinyl, with 'Slink 'N Slide' - a throwback sound with rave overtones and rapping basslines that never quit - and 'Viral Vendor' (Trance mix) among the rigid groove highlights.
B-STOCK: Sleeve split at the top but otherwise in great condition
Marcel - "Joy Of July" (3:27)
Marcel - "Give Me Relief" (4:18)
Marcel - "Can't Stop The Time" (4:07)
From P60 - "Muzai In The House" (3:58)
From P60 - "Cool Stuff At 4 O'clock" (4:00)
From P60 - "Sun-Kissed Shores" (feat MnemonicKiss) (5:48)
Forteba - "End Of The Day" (6:18)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve split at the top but otherwise in great condition***
Zoltan Nagy AKA P60 has spent the last four years slowly building up his Midnight Fashion label and its dedicated downtempo offshoot, Midnight Fashion Chill. Following a handful of solo EPs on the latter imprint, Nagy has now decided to offer up a first imprint compilation - one that not only showcases his work, but also that of Marcel (AKA sometime Cookin' Records artist Marcell Dudas) and Plastic City regular Forteba (AKA Hungarian stalwart Krisztian Dobrocsi). Musically, the set lives up to its' title, offering an enticing and undeniably blazed mix of DJ Calm style trip-hop, warming 1990s style downtempo grooves, slow-burn Baleric soundscapes, Onra-esque neo-boogie beats and warm, deep and languid, jazz-flecked mid-tempo house.
Arriving as the tenth full-length LP from the Finnish symphonic metal pioneers Nightwish, Yesterwynde shall serve as the third and final instalment of the trilogy of albums they've crafted with current vocalist Floor Jansen, since the departure of her predecessor Anette Olzon. Following on from Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015) and Human. :II: Nature (2020), as well as Jansen's pop ballad LP Paragon released in 2023, the project promises to boast some of their heaviest and complex compositions to date, while also marking their first without bassist/vocalist Marko Hietala since Century Child (2002), as he would depart the band in 2021. With a self-imposed hiatus planned following release, and no tour dates to speak of, Yesterwynde appears set to provide avid followers with a calculated bookend to their latest era, designed and destined to be poured over and absorbed throughout the coming silence.
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