NEW ARRIVALS AND RESTOCKS FRIDAY, APRIL 11
thanks for looking.
because of the new jack rose double cd on tequila sunrise (see below in folk, blues and roots), i had to knock this list out fast, so actually it only represents roughly half of the new/restocked titles that arrived this week. some items of note, aside from the aforementioned jack rose set, are four new (and one restocked) kompakt titles, new junior boys 12 on get physical, new sun ra double disc on art yard, new siltbreeze vinyl, new honest jon’s cds, and on an on… come on by and check em out.
gracias
anthony
as always, many of the titles are in very limited quantity, so if you're interested in anything listed below, feel free to call or email me, I will gladly hold items for up to a week.
prices do not include shipping and handling. for those of you shipping within the continental united states I offer a 5.00usd flat shipping rate for any amount of records and/or compact discs. shipping cost for international orders are calculated on an order by order basis. payments for orders can be made via paypal or with a credit card by telephone between 12-6pm/est.
i also offer bike messanger service via timecycle couriers. for the low cost of 10.00usd i can deliver any amount of records and/or cds you wish to purchase to your center city philadelphia location (this includes some parts of south, west and north philadelphia) within two hours (and for those of you who need your records even faster, we also offer ‘rush’ service for the low flat rate of 20.00usd for any amount of records/cds delivered to you within one hour). of course, we are still more than happy to ship records via the usps within philadelphia. as with the international shipments, orders placed before 5pm/est will ship out that evening and should reach their destination by the following day.
ROCK, POP AND PSYCHEDELIC
SCOTT WALKER- SCOTT LP (four men with beards, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/11.98eur/1910jpy (approx)
*shop favorite, restocked… One of the most enigmatic figures in pop music history Scott Walker (nee Scott Engel) first saw massive success in England with his band The Walker Brothers in 1965. Not really brothers, nor were they British, the trio left Hollywood seeking fame in England, and they found it there for a time with their particular brand of orchestrated pop. Following the group's demise in 1967, Walker set out to pursue solo stardom in perhaps the most peculiar way possible, with over-the-top baroque pop songs owing more to his idol Jacques Brel, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra than they did to The Beatles or The Stones. This is his first solo LP from 1967 and features 3 of his own compositions along with covers of songs by Brel, Tim Hardin, and the Brill Building team of Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. A true original.
SCOTT WALKER- SCOTT 2 LP (four men with beards, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/11.98eur/1910jpy (approx)
*shop favorite, restocked… Originally released in 1968, Scott 2 made it all the way to number one on the UK pop charts, perhaps the strangest number one hit in pop history. Continuing with his orchestral obsession, Scott 2 features over-the-top string and horn arrangements, occasionally veering into dangerously schmaltzy territory. This production style is in drastic contrast to the lyrical content, songs of despair, prostitution, homosexuality, and brutal honesty, indicting the same glamorous and glitzy lifestyle that his baroque pop style emblemizes. Along with many originals, Scott 2 features songs by Jacques Brel, Tim Hardin, and Bacharach/David.
SCOTT WALKER- SCOTT 3 LP (four men with beards, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/11.98eur/1910jpy (approx)
*shop favorite, restocked… Scott 3, originally released in 1969, marked a big change in Walker's approach to albums as, for the first time, the record is dominated by his original compositions. In fact, the only other songwriter that makes it onto the album is Walker's idol, Belgium's legendary singer/songwriter Jacques Brel. Scott 3 again features string heavy production courtesy of Wally Scott, though it occasionally moves out of pop ballad territory into a more cinematic feel influenced by Ennio Morricone, among others. An huge influence on folks like David Bowie and Nick Cave, as well as just about anybody on the 4AD label.
SCOTT WALKER- SCOTT 3 LP (four men with beards, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/11.98eur/1910jpy (approx)
*shop favorite, restocked… Despite being the first of his solo albums not to reach the British Top 10, Scott 4 was perhaps his best, and most ambitious album to date. Originally released in 1969, it is the first record to feature only Scott Walker originals. It is also the first to back off a bit from the heavily string laden production of past releases, allowing other sonic influences to shine through, from country to folk to soul. The lyrical content remains intense as Walker tackles everything from War to Stalinism to heartbreak with equal success. A classic.
THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE- BRAVERY, REPETITION AND NOISE LP (a records, usa)
22.98usd/11.60gbp/14.51eur/2312jpy (approx)
*Bravery, Repetition and Noise is a dark dreamy album, rich in atmosphere, layered in waves of sound. The album's antecedents are clear, inspired by psychedelia as they were by punk's nihilism, pulling both strands into a doom-laden, experimental sound quite distinct from anything that had come before or since. BJM uses this as their touchstone, lovingly re-creating the moods and atmospheres of the past. The Brian Jonestown Massacre is a psychedelic rock band originally from San Francisco, California, led by guitarist/singer Anton Newcombe. Since 1995, The Brian Jonestown Massacre has released numerous albums, first for Bomp! Records, the label which gave them their start, and later for TVT and Tee Pee. BJM has been essential in the development of the modern U.S. garage scene, and many LA and SF musicians got their start playing with Newcombe, including Peter Hayes of The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Originally Newcombe was heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones' psychedelic phase -- the name comes from Stones guitarist Brian Jones combined with a reference to cult leader Jim Jones, but his work in the 2000s has expanded into aesthetic dimensions approximating the UK shoegazing genre of the 1990s and incorporating influences from world music, especially Middle Eastern and Brazilian music.
SUN CITY GIRLS- YOU'RE NEVER ALONE WITH A CIGARETTE: SINGLES VOLUME 1 CD (abduction, usa)
17.98usd/9.08gbp/11.35eur/1809jpy (approx)
*shop favorite, restocked… Recorded in July of 1988 during the sessions that produced Sun City Girls' most popular recording, these nine tracks represent the other half of songs which were originally prepared as a 2LP demo version of Torch of the Mystics for Placebo Records in 1989. The sequencing of all 20 tracks at the time was entirely different with the predominately instrumental tracks in this collection mixed in and around the mostly vocal tracks of what became Torch. Placebo went out of business shortly after this proposed 2LP idea was presented to them but Majora Records quickly stepped in to begin releasing most of the material. Included here are five tracks from early Majora singles: "100 Pounds of Black Olives" and "The Fine-Tuned Machines of Lemuria" (the complete unreleased 12-minute version) from the single "You're Never Alone with a Cigarette" and all three tracks from Record #1 of the double 7" Three Fake Female Orgasms -- "Plaster Cupids Falling from the Ceiling," "The Beauty of Benghazi," and "Souvenirs from Jangare." The short piece "Harmful Little Armful" is from the triple 7" box set Bruce Lee, Heroin, and the Punk Scene (from a Bay Area label Massacre at Central High) and rounding out the set are three unreleased studio tracks recorded the same day as much of the Torch LP: never before heard versions of "Amazon One," "Sev Acher," and "Wild World of Animals." This is the first of a multi-volume set of reissued singles, compilation, and unreleased tracks to be assembled and sequenced to play as full-length records. Vinyl editions may also appear in time.
TAJ MAHAL TRAVELLERS- LIVE STOCKHOLM JULY, 1971 2CD (drone syndicate, sweden)
25.98usd/13.11gbp/16.40eur/2614jpy (approx)
*New 2008 repress… Led by infamous Fluxus member Takehisa Kosugi, Tokyo's Taj Mahal Travellers were one of the prime examples of a band more heard-of than actually heard. Their vinyl legacy (the 1972 LP July 15, 1972 released on CBS/Sony Japan; the 1974 2LP August 1974 released on Columbia Japan and recently reissued by P-Vine as a 2CD; one side of the mythical Oz Days Live 2LP compilation released on Oz in 1973 and recently bootlegged as a single LP) could dig a hole in your wallet deeper than the Grand Canyon. However, the recent reissues have spread the gospel and so here is the chance to hear the young Taj Mahal Travellers live in Stockholm during their 'tour' through Europe in 1971. It's one 2-hour long improvised track. Enough free-floating higher key bliss to keep every grown-up space cadet happy for a lot longer. This 2CD set is limited to 1000 copies." From Julian Cope's Japrocksampler: "This album is a discorporated, cerebral dance whose rhythm sounds like six weather Gods emulating the cover of Deep Purple's Fireball by zooming around Silverstone circuit just inches above the track, each urging himself on by making engine noises: 'Eee-oww-urghh-ow!!!!!!!' Opening with Ryo Koike's horizontally played bowed double bass, it's my fave of Taj Mahal Travellers' three releases, better even than the obstinate medication of the first official LP JULY 15, 1972, because there's twice as much of it. Meditatively, it's extremely useful too: at the entrance portals of this live record, Ryo Koike uses his bass to invoke phlegm phantoms and cranny demons from the butt walls of Cronosian caverns; conjuring a sound as Biblical as Conrad Schnitzler's bizarre bowed cello on T. Dream's Electronic Meditation. Gradually, hesitatingly, almost imperceptibly, a violin theme installs itself, establishing over the next quarter of an hour clop-clopping hooves of hollow rhythm that conjure up the image of frustrated pastoralists driving their reluctant donkeys around the highest and most precipitous cliff edges, as their valuable cargoes sway and shudder and threaten to come untied at any moment. Recorded a full year before their first official LP, I think this in concert album is a far better and more confident shamanic statement, for this Stockholm recording melded together all six group members in such a way that no single musician rises from the primal soup long enough to establish his singular muse. The vocal effects are truly stunning, evoking everything from comb-and-paper voices playing Zeus in the sixty-metre deep Dhikhtean Antron to braying cartoon coyotes laughing to their deaths.
THANK YOU- TERRIBLE TWO LP (thrill jockey, usa)
13.98usd/7.06gbp/8.82eur/1407jpy (approx)
*The brand new album from Baltimore's Thank You. The album recording was engineered by Baltimore's beloved J. Robbins (Yeasayer, Mary Timony, Jets to Brazil) at his studio and was produced and mixed by Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Celebration, TV on the Radio) at his studio in New York City. Thank You is an athletic rhythm/action unit, made up of Jeffrey McGrath, Michael Bouyoucas, and Elke Wardlaw. They are three free individuals, subsumed into a collective form that spits out dank, skittering tracks filled with light and dark.
BLUES CONTROL- PUFF LP (woodsist, usa)
15.98usd/8.07gbp/10.09eur/1608jpy (approx)
*restocked, out of print at the source... the music of Blues Control, as evidenced on this record, is a master work explodin'. It germinates absolutely from the bowels of the blues but erupts via a postmodern portal; there are gorgeous sheens of rust that fissure throughout, harmonicas smoke in the distance, guitars splatter, keyboards ooze white hot neo-psychedelic lava, in the end, like the music emitted from Apollo's lyre, it is a devastatingly wondrous experience. And as much as I hear the (non-specific) PSF or Akiyama buzz, to me Blues Control seem beget from the prominent clang & snarl of Dead C, who was beget by This Heat, who was beget by Faust, from whose seed it all originated. And that's nothin' to sneeze about, unless you are allergic to greatness. A CD on Holy Mountain is next. I know it's early, but Puff seems a shoe-in for one of the year's best. --Siltblog. Puff is the work of two modern Gris Gris chefs, and the most righteously authentic stoner gumbo this side of Twin Infinitives or Jungle Rot. Glittery framed sunglasses and doper's remorse. The finest racket of 2007 so far. --James Jackson Toth/Wooden Wand
MENEGUAR- THE IN HOUR LP (woodsist, usa)
15.98usd/8.07gbp/10.09eur/1608jpy (approx)
*Switching instruments and experimenting with recording techniques, Meneguar has cooked up a totally unique (and surprising) record. The In Hour channels the spontaneity and aesthetics of Swell Maps, the pop hooks of the Zombies, and lyrical collage of Guided By Voices. Everything was home recorded at their little Xanadu in Brooklyn, Rear House, home base to Jeremy Earl's Woodsist label (Blues Control, Sic Alps, Wooden Wand, Jana Hunter) and the changing roster of Meneguar's alter egos (Woods, Shepherds). Only six months since their last record, The In Hour represents a serious departure that still holds true to the band's undeniable pop sensibility.
POCAHAUNTED- PEYOTE ROAD LP (woodsist, usa)
15.98usd/8.07gbp/10.09eur/1608jpy (approx)
*restocked… Evolving comes easier to some than others. A lot of the 21st century's chief underground ringbearers are happy mining the same psych-ditch for the same warped ore, tape after tape and day after day. But Eagle Rock, CA's Pocahaunted are too restless (and easily annoyed?) to sit still like that, and so spent all of '07 throwing ever weirder new figures and moods into their amplifier family, and Peyote Road shows the motion of their transformation agenda. The A-side ritual, 'Divine Flesh,' stirs hand drums and chimes into a bellydancing blur of voice smoke and rhythm before breaking down into its base elements and slowly reforming. The flip side, 'Heroic Doses,' documents Pocahaunted's set opening for Thurston Moore on Halloween night in the wasted and highly un-mystical California desert town of Visalia. Bobb Bruno and Britt Brown backed up the ladies' blown-out but melancholy wailing wall with electronic drums and drones, and the recording treads a dim, no-fi path into a bleak and holy void. With tribal-psychedelia collage jacket artwork by Owl Eyes. --Britt Brown.
AVANT GARDE AND NOISE
CONRAD SCHNITZLER- 00/346 + 00/380: MIXES 1 12” (orac, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*Conrad Schnitzler is one of the most influential living figures in electronic music, a founding member of groups Tangerine Dream and Kluster. Since the '90s, Schnitzler has privately released over 400 CD collections of tracks, numbered rather than titled. Orac presents the first installment of new mixes of his recent collections 00/346 and 00/380, interpreted by Bruno Pronsato with a future-house vocal and Dandy Jack with an epic, block-like construction. Conrad's tracks include one lugubrious melodic solo and a slowly mutating proto-groove.
RUSSIAN TSARLAG/BLUE SHIFT- THANK YOU FOR THE PLASTIC SURGERY YOU'VE GIVEN ME/THE BURROW LP (rare youth, usa)
15.98usd/8.07gbp/10.09eur/1608jpy (approx)
*Mysterious and creepy emanations from two of Providence, RI's finest weirdos. Russian Tsarlag, formerly of Tampa, Florida, and a member of the damaged rock outfits Dynasty and Byron House, has been making his unique brand of bent pop music/performance art for a number of years now -- releasing an impressive amount of tapes, CDRs, DVDs and VHS on labels like Cephia's Treat, Unskilled Labor, Friends and Relatives, and Bonescraper Records, as well as self-released small-run publications such as Mutilator Magazine and Slime Freak. Thank You For The Plastic Surgery You've Given Me features some of Carlos' finest recorded work to date. Nine songs coated in the familiar Tsarlag orchestral residue -- repetitive and hypnotic themes, drugged-out floor toms, guitars held together with scissors and knives, 60-cycle hum, organ, tape loops, and Carlos' signature lyricism and delivery. Blue Shift has been a staple of live music in Providence for a number of years now, usually showing up with just a violin and a shredded bow, performing five-minute sets (or less) of intense and personal solo improvisations. The Burrow gives us thirteen tracks of wildly explorative solo music that utilizes violin, voice, tapes, drums and pre-recorded sounds to wondrous effect. From fast-paced violin scraping and tape-manipulated collages to the close-up sound of wheezing lungs and overdubbed violins, this is a hard-to-pin-down but essentially rewarding listen. Limited edition of 300, with letter-pressed black-on-white covers, a 32-page zine insert with illustrations/collage by Cybele Collins and Carlos Gonzales, pressed on green vinyl.
PAUL METZGER- GEDANKEN SPLITTER LP (roaratorio, usa)
15.98usd/8.07gbp/10.09eur/1608jpy (approx)
*Paul Metzger continues to pile up the plaudits from critics and peers alike for his virtuosic string-slinging, gaining notice through his CD on Chairkickers and his split LP with Ben Chasny and Chris Corsano on Roaratorio. Metzger's modified banjo is tricked out with additional sympathetic raga strings, although the compositions on Gedanken Splitter are informed by much more than Eastern drone music alone. Recorded in the same period as 2007's Deliverance on Locust Music, this is a more jagged and aggressive (although no less accessible) affair. Metzger winds these improvisations around thornier threads than on his previous releases, and while never turning completely abstract, Gedanken Splitter moves even further away from anything resembling typical banjo fare. This is mesmerizing and singular playing.
NAKED ON THE VAGUE- BLOOD PRESSURE SESSIONS LP (siltbreeze, usa)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*Lucy Phelan and M.P. Hopkins hail from Sydney, Australia. Behind a basic framework of keyboard, bass, and vocals (and all manner of tinkered-with percussion) Naked on the Vague's distinct aggregate of sound calls to mind everything from SPK to Mars and beyond. Or, as they're fond of calling them in Philly, the Death Star version of Times New Viking.
Originally released in 2007 on CD by the fearless Australian Dual Plover label, The Blood Pressure Sessions ventures into a darker realm than their debut 7-inch (also on Dual Plover) had erroneously suggested. Propelled by the sharp, rhythmic snare drum beat and anchored by thunderous, fuzzed bass-lines and stinging, swinging organ and synth fills, Phelan and Hopkins take turns rounding out the vocal duties, giving the whole of their sound a sonorous curtain of ecstatic foreboding. Betraying a gallows wit, the band refers to their music as "apocalyptic pop," which could be construed as both drowning and waving.
OPER'AZIONE NAFTA- CAVURU LP (siltbreeze, usa)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*Located within the Trapani Province of Sicily, Oper'azione Nafta considers their self-described "un-rock" as "a blowjob from Luigi Russolo." There's little doubt the great Futurist author of the The Art Of Noises manifesto would be anything but chuffed by such salacious bravado. Indeed, the trio pours on the racket and sounds like they were hatched in a custom-built Russolo intonarumori. Successfully putting the on back in bonkers, Oper'azione Nafta doles out only The Berserk, which might be why, at any given time, their unstoppable onslaught taps into rock/improv fizz a la Sun City Girls, Etron Fou Leloublan or the Butthole Surfers, various FMP blat, and MEV-like electronic scramble. When they claim "We are Oper'azione Nafta and we kill Bambi!" who among us would question it? Besides, a nice bowl of Sicilian-styled venison ragout would really hit the spot.
ILYAS AHMED- THE VERTIGO OF DAWN LP (time-lag, usa)
28.98usd/14.63gbp/18.29eur/2916jpy (approx)
*lp version, pressed on 180gm audiophile vinyl and packaged in a custom fabric textured, golden hued, heavy gatefold cover with black and blood red printing, plus insert. Un-numbered limited edition of 750 copies. Much anticipated first proper release after a string of ear tugging and increasingly impressive private press CDRs. A real shining spirit in these somewhat goofy times of 'folk-psych' abuse, this guy nails it like it's in his DNA. Way beyond a simple formula, this is a complete tonal voyage. Opening the album with a dark ritual of dueling reeds and buzzing drones, things then erupt into some seriously burning psych raga excursion built from totally heavy, jamming, acoustic guitar licks, eastern grooving hand percussions, stoned backwards or fuzzed-out electric guitar splatters, and subtle creaky drones. The vocals are nearly unintelligible but swirl beautifully through most songs like floating smoky ripples. Woozy, head-bobbing, and completely there. Yow.
FOLK, BLUES AND ROOTS
V/A- MIGRATING BIRD: THE SONGS OF LAL WATERSON CD (honest jon’s, uk)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/11.98eur/1910jpy (approx)
*Honest Jon's Records presents a tribute album to UK folksinger Lal Waterson, with tracks specially commissioned for this release. Lal Waterson was a member of The Watersons, a key 1960s precursor of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Migrating Bird features 19 different voices from different decades and countries, all with a different take on the singularly haunting quality of these works. From the gyrating keyboards of King Creosote to the ramshackle accordion of Michael Hurley to the gentle ambience of Vashti Bunyan, the simplicity of Waterson's lyrics and her mellifluous folk spirit shine through. Other artists include: Nancy Elizabeth, James Yorkston, Victoria Williams, Lavinia Blackwall and Alex Neilson, Alasdair Roberts, Danny & The Champions Of The World, Charlotte Greig, Jeb Loy Nichols, Adrian Crowley, Richard James, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Sabbath Folk, Lindsey Woolsey, Richard Youngs, The Memory Band and Mark Olson.
V/A- LAST KIND WORDS: 1926-1953 LP (mississippi, usa)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*restocked… second edition with regular printed jacket. Incredibly well compiled '20s-'30s era blues comp. High quality of sound for the time period of its recordings. This compilation is filled with the most accessible blues songs made to be appreciated by enthusiasts and those new to the genre. Features Blind Willie McTell, Memphis Minnie, Geechie Wiley, etc.
JACK ROSE- DR. RAGTIME AND HIS PALS/SELF-TITLED 2CD (tequila sunrise, usa)
14.98usd/7.56gbp/9.46eur/1507jpy (approx)
*domestic version of jack rose’s new full length, ‘dr. ragtime and his pals’, coupled with a reissue of last years ‘self-titled’ cd/lp housed in a custom designed and fabricated off-set printed card cover with j-card style obi. limited edition of 1000… The Appalachian Trail runs 2175 miles south from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia, though there are those who want to stretch it further, into Alabama, because the mountains go there. Why not extend it? Trails are made for that. But there's another Appalachian Trail, too - one that goes through time, extending from unfinished studios in Williamsburg, NY, winding down the grooves of ancient 78's to the 1920's or even earlier, past Stephen Foster's wet dream to a place beyond the compass of change. If you're hiking on *that* trail, you're likely to run into a lot of post-grad Parsifal’s with inscrutable hair and de-tuned banjos - these days, you can't swing a cat around without hitting one! But if you're lucky, you might stumble across a clearing somewhere south of Lily Dale, where revolutionists stop for orangeade and Dr. Ragtime hangs out with his pals. If you ask him politely, he might offer you a taste of his elixir - made from codeine, sarsaparilla, and goat-gland extract - guaranteed to restore memories that never were. And if you're quiet, he might let you stay and listen to the music: Ethiopian novelties, characteristic marches and parlor favorites - bittersweet slices of Methodist pie, familiar tunes, at least in those sections where the square dance has not yet been supplanted by the fox-trot. And if you have a couple of dimes to rub together in your pocket, you'll want to purchase his newest, electrically-recorded phonograph recording, entitled "Doctor Ragtime and his Pals." The Doctor, who hitherto has recorded only on his own, is joined here by Micah Blue Smaldone (who has been compared to both Tiny Tim and Kierkegaard), Glenn Jones (of Cul de Sac, last seen around these parts urging college students to contemplate the prospect of their own death on a balmy September evening), Michael Gangloff (late of Pelt and the Black Twig Pickers), Nathan Bowles (also of the Black Twig Pickers as well as the Spiral Joy Band) and the mysterious Harmonica Dan (from Pennsauken, New Jersey by way of ethereal caminos). This release is conjoined with a recording by Jack Rose, the Mike Morgan of the American minimalist neo-primitive sub-underground. This recording, entitled "Jack Rose" - previously available to the buying public only in severely limited forms - is here presented as a bonus to the consumer and perhaps as an act of folly for the producer. -- Charles Fourier
JAZZ
SUN RA- MEDIA DREAMS 2CD (art yard, uk)
29.98usd/15.13gbp/18.92eur/3017jpy (approx)
*This is the companion to Disco 3000, made on the same classic Italian quartet tour with John Gilmore, Michael Ray (trumpet) and the minimal but perfect Luqman Ali (drums). Ra himself plays piano and electronic keyboards, including the mysterious Crumar Mainman, which Ra describes as 'like a piano, organ, clavichord, cello, violin and brass instruments' and which also, importantly, has a facility for pre-programmed bass lines and electronic percussion, which Ra uses constantly and to great effect in this small ensemble setting and seldom, if ever, elsewhere. The best of this collection (most of CD1) is luminous: very electronic, often rhythmical and melodic, always economical and making every sound count. These tracks are like no other jazz ensemble and, although recognizable as Ra -- who else could think of, and then get away with this -- unlike any other Ra ensemble, either. Ra makes the machines do amazing, visionary things while the band exercises restraint, remaining always in focus. In between, there are piano, saxophone, trumpet and drum vignettes, fresh and perfectly judged; this real was a fine band. This places the original vinyl release (and related releases, Sound Mirror and Disco 3000) back into the context of the concerts from which they were drawn. An important addition to the Sun Ra canon, since it is a rare document of an unusual Ra project that produced three classic late '70s LPs. Beautifully packaged and well annotated.
SUN RA & HIS OMNIVERSE JET-SET ARKESTRA- BEYOND THE PURPLE STAR ZONE LP (art yard, uk)
24.98usd/12.61gbp/15.77eur/2514jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Beyond The Purple Star Zone is one of two Saturn LPs recorded during a week's residency by Sun Ra at the Detroit Jazz Center in the last week of 1980. Just about everything that the Arkestra played that week was captured on tape -- ending with a marathon series of three concerts on New Year's Eve 1980, when the music extended over nearly eight hours, and included over ninety identifiable compositions. There was scarcely any duplication of compositions throughout this marathon night, even though each concert was played before a different audience, the auditorium cleared between sets. The title track, 'Beyond The Purple Star Zone,' is extracted from the second of these three New Year's Eve concerts. In essence, it's a French horn trio, involving Sun Ra, Vincent Chancey and a percussionist. As well as featuring on this LP as the title track, it was used again by Sun Ra when in 1982 he issued another Saturn LP, Oblique Parallax, to release more material from these December 1980 concerts. On this second outing, 'Beyond The Purple Star Zone' was spliced together with music played on 30 December to form the piece known as 'Journey Stars Beyond.' 'Rocket Number Nine' also comes from the second of the three New Year's Eve concerts, and is a feature for Ra and the Arkestra's vocal dexterity, and in a quintessential Sun Ra touch melds other compositions in with this tune. There's a Sun Ra poem embedded -- 'The Space Age Is Here To Stay,' as well as fragments of a Gospel piece. There's also an early appearance of another Sun Ra composition, 'Face The Music,' which crops up occasionally in 1970s and 1980s concerts, before coming into its own around 1990, when, with a full instrumental arrangement, it was featured frequently. Considering the dozens of hours of surviving concert tape from this Detroit residency, it's significant that none of the recordings yet auditioned contain the material used on this album for 'Immortal Being,' 'Romance on a Satellite' or 'Planetary Search.' It is possible -- but uncertain -- that these are performances from this residency, the sonics are very close to those of the first two pieces from this album. At least one Detroit concert (plus one workshop) remain to be researched. However, the presence of an electric bass player and electric guitarist on 'Romance on a Satellite' suggests that these pieces may have a different origin. All are fine pieces, for the moment they keep their mysteries. -- Chris Trent
THE SUN RA ALL STARS BAND- HIROSHIMA/STARS THAT SHINE DARKLY LP (art yard, uk)
24.98usd/12.61gbp/15.77eur/2514jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Beautifully packaged LP-only reissue of these 1983 recordings; "Hiroshima" is a side long solo piece for pipe organ! I was about seven years old when on August 6, 1945 Hiroshima was the first city in the history of mankind to be struck by an atomic bomb -- dropped by the United States Air Force. In our days the only so-called democratic government which applied this mass-destruction weapon for the first time and would not hesitate to use it again, asks other countries to stop the development of nuclear power. What a miserable Christian hypocrisy. Why did Sun Ra title his only acoustic document performed on a church organ Hiroshima? Despite my young age in 1945 I can very clearly remember the gloomy atmosphere in 'bombed-out' Stuttgart with my family sitting around my uncle's place in Schwaebisch Gmnd during the twilight hour and talking about this unbelievable criminal act against Hiroshima. Beside the depressed mood of the talk I only remember the (surely false) fact, that 'Little Boy', as the United States offendingly called their bomb, was only as small as a tennis-ball. Beside the well-known political call and response ritual, 'Nuclear War,' 'Hiroshima,' has a pipe organ solo by Sun Ra, recorded in a theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. By attentive listening, one can discover some other instruments too. One can hear a triangle, a bird whistle, a slap-stick or castanets, a tambourine ring, cymbals, and most likely, different drums. The record was released in 1985 on one of Sun Ra's Saturn long playing records with the number 11-83. The flip side of this record is titled 'Stars That Shine Darkly...' Recorded live at Montreux, Switzerland during the tour of The Sun Ra All Stars, early November 1983. --Hartmut Geerken
SUN RA- CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE 2CD (transparency, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/11.98eur/1910jpy (approx)
*restocked, at a slightly higher price… Volume one in a new series entitled The Lost Reel Collection, and this one is the holy grail of SIN RA history! Two-CD set of THE ARKESTRA playing live in a SF warehouse in 1971, and a lecture by Ra from his legendary 1971 residency at UC Berkeley. Recently the Transparency label was approached with a collection of eleven reel-to-reel tapes of previously unknown Sun Ra recordings. None of this material is on any tape trader list or in any discography. The recordings are all super-high-quality and are being officially released on the Transparency label. Both discs of The Creator of the Universe are from mid-1971. Disc One is a concert at a warehouse in San Francisco, the centerpiece of which is a very dramatic and intense 20 minute ‘Declamation’ by Ra urging the black race to rise up into freedom and identity, punctuated by the horns of the Arkestra. Completely amazing, this piece is ranked by one aficionado as the peak of Ra's career. Disc Two is one of the classes given by Ra during his teaching residency at UC Berkeley. This is a Sun Ra album like no other!
FUNK AND SOUL
MFSB- MUTHAFUNKINSONOFABITCH: THE TRUTH BEHIND THE PHILLY LEGEND LP (funkadelphia, usa)
13.98usd/7.06gbp/8.82eur/1407jpy (approx)
*restocked… Wonderful collection of funky Philadelphia based groups who blessed the scene between 1968-1973. Many of these recordings have been re-mastered from the original reels for the first time! Before many of these musicians were making music you hear on television and movies, they played under different names and labels during the late '60s early '70s, mostly as funky jams recorded for tax write-off purposes! Artists include: Interpretations, Brothers of Hope, Hidden Cost, Daley Diggers, Sam Reed Band, Alliance, Cupit, Race Street Chinatown Band, Electric Indian, French Connection, Pat & The Blenders and Ando Orchestra.
V/A- NEW ORLEANS FUNK VOLUME 3LP (soul jazz, uk)
26.98usd/13.62gbp/17.03eur/2715jpy (approx)
*restocked… vinyl repress of this SJR classic from 2000 -- has been o/p for a couple years. This is a definitive collection of New Orleans funk, featuring acknowledged masters of funk such as the Meters, Eddie Bo, Allen Toussaint and Lee Dorsey next to some of the earlier artists from the area who helped shape the meaning of funk (Professor Longhair, Robert Parker, Huey 'Piano' Smith). The album is also filled with many rare, sought after, and undiscovered funk tracks from artists like the Explosions, Marilyn Barbarin, Sonny Jones, Mary Jane Hooper, and many more. The album covers the period from the emergence of the New Orleans sound in the early 1960s through to the mid-'70s. Jam packed with classics like Aaron Neville's 'Hercules', Eddie Bo's 'Hook and Sling', and 'Check Your Bucket', the Gaturs 'Gatur Bait', the Explosions' 'Hip Drop', and the Wild Magnolias' 'Handa Wanda,' to name but a few. This record is an essential part of anyone's record collection who is interested in funk. Other artists featured include: Ernie K. Doe, Cyril Neville, Gentleman June Gardner, Betty Harris, Danny White, Ernie & the High Notes, Dr. John, Chuck Carbo.
GLOBAL
V/A- SITAR BEAT: INDIAN STYLE HEAVY FUNK VOL.2 (guerrilla, usa)
17.98usd/9.08gbp/11.35eur/1809jpy (approx)
*this particular compilation comes from the spiffy as you like Guerilla label and collects some absolute oddities, an absolute goldmine for the crate diggers among you I'm sure. This is funk music as re-imagined by Indian movie composers and in being such we get an absolutely bizarre collision of styles, one part 70s cop show one part Bollywood. There are appearances from legendary singer Asha Bhosle, RD Burman, Kalyanji Amandji and more - just listen to those samples and trust me you'll be converted. An awesome compilation. -- boomkat
ABDEL HADI & THE EL GUSTO ORCHESTRA OF ALGIERS HALO- ABDEL HADI HALO & THE EL GUSTO ORCHESTRA OF ALGIERS CD (honest jon’s, uk)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/11.98eur/1910jpy (approx)
*Chaabi ("of the people") has its roots in the Andalusian music of Moorish Spain, spreading to North Africa with exiled Jewish and Moorish communities; but it really took off in the music schools, parties and bars of occupied, post-WWII Algiers, where its Andalusian, Middle Eastern and North African lineage fused with the Mediterranean soundtrack of that era -- chanson, jazz, snatches of tango, a little boogie-woogie. A chaabi band combines traditional instruments such as the quanoun (or zither), mandole, oud, gambar (a stringed turtle shell), bendir and derbouka (types of drum); together with the piano, flute, banjo (brought to Algiers by American GIs), violin (played upright on the lap to save space in crowded venues), accordion and bongos. With subject matter ranging from God to pretty girls, the songs often touch on taboo issues. For this recording, the Abdel Hadi Halo & The El Gusto Orchestra of Algiers includes four singers -- joined in chorus by the voices of the entire orchestra and five-man banjo, percussion and violin sections. The scale and organization are thrilling; the music is swirling and improvisatory, surging from the haunted to the bluesy, the devotional to the knees-up. This album was recorded on the tilting fifth floor of the Conservatoire d'Algiers, in a room overlooking the sea on one side, and the Casbah on the other: the orchestra was recorded live in full flight -- all together, in continuous takes.
HOUSE, TECHNO AND DISCO
PIER BUCCI- HAY CONSUELO 12” (alphabet city, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*His name is Pier Paolo Bucci and with releases on Crosstown Rebels and Cadenza, Pier has shown us what ambitious and intelligent tech house really is. His greatest success so far is without any doubt Hay Consuelo, that Pier released one year ago on his mother label, Crosstown Rebels. Now it is time for a re-release of the legendary Samim remix, plus a stunning new interpretation from 3 Channels from Poland.
SVEN VATH- THE BEAUTY & THE BEAST 12” (cocoon, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*Do you remember this track? In 1994, The Love Parade was not a mass event yet and rave had its peak-time in the clubs. In the same year, Sven Väth released his concept album The Harlequin, The Robot And The Ballet Dancer with "The Beauty & The Beast" being the most groovy track. Fourteen years later, Eric Prydz puts it into a modern outfit, while still retaining the groove, playfulness and mysteriousness that takes the listener to another world. One-sided because you don't need another side.
DA FRESH FEAT XENIA BELIAYEVA- OH BOY! 12” (dance electric, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*This is not the first time Arnaud Caschera has teamed up with Xenia Beliayeva. Their output so far has always been an exceptional combination of tight and atmospheric techno-electro and intense, cold vocals. Oh Boy! is definitely their best production to date. Made to turn clubs into hell. The B-side belongs to Copenhagen's no. 1 poster boy, Out Of Orbit and Re:connected label boss and world-travelling DJ, Martinez. His twist on techno house and minimal has already created some buzz around the scene including Richie Hawtin and his Minus clique or Steve Bug and many others. Dance Electric's #20 is a deadly application for all friends of tripped-out emotional electronic music.
V/A- DRUMPOEMS VERSE 1 12” (drumpoet community, switzerland)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*Welcome along to the first Drumpoet compilation entitled Drumpoems Verse 1. This teasing 4 track EP combines the previously unreleased tracks of Foster, Kawabata, The Lost Men and Soultourist on vinyl. Deep house heaven! The drumpoet.comMUNITY was founded in 2005 in Zurich to remusicalize the cold and sometimes boring schemes of clubland. It was time to bring back the warmth and soul to the dancefloor. The general vibe is rather relaxed than hectic -- a groove which seems to reflect the rhythm of Zurich perfectly and represents the constant aim for change and progression which is another characteristic of Zoorichans.
KAWABATA- PERSUASION 12” (drumpoet community, switzerland)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*Lexx aka Kawabata comes up with 'Persuasion,' a dubby and reduced house tune with an irresistible groove. Belonging to Zurich's finest DJs, Lexx knows exactly what moves people on the dancefloor. He's also known for his cosmic boogie tunes on labels like Bear Funk and Permanent Vacation. As Kawabata, he stands for deep and emotional dance music and also for a change in clubland. He's one of those people who lives music 24/7 and so is passionate about his work. On the flip-side, there's a stunning remix by Serafin of Mountain People fame. Serafin delivers a percussive monster which is hard to resist. 100% booty shaking with the essence of house music. It's already a big hit at the Zukunft and it's aiming for this new and yet really old-school vibe of house. Through his past, Serafin knows also how to make the techno community jump and it's definitely time for change in this genre. We think that people like The Mountain People or Sascha Dive, just to name a few, are opening new doors and have something important to say.
SHONKY- TIME ZERO REMIXES 12” (freak n chic, france)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*The title track from Shonky's debut artist album Time Zero gets a remix package from two of the underground's most in-demand production talents: Paul Ritch and Mathias Kaden. Ritch's mix holds down a steady and undulating, percussive groove that lets the spiraling effects of the original loose midway, leading back into a rolling finish. Mathias Kaden strips it back and creates a beat-laden take on the original, with some added irate synth detail.
JUNIOR BOYS- NO KINDA MAN 12” (get physical, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*No Kinda Man from Junior Boys was first heard on their contribution to Get Physical's Body Language mix series. "No Kinda Man" begins with a stormy low-end rumble broken by a repeated, chiming guitar chord, a spacious, dubby 4x4 rhythm and Jeremy's plaintive, quietly imploring vocal. An added 12-bar blues structure is further proof that Junior Boys' music pays no heed to traditional genre boundaries. Classic, yet utterly contemporary. Jona and Chloé provide remixes.
JOHN DALY- SOLITAIRE/BACK IT UP 12” (international records, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*What makes this producer so unique is the deep, deep disco house, kissed by spheric, warm and psychedelic influences which he seems to find much more in '70s space rock than in Chicago house or Detroit techno, like so many others. And this is what he does on this record in just such a banning way. John Daly lives in Galway, Ireland and founded his own label Feel Music in 2005.
SAMUEL L SESSION & MARTIN H- THE LEAP 12” (klap klap, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*To make it true and organic was the main purpose when Samuel L Session & Martin H teamed up for The Leap. And we must admit that they certainly succeeded in doing so. Both sides represent the path of techno with dub influences, but with the differences that have more twists and turns than most productions from the same scene. It's rich of details and short fills which makes this a truly great record, something that stands out in your box!
SAMUEL L SESSION- OFF THE CHAIN 12” (klap klap, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*restocked… The raw power of this fifth installment is nothing but delicious! Samuel is back with another tech-house record that will for sure be a real wallshaker. Just listen to the energy and madness Elbee Bad provided with his vocals. It's insane people! In a good way of course, if there ever was another way. Enough said!
REINHARD VOIGT- ALL IN 12” (kompakt, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*With his new 12" All In, Reinhard Voigt audibly glances back to his early musical influences. There's a good measure of old school Chicago house thump combined with the smart weirdness of Warp's bleep techno age. "Missing Billie" insistently pushes the low range frequencies and gently keeps the crowd going without any razzle-dazzle, sirens or horns. The splendid cover artwork was provided by Dennis Busch, who runs the incredible Esel imprint.
MAXIME DANGLES- SPEICHER 59 12” (kompakt, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*Maxime Dangles handles Speicher 59 with aplomb. "Tulipa" is nothing short of an anthem. Slightly reminiscent of Joey Beltram's golden times, this is simply one of the best techno tracks you've heard in years. The same counts for "Firewire," a dead-serious, darkish beast of a track that takes things down to a more mental atmosphere. Maxime Dangles single-handedly restores your faith in proper TECHNO. Enjoy the collective freak-out.
STEADYCAM/NIGHTGUY- SPEICHER 58 12” (kompakt, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*Next to Gui Boratto and Hug, Steadycam counts among the most prolific breedings in Kompakt's bootcamp, K2. This resourceful Swedish youngster keeps dropping one polka techno bomb after the other. "Get Up On There" is a mean little stinker that only reveals its devastating powers when played out in full. Nightguy is a new guy and presents "Pretty Face," a subtle blend of Carl Craig-y deepness, an overall xtc vibe and the perfect timing.
PERC/TOM POOKS & ST. THOMAS- SPEICHER 57 12” (kompakt, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*After Perc & Fractal's "Up," that crazy tune with the endlessly rising peep tone, their new track "Headphone Heart" is another monster. It's not as hysterical as "Up," but features an incredible flute section, instead. Pure hobbit techno! The other track belongs to Tom Pooks & St. Thomas, and "Remember" is Pooks' most subtle and sexy work to date.
NAVID TAHERNIA- SPEICHER 56 12” (kompakt, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… After years of being a laid-back and relaxed ex-minimal trance preacher, Navid Tahernia, also a Kompakt employee, is back on the musical scene. And back really means back, 'cause this is purest old school. "Mylikestyle" is an homage to the good old days when the 909 was still innocent and the real 303 was a mystic preacher of sublime secret messages, hidden in never-ending trance sequences. Full-fat raw, brilliant, monophunky, stompin' culture.
V/A- BAIA DEGLI ANGELI VOL 1,1977 TO 1978: THE LEGENDARY ITALIAN DISCOTEQUE OF THE 70'S CD (mediane multimedia, italy)
19.98usd/10.09gbp/12.61eur/2010jpy (approx)
*The Baia Degli Angeli. It’s not exaggerate to say everything started there. The golden age of disco, clubbing, glamour: just everything. I’m not saying ‘discoteques’ were a novelty (although in Italy were still called nightclubs, or ‘balere’). There was the Piper, in 1965, which instilled a little bit of ‘swingin’ London inside the ancient walls of the ‘the eternal city’, Roma. There was the Altro Mondo Studios, built up as a kind of spaceship or galactic island, which in ‘67 was making believe young riminesi (not only them, anyways) that Future with capital ‘F’, the one of Urania and the first sci-fi tv series, was just a question of weeks, or a couple of months at the most. But from the start the Baia was another story. Another world, too. It started in1974, on the edge of the still big ’68 revolutionary excitement and also on the grandeur of his creator, Giancarlo Tirotti, a little local tycoon, well introduced in roman cinema’s jet-set and a taste and elegance definitely ‘international’ and - for those days - absolutely new. Let’s say it once for all: the New York’s Studio 54 hasn’t invented anything. Mixing ‘stars’ and normal people in a beautiful place, in a way that simply ‘being there’ was already an experience, it was a bright intuition of Tirotti three years in advance of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. At the Baia you could meet Hollywood’s movie stars transiting in Italy, and by the way - before the conversion into disco, it was a sporting-club for the rich - with those totally white walls, the indoor and outdoor pools, the terrace where one could get a breathtaking view of Gabicce, it looked just like a Californian resort. Music - another news - was loud, really loud, and there was no rule of ‘three slows & three shakes’, something still in vigour in all the other clubs. And it was open till 6 a.m., you could watch the dawn at the Baia... listening to the new Philly Sound, played by Bob Day and Tom Sison the two dj’s Tirotti brought from New York. Punctually, all the other djs from Rimini and Riccione would come at the Baia to listen what Bob & Tom were doing, and it was always a shock! Firstly for the records, which both of them were getting right from USA, and the tecnique, too... In those days, putting a piece of paper between the record and the turntable, in order to get a faster start and a better mixing, was just a revolutionary strike... The day Bob & Tom decided to go back to America, they themselves - like a Star Wars saga - had to designate a substitute for the Baia’s consolle. It is 1977, and the chosen one is a young local dj already well known to the nightflies of the italian East Coast: Daniele Baldelli. In the meantime discomusic was spreading everywhere in Italy. The Baia - like a Fiorucci’s dream come true - displays plexiglass dancefloors and a crazy dj-booth inside a lift that goes up and down all the night long... the people is dancing on the 4 floors, look around and feel like being in a very ‘transgressive’ tv show, like the famous Strix on sunday nights. Rivers of champagne and a lot of very suspicious little powders are flowing... Actors, intellectuals and starlets of the little screen are usual presence on the dance floors and sofas. Grace Jones is so often a guest to become practically part of the environment. How beautiful was the Baia! Always completely white. Not a minute wrong detail, nor a hint of bad taste to ruin the elegant skyline. Only light, bright light... A battery of lights effects on a mechanical arm was moving and spreading around very sexy showers of lights and shadows. The little neon-light angel, sort of good-luck symbol who became the Baia’s logo and occasionally some exploit a-la-Warhol (like the Marylin Monroe’s icon deliriously librated in the air with stripes & ballons). The ‘golden age’ of the Baia Degli Angeli lasted only two seasons. In ‘78, after repeated breaks by the Police is the definitive closing. Too much fuss, too much intimidations from the sleepy establishment of the adriatic riviera. Too many ‘joyous powders’, for the Authority. A press document of the time (just a laughing matter today) states that the Baia «with is mere existence is promoting drugs between young people». The little air-balloon who gave birth to the glittering dream of the Baia was finally blown up... and the legend begins. And, as always goes when legends are born (think about NewYork’s Loft or Paradise Garage, or Chicago’s Warehouse), everybody started saying «I’ve been there», when actually just very few people stepped at the Baia, and danced to the music of Baldelli and his associate, the ‘generous’ Claudio ‘Mozart’ Rispoli. Those were other days... days were one wasn’t trotting up and down Italy with the same easyness of today: but if the wheels of the 128’s and the 500’s would not reach everywhere, the ‘mixtapes’ with the recordings of those legendary nights would. The popping out of a ‘mixtape’ from the Baia Degli Angeli in a provincial italian city was an event able to change the course of History. A lot of dj’s (today superstars) , one name for all: Claudio Coccoluto, have seen the Light listening to the ‘mixtapes’ of Baldelli & Mozart, which were just doing incredible things back then, mixing Kraftwerk, War & Jean Luc Ponty, with the smooth and comfort of someone who understood that music is a big treasure box from where one can track down shining gems. The Baia is the place who gave birth to the italian ‘dj culture’, and where ‘garage’ was invented, three years in advance from the Paradise Garage and ‘ambient’ ten years before ambient, mixing styles and genres with the absolutely open ‘attitude’ that Baldelli would bring out as a real trade mark of his own, starting from the subsequent adventure of the ‘Cosmic’, on the lake of Garda, the place where the so-called ‘afro’ phenomenon was born. But that’s another story... Fabio De Luca, june 2005.
JENS ZIMMERMANN- WONDERPETS/31-07-24 12” (snork, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*Here are two selected tracks by Jens Zimmermann, who is really well-known from his releases on Room Recordings, K2, International Freakshow, Harthouse, and Treibstoff, or for example, his drum 'n bass past as DJ Gargamel. He also cooperated in producing the well-known Culture Beat Dance project from the early '90s.
JENS ZIMMERMANN- ON DRUMZZZ 12” (snork, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.19eur/1306jpy (approx)
*Jens Zimmermann offers the special track 'On Drumzzz,' already played and loved by Richie Hawtin, for this upcoming new Snork08x which is a 'special edition one sided yellow clear vinyl pre release' for his new Snork08 which will be released three weeks later. The Snork08 comes as two tracker with two fresh new tracks, watch out. Please also check the next Groove issue with a great Jens Zimmermann feature. Snorky yellow colored vinyl with an extra long dubby sub-bass monster track. Grab your fingers on it! Supported by: Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Villalobos, Karotte, Jonas Kopp.
POPSHOP- PLAISIR NOIR 12” (stattmusik, switzerland)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*Martin Akeret is Popshop. The diversified soundworld of Popshop consists of a build-up of tension in an elaborate composition while juggling breaks and straightness. The melodies on Plaisir Noir are abysmal, emotional and dark, never shattering nor gloomy, but mysterious and propellant. Some of them even have a touch of timeless romance and unpredictability -- you never know what will happen in the next four beats.
DONK BOYS- JAMBALAYA 12” (trapez, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.56eur/1205jpy (approx)
*The Donk Boys are Sweden's Martin Abrahamsson and Thomas Jaldemark. They have developed their own post-Chicago twisted jack-funk style that cranks it up and keeps it down. "Soffliggare" is a dead-cool jam with sensual old school vibes. "Swipper" uses the sounds of a huge clock, countered by a warm Chicago organ. "Foolfox" works like a hunt, one sound being chased by forceful percussion elements but never really being captured. Jambalaya is for those who love techno and house in one set.
GIFT CERTIFICATES
gift certificates are always available in any denomination and come in a envelope ready to be stocking stuffed, slipped into pockets or dispensed in any way you see fit. they can be paid for in cash, credit card (visa, master card or discover) or paypal in person, phoned in or via email. gift certificates not paid for in person can either be mailed to you, or we can keep it in shop if the recipient plans to use it for mail-order.
ADDRESS
tequila sunrise records
525 w. girard avenue
(btwn 5th and 6th streets)
philadelphia, pa 19122
SUBWAY: blue or orange line to girard ave TROLLY: 15 to 5th street BUS: 57 to girard/3rd-4th st; 47 to girard/7th-8th st.
MAP
t/us: 1215 965 9616
t/uk: 0203 004 8357*
e: ajv@tequilasunriserecords.com
u: www.tequilasunriserecords.com
m: www.myspace.com/tequilasunriserecords
b: www. tequilasunriserecordshop.blogspot.com
HOURS (US)
monday: closed
tuesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
Wednesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
thursday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
friday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
saturday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
sunday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
HOURS (*UK)
monday: closed
tuesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
Wednesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
thursday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
friday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
saturday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
sunday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
OUT NOW: JACK ROSE- DR. RAGTIME AND HIS PALS/SELF-TITLED 2CD
TS-5006/5007 JACK ROSE- DR. RAGTIME AND HIS PALS/SELF-TITLED 2CD
*domestic version of jack rose’s new full length, ‘dr. ragtime and his pals’, coupled with a reissue of last years ‘self-titled’ cd/lp housed in a custom designed and fabricated off-set printed card cover with j-card style obi. limited edition of 1000.
The Appalachian Trail runs 2175 miles south from Mount Katahdin in Maine to
Springer Mountain in Georgia, though there are those who want to stretch it
further, into Alabama, because the mountains go there. Why not extend it?
Trails are made for that. But there's another Appalachian Trail, too - one
that goes through time, extending from unfinished studios in Williamsburg,
NY, winding down the grooves of ancient 78's to the 1920's or even earlier,
past Stephen Foster's wet dream to a place beyond the compass of change.
If you're hiking on *that* trail, you're likely to run into a lot of
post-grad Parsifal’s with inscrutable hair and de-tuned banjos - these days,
you can't swing a cat around without hitting one! But if you're lucky, you
might stumble across a clearing somewhere south of Lily Dale, where
revolutionists stop for orangeade and Dr. Ragtime hangs out with his pals.
If you ask him politely, he might offer you a taste of his elixir - made
from codeine, sarsaparilla, and goat-gland extract - guaranteed to restore
memories that never were. And if you're quiet, he might let you stay and
listen to the music: Ethiopian novelties, characteristic marches and parlor
favorites - bittersweet slices of Methodist pie, familiar tunes, at least in
those sections where the square dance has not yet been supplanted by the
fox-trot.
And if you have a couple of dimes to rub together in your pocket, you'll
want to purchase his newest, electrically-recorded phonograph recording,
entitled "Doctor Ragtime and his Pals." The Doctor, who hitherto has
recorded only on his own, is joined here by Micah Blue Smaldone (who has
been compared to both Tiny Tim and Kierkegaard), Glenn Jones (of Cul de Sac,
last seen around these parts urging college students to contemplate the
prospect of their own death on a balmy September evening), Michael Gangloff
(late of Pelt and the Black Twig Pickers), Nathan Bowles (also of the Black
Twig Pickers as well as the Spiral Joy Band) and the mysterious Harmonica
Dan (from Pennsauken, New Jersey by way of ethereal caminos).
This release is conjoined with a recording by Jack Rose, the Mike Morgan of
the American minimalist neo-primitive sub-underground. This recording,
entitled "Jack Rose" - previously available to the buying public only in
severely limited forms - is here presented as a bonus to the consumer and
perhaps as an act of folly for the producer.
-- Charles Fourier, Tequila Sunrise Records
16.98USD postage paid/north America
19.98USD postage paid/world
PURCHASE HERE
TEQUILA SUNRISE RECORDS SHOP
tequila sunrise records
(btwn 5th and 6th streets)
525 w. girard avenue
philadelphia, pa 19122
SUBWAY: blue or orange line to girard ave TROLLY: 15 to 5th street BUS: 57 to girard/3rd-4th st; 47 to girard/7th-8th st.
t/us: 1215 965 9616
t/uk: 0203 004 8357*
e: ajv@tequilasunriserecords.com
u: www.tequilasunriserecords.com
m: www.myspace.com/tequilasunriserecords
b: www.tequilasunriserecordshop.blogspot.com
HOURS UNITED STATES
monday: closed
tuesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
Wednesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
thursday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
friday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
saturday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
sunday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
HOURS *UNITED KINGDOM AND WESTERN EUROPE
monday: closed
tuesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
Wednesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
thursday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
friday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
saturday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
sunday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
*domestic version of jack rose’s new full length, ‘dr. ragtime and his pals’, coupled with a reissue of last years ‘self-titled’ cd/lp housed in a custom designed and fabricated off-set printed card cover with j-card style obi. limited edition of 1000.
The Appalachian Trail runs 2175 miles south from Mount Katahdin in Maine to
Springer Mountain in Georgia, though there are those who want to stretch it
further, into Alabama, because the mountains go there. Why not extend it?
Trails are made for that. But there's another Appalachian Trail, too - one
that goes through time, extending from unfinished studios in Williamsburg,
NY, winding down the grooves of ancient 78's to the 1920's or even earlier,
past Stephen Foster's wet dream to a place beyond the compass of change.
If you're hiking on *that* trail, you're likely to run into a lot of
post-grad Parsifal’s with inscrutable hair and de-tuned banjos - these days,
you can't swing a cat around without hitting one! But if you're lucky, you
might stumble across a clearing somewhere south of Lily Dale, where
revolutionists stop for orangeade and Dr. Ragtime hangs out with his pals.
If you ask him politely, he might offer you a taste of his elixir - made
from codeine, sarsaparilla, and goat-gland extract - guaranteed to restore
memories that never were. And if you're quiet, he might let you stay and
listen to the music: Ethiopian novelties, characteristic marches and parlor
favorites - bittersweet slices of Methodist pie, familiar tunes, at least in
those sections where the square dance has not yet been supplanted by the
fox-trot.
And if you have a couple of dimes to rub together in your pocket, you'll
want to purchase his newest, electrically-recorded phonograph recording,
entitled "Doctor Ragtime and his Pals." The Doctor, who hitherto has
recorded only on his own, is joined here by Micah Blue Smaldone (who has
been compared to both Tiny Tim and Kierkegaard), Glenn Jones (of Cul de Sac,
last seen around these parts urging college students to contemplate the
prospect of their own death on a balmy September evening), Michael Gangloff
(late of Pelt and the Black Twig Pickers), Nathan Bowles (also of the Black
Twig Pickers as well as the Spiral Joy Band) and the mysterious Harmonica
Dan (from Pennsauken, New Jersey by way of ethereal caminos).
This release is conjoined with a recording by Jack Rose, the Mike Morgan of
the American minimalist neo-primitive sub-underground. This recording,
entitled "Jack Rose" - previously available to the buying public only in
severely limited forms - is here presented as a bonus to the consumer and
perhaps as an act of folly for the producer.
-- Charles Fourier, Tequila Sunrise Records
PURCHASE
16.98USD postage paid/north America
19.98USD postage paid/world
PURCHASE HERE
TEQUILA SUNRISE RECORDS SHOP
tequila sunrise records
(btwn 5th and 6th streets)
525 w. girard avenue
philadelphia, pa 19122
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HOURS UNITED STATES
monday: closed
tuesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
Wednesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
thursday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
friday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
saturday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
sunday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
HOURS *UNITED KINGDOM AND WESTERN EUROPE
monday: closed
tuesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
Wednesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
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friday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
saturday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
sunday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
Friday, April 4, 2008
NEW ARRIVALS/RESTOCKS FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 4
NEW ARRIVALS AND RESTOCKS FRIDAY, APRIL 4
thanks for looking.
welp, it would seem april shows are upon us here in PHL… thus making it a poor weekend for outdoor activities, but ‘round here we see it as a golden opportunity for you all to catch up with some vinyl purchasing (!)… you’ll notice this weeks list is a touch light on the rock equation, that is if you consider the franklin dbl lp on cocodrilo easy listening… it’s not. and besides did you see last weeks list? rock was well rep’d there… almost as well rep’d as the new and restocked noise titles on this weeks list. more olde english spelling bee and no fun productions restocks as well as new titles from mouthus, hototogisu, kranky records, magik markers and more… got the ethiopian instrumental hits on l’arome back in (as well as the other *essential* ethiopian titles on said label), this one was outta print for a spell. it’s a good one, don’t miss out again. more nigerian funk/disco on soundway; some new dubstep titles (plus a surprise restock of the razor x prods dbl lp!!!), and tons *tons* of new dance imports! come on by and check em out!
gracias
anthony
as always, many of the titles are in very limited quantity, so if you're interested in anything listed below, feel free to call or email me, I will gladly hold items for up to a week.
prices do not include shipping and handling. for those of you shipping within the continental united states I offer a 5.00usd flat shipping rate for any amount of records and/or compact discs. shipping cost for international orders are calculated on an order by order basis. payments for orders can be made via paypal or with a credit card by telephone between 12-6pm/est.
i also offer bike messanger service via timecycle couriers. for the low cost of 10.00usd i can deliver any amount of records and/or cds you wish to purchase to your center city philadelphia location (this includes some parts of south, west and north philadelphia) within two hours (and for those of you who need your records even faster, we also offer ‘rush’ service for the low flat rate of 20.00usd for any amount of records/cds delivered to you within one hour). of course, we are still more than happy to ship records via the usps within philadelphia. as with the international shipments, orders placed before 5pm/est will ship out that evening and should reach their destination by the following day.
ROCK, POP AND PSYCHEDELIC
FRANKLIN- LIFE CIRCLE 2LP (cocodrilo, spain)
44.98usd/22.70gbp/28.97eur/4628jpy (approx)
*Franklin were one of the first underground bands from Spain, formed in the late '60s by some of the best musicians based in Madrid at the time. Fuelled by the killer guitars of Pablo Weeber and Antonio Gª De Diego, they only recorded two sought after & excellent hard-psych 45s (the first one, containing their psyched to the max cover of the Stones 'Satisfaction' was recently included on the Andergraun Vibrations comp). In 1974, the band recorded a whole album which was never released until now. Their new line-up for those sessions featured two drummers and a new keyboard player. Life Circle is a conceptual album which sounds more prog-rock than their previous 45s, in fact we must say this is a must for anyone into Spanish progressive sounds. Nine tracks full of hard guitar, mini-Moog, Mellotron, analog keyboards, some spacey and experimental-symphonic passages, English vocals. Titles like 'Renaissance,' 'Intro for Cosmic Body,' 'Takeoff.' Double vinyl set, 500 copies limited, featuring the whole Franklin output: their two 45s, the unreleased Life Circle album remastered from the master tapes and a couple of rare live tracks. Includes insert with liner notes and photos.
PUNK AND POST-PUNK
SUICIDE- SUICIDE LP (red star, usa)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*restocked… Official 1999 reissue of the first Suicide LP from 1977, on the original Red Star label. Digitally remastered, iconic cover art intact. Beyond-essential late '70s underground listening which has carried near boundless influence. Suicide were Alan Vega (voice) and Martin Rev (electronics). Classic punk-electronic trance that sounds as intense and vivid as ever and unlike some of their peers from the era, still as dangerously futuristic. This edition contains two extra tracks not on the original LP: a remix of Cheree, and Keep Your Dreams.
AVANT GARDE AND NOISE
SUTCLIFFE JUGEND- TRANSGRESSION LP (dogma chase, japan)
33.98usd/17.15gbp/21.89eur/3496jpy (approx)
*Dogma Chase proud to announce the new album of the true innovative power electronics band from uk. Sutcliffe jugend transgression follows this is the truth on ground fault recordings and Hospital Productions. It comes absolutely standing and disturbing electronics noise which is thorough aggressiveness and total directly fierce vocals. Its tension is ultra violent including seditious for all of need it. We are sure that you feel strongly again they are still outstanding and are growing toward into the living truth. We would like to dedicate it for all of the human living with strength that continue to be honest and real NOISE fanatics. This release was sold at their first Japan tour in April. It comes on pure white vinyl with a A4 sized insert in textual sleeve with embossed band name. Limited to 500 copies.
HOTOTOGISU- UNDER THE ROSE LP (heavy blossom, usa)
20.98usd/10.59gbp/13.51eur/2158jpy (approx)
*Hototogisu’s first lp release on their own imprint Heavy Blossom! Under the Rose is a pair of incantations for the dark and vengeful animal spirits. Sung in two parts Malignant Coronation and Origami Skulls are blackened arias, dizzying vortexes and canyons of screams, guitars and chaotic rhythms. Arising from this richly recorded and mastered vinyl slab come black tarpits of malevolence and savage beauty, harking back to a pre-Christian universe of animating spirits and tutelary daemons . Comes in black jacket with a full color photograph attached to the front cover and thickly inked silk-screened backs. Edition of 600.
STARS OF THE LID- THE TIRED SOUNDS OF STARS OF THE LID 3LP (kranky, usa)
25.98usd/13.11gbp/16.73eur/2673jpy (approx)
*repressed… Are there other earthling-conjured soundworks rivaling the majesty of Henry Flynt's minimalist hillbilly fiddle fantasias or the heavens-rending power of Messiaen's works for organ? Undoubtedly, else why bother listening. But the only thing speaking at us right now from these charmed regions are the celestial airs of these Stars of the Lid. Alternately lulling and wielding a potency that wholly escapes 'experimental' musics, sotl bring big, whomping chunks of sonic firmament with a sustaining, life-affirming sweep. For the most part the latest sotl missive offers sound sources which refuse to readily reveal themselves. Treated strings, organ or backwards tubular bell runs -- it's simply a sublime chorus of instrument voices, irresistible as the undertow. Also gurgling up in the mix are whimpering pups, shuffling feet, Dictaphone-preserved foreign lecture hall blather, a city bus shouldering to an unsteady stop -- common enough stuff, but rendered here as the sounds of civilization heard distantly, the human receiver filtering everything through a palpable dis-ease that bespeaks a Higher yearning. -- Dean Blackwood
STARS OF THE LID- STARS OF THE LID AND THEIR REFINEMENT OF THE DECLINE 3LP (kranky, usa)
25.98usd/13.11gbp/16.73eur/2673jpy (approx)
*repressed… The long awaited new album from Stars of the Lid is finally ready for your sonic immersion. Painstakingly recorded, processed and assembled over the last five years, sotl once again deliver a massive work filling two compact discs and three vinyl albums, clocking in at over two hours. While most albums of this length would be considered tedious at best, sotl are arguably the only contemporary composers who can seemingly alter the time-space continuum simply through the playback of their organized sound. They take time itself and stretch, compress and turn it inside out, altering what would otherwise be an arduous test of nerves into an interlude of half awake dreams that ends too soon. In this album, sotl picks up where The Tired Sounds Of... left off with an emphasis on melodic development, moving their epic soundscapes beyond mere drone and subsequently frustrating all the typical ambient cliches associated with their music. Perhaps the best references for this current work would be found in the score to the film Le Mepris by Georges Delerue, the orchestral works of Zbigniew Preisner, or the 1958 CSO/ Fritz Reiner recording of Hovhaness' Mysterious Mountain, specifically the third movement. But in the final analysis, such comparisons are superfluous at best, as Stars of the Lid have created a musical universe in which they are the sole inhabitant. Simply put, this album is a masterpiece.
DEAD C/HI GOD PEOPLE- SPLIT LP (nervous jerk, australia)
25.98usd/13.11gbp/16.73eur/2673jpy (approx)
*restocked… debut release from new Australian label Nervous Jerk (Formally Art School Dropout records). Amazing split lp by New Zealand free noise legends Dead C and local heroes of surreal theatre, world damage and spaced rock The Hi God People. Dead C provide 2 tracks taken from their ATP show in LA 2002. Starts of with a suprisingly gentle and repetitive rock mantra, ends in punk noise, feedback wall of squall - killer! Hi God supply 3 tracks - a mind blinding mix of sermonic atmosphere, space chug, tribal clunk and glorious plunk. All up a genius paring of 2 of the southern hemispheres finest: Noise, trance, rock, feedback, fun, love and weirdness all wrapped in a stunning silk-screened sleeve by Dylan Mattoral (snawklor, hi god). Local record of the year.... ?" - Synaethesia. "Pairing of northern suburbs conceptual improv performance art collective and New Zealand noise addicts of a 20 year vintage. the Dead C boil down the top-impact sections of their relentless 2002 LA ATP performance to 18 minutes of brutality. Hi God People take ears on a free form sonic adventure. Limited to 500 copies, each come with silk screened artwork by Dylan Martorell thatll have your mind collapsing at first sight of its intricacies. -Missing Link.
SUSAN ALCORN- AND I AWAIT THE RESURRECTION OF THE PEDAL STEEL GUITAR LP (olde english spelling bee, usa)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… This is the fifth solo offering by the Houston, Texas-based pedal steel sorceress, Susan Alcorn. 'The Heart Sutra' opens and is inspired by the 'Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Wisdom,' which was delivered by Buddha 2,500 years ago. It is a beautiful, yet solemn work that reverberates from within, as Susan strums those magical strings. The title track, 'And I Await the Resurrection of the Pedal Steel Guitar,' was inspired by Messiaen's 'Et Expecto Ressurectionum Mortuorum.' It is a near 16-minute epic of stirring, haunting sounds. Each note is stretched out and floats like a spirit on the wind in a graveyard. Ms. Alcorn's approach to the pedal steel guitar is completely unique and she doesn't quite sound like anyone else. If one is patient enough, they will realize that she makes every note and space count.
MOUTHUS & AXOLOTL- 12-15-04 LP (olde english spelling bee, usa)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*Last copies of this out of print side from 2005… Much anticipated hook-up between these two modern rock titans, recorded at The Tarpit (home of the Double Leopards/Mouthus White Rock sessions et al) on Christmas day, 2004. Mouthus sound totally beautiful here, with that drugged slow-motion tone extending their higher-minded rock-brut into whole new vectors of 'there'. Some almost-dissolved high-end fuzz guitar ala Matthew Bower skirts the very periphery of your ears while distressed choral vocals flit in and out of corporeal form and drums slowly pad towards an ever-receding horizon. A magical late-night spirit fuck played by an orchestra of beautifully-doomed ghosts in the last comedown throes of pure LSD. Highly recommended. Edition of 550 copies in full-colour printed sleeves with insert. –volcanic tongue
MOUTHUS & COUSINS OF REGGAE- SPLIT LP (olde english spelling bee, usa)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*A side each of fertile noise-rot from Montreals Cousins of Reggae and Brooklyns Mouthus. Soundly rejected by Discovery Channel - the Cousins five-track suite about the Hudson Bay follows up their limited & hard-to-find debut l.p. (on Ohnonoise) & a recent cd-r on Mouthuss Our Mouth imprint. They set sail with some hyperactive stompers and narcoleptic stumblers intent on capsizing all vessels in their path before coming under attack by a squadron of pissed off jet-skiiers. On flip are two massive Mouthus jams - "New Drugz" & "Better Than Facemask" which perfectly capture a day spent peaking on mescaline at the Daytona 500. Limited edition of 500 with unique handpainted covers and full-color inserts.
MOUTHUS- SISTER VIBRATION LP (our mouth, usa)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*this might be their most devolved circumnavigation of rock from to date. The guitars are impossibly impacted, muffled sandpaper huffs that move in tectonic slugs while the drums shrug between boings of tone-pad squelch, electrified steel-band ceremonials and primitively executed power stomps. This kinda profound retro-futurist refusal lines em up with a buncha modernists like Chrome, TG and even live Mars but there’s something in the distant, hiccupping vocals and the generally manhandled atmosphere that sounds like a more drug-degraded take on the kinda hillbilly scorch that Alpo-era Cheater Slicks occasionally delivered on. If you like yr rock gasoline-damaged to the point of almost-intelligible, stick out your cans. Limited edition of 500 copies in art sleeves released on the group’s own private press imprint. –volcanic tongue
KAORU ABE/SABU TOYOZUMI OVERHANG PARTY- SENZEI 2LP (qbico, italy)
43.98usd/22.19gbp/28.33eur/4525jpy (approx)
*Kaoru Abe: (alto sax). Sabu Toyozumi: (drums, percussion). Rec. February 25 and April 15 & 30, 1978 live at Gaya, Tokyo, Japan. Unrelease recordings available here for the 1st time after more then 25 years… Long ago, when I started listening to free jazz records and was blowing on my alto, the abrasive sax sound of Kaoru Abe immediately fascinate me and he instantly became one of my hero... by then Id have NEVER imagined that one day Id have released an unissued record by him. This dream come true is now possible thanks to my dear friend Sabu, who discovered these very well recorded magical live sessions. Here, youd still hear Abe piercing sound (even if in this period he suffered terribly from physical and mental pain), few months before his tragic death for acute stomach rupture (official report, but his habit was known...). Unfortunately, he died too young, at 29 years old, on Sept. 9, 1978. His solo activity had been documented on at least more then 15 releases (between LP and CDs), but his collaborations had been less documented: three seminal releases in duo with guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, another duo DLP with Sabu, a duo/trio from 1970/71, a duo LP with bassist Motoharu Yoshizawa and finally group playing with Derek Bailey and Milford Graves. So this new duo live sets are much more welcome. He was definitively one of the greatest improvisor from Japan and Sabu with his creative and powerful drumming, the ideal partner to let him freely express all his intense emotions. Raw energy, aggressive playing, heavy stuff. -- qbico
JUTOK KANEKO/TAKAHISA KIKUKAWA- WEDGED NIGHT LP (siwa, usa)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… October 2002 recording of improvisations and songs by Jutok Kaneko (guitar) and Takahisa Kikukawa (drums). Kaneko should be familiar to some as the man behind the heavy psychedelia of Kousokuya (whose much sought after debut LP from 1989 has finally resurfaced on PSF). Kikukawa's name on the other hand will likely not ring too many bells outside of his home country but he did supply some sublimely spaced drumming to the dreamy Che-Shizu for a while and he plays percussion and piano in UZU. Both in Kousokuya and in Kaneko's solo work the line between composition and improvisation is a very blurry one so it's only in the loosest of terms that we say side one of this album is an 'improvisation' and side two consists of a couple of 'songs'. The LP comes in an appropriately black and black on black silkscreened cover with two screened inserts.
TORI KUDO/LA CONSUMPTION 4- ATLANTIC CITY LP (siwa, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… archive lp of material recorded by Tori Kudo and some fellow travellers during a stay in New York in the Summer of 1981. Originally released on cassette the approach on these recordings was a long way from the eerie organ driven Noise Tenno LP that Tori and Reiko released a year earlier. About half of Atlantic City consists of songs, teeth bared and falling apart as they come together but still in a style similar to Tori's subsequent work with Maher Shalal Hash Baz. The other half is made up mostly of extended guitar jams rooted equally in rock and blues but retaining Tori's rather unique take on the idioms. Screenprinted cover and insert art adapted from drawings and photos taken in NY and Atlantic City in 1981.
CHIE MUKAI- SOLO IMPROVISATIONS CD (siwa, usa)
15.98usd/8.06gbp/10.29eur/1644jpy (approx)
*restocked… cd reissue of Chie Mukai's second solo album originally released on LP in 2000. Three tracks recorded at Kid Ailack Art Hall in Tokyo in the late '90s. Just over 40 minutes of solo improvisations featuring the beautiful deep drone of the er-hu (a traditional bowed Chinese instrument), augmented by voice, kengali, rings and cymbals. Mukai is an important (and underdocumented) figure in the Japanese underground whose work goes back to her time as a student under Takahisa Kosugi in the late '70s which resulted in her participation in the legendary East Bionic Symphonia album. Since then, she has continued to work with her own Ché-SHIZU outfit and appear on recordings with artists such as Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Rinji Fukuoka (Overhang Party), Sei'ichi Yamamoto (Boredoms) and Masayoshi Urabe. This CD is housed in a screenprinted gatefold chipboard sleeve and is released in an edition of 600… It is such an unadulterated pleasure to have this Siwa album, her first release outside of Japan, back in print. Three longish pieces, all recorded live in the late nineties. There's a far fuller drone sound to her er-hu here, compared to that on her previous solo release (Kokyu Improvisation, on PSF), a wavering intensity that pulls your brain straight into a sensation-dulled trance. And with none of the evil wince often associated with solo violin improvs, you're free to fully appreciate the fractional control and deep humming resonance of the instrument. It's a beguiling sound, seeming to combine both earth and air in one eternal thrumming, shimmering pull of gut on steel string. Mukai augments the sound with an occasional percussion crash, and a verse or two of wordless higher-mind vocalization. What more could a human ask for? This is sumptuous late-night improv, a fine goose-feather pillow for addled minds everywhere. --Alan Cummings
SEISHOKKI- 1975-1977 LP (siwa, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… Seishokki (roughly translates as 'Organs Of Blue Eclipse') was an outfit formed while it's members were still in high school and active from 1975-1977 in Asahikawa in northern Japan. The onset of punk may have validated these six non-musicians decision to start a band but original member Ikuro Takahashi (who went on to perform with a veritable who's who list of outfits including Fushitsusha, High Rise, Che-Shizu and Maher Shalal Hash Baz) has suggested that a lot of their inspiration came from what was probably a misreading of early minimalism. With their musical influences as likely to be only heard of as actually heard what comes out in these recordings is a wonderfully primitive approach to the repetition of minimalism with exuberant forays into wild synth/percussion driven noise. The result is a sound that falls somewhere between the original Amon Duul LPs and Outside the Dream Syndicate with a nod towards the subsequent development of noise as a genre in the Japanese underground. These are believed to be the only surviving recordings of this band with the exception of a vocal track with lyrics concerning an eternal teenage concern deemed too mortifying for release. Limited vinyl only edition in lurid 5 color screenprinted jacket.
MAGIC MARKERS- RELAX IN A PANIC FREE ATMOSPHERE LP (spring press, australia)
30.98usd/15.63gbp/19.95eur/3187jpy (approx)
*Our first release by Hartford, Connecticut outfit Magik Markers is out now. The beautiful 12" LP [featuring artwork by Pete Nolan] contains the best Markers free rock meanderings youre bound to hear. The current lineup consisting of Elisa Ambrogio & Pete Nolan sees Steve Gunn (General Head Quarters) & Josh Burkett (Joshua, The Believers) pitching in on the new material. The record is in a strictly limited edition of 250 copies. Excited? So are we. Tracklisting: Relax In a Panic Free Atmosphere [10.39] (lIve at Smell, LA), Come Back to the Five & Dime, Tex Watkins [12.27] (Live in Cleveland), When Big John Gets Up [8.12] (Live in Denton, TX).
HAIR POLICE- BLIND KINGDOM LP (ultra eczema, belgium)
27.98usd/14.12gbp/18.02eur/2878jpy (approx)
*restocked… Odd colored carpet of bizarre 3D fields dominate the bright and lurid psychedelic forests you'll have to run thru to grab a mug a brew at the end of the trip! Hop on the back of a giant pink elephant and let go, eventually follow his tiny dick-like tail if u are too small to climb up this pink turt in space! But do give it a try and check out what's left? Thats right: nothing! Just a puddle of restless throbbing poop in different colours. The elephant turns out to be a puddle as well and the sounds you're hearing are all on the most psychedelic Hair Police LP so far! This is definitely way different then any of their other recordings, way more high bliss, blown out delayed voice and hardly any harshness. Originally recorded as a Hair Police radio special for Radio Centraal in Antwerp! Thick black and neon blue eye destructive cover design and a psychic laser etch on the B-side of this 180 grams wax!
GREG KELLEY & ALEX NEILSON- GRAVESIDE DOLES LP (ultra eczema, belgium)
27.98usd/14.12gbp/18.02eur/2878jpy (approx)
*two of the most intense young "free" dudes from different parts of the globe (kelley from boston, neilson from leeds) unite for this completely weird record, taking free music to a different level, recorded on top of eachother via mail. this sounds like moving the heaviest metal closet on a little rubber boat from brighton to the east coast of the united states, kicking off with a heavy free jazzy tune full of retarded trumpets stuffed with little babies screaming for a change slightly changing into ice cold acoustic metal scraping ambience. tons of different sounds to discover and very unclear whether they came out of a trumpet, a drumset, a mouth or a whale. comes in a black and silver fine line drawn cover by dennis tyfus limited to 400 copies.
TOLERANCE- DIVINE LP (vanity/no label, usa)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… Vanity was a legendary Osaka-based underground label from the late 70s/early 80s. They released albums of primitive electronics by the likes of Aunt Sally, Sympathy Nervous, Dada, Sab, BGM, etc. None have been officially reissued (besides the first Aunt Sally I guess) and the original LPs have been basically unfindable anywhere in the western world since the day of release. This is a "gray area" reissue of the 2nd Tolerance album, originally issued in 1981. Their music has been described as "almost proto-Ambient Techno". Tolerance, consisting of Junko Tanage and Masmai Yoshikawa, were the only band that released a second album on Vanity. Their first LP (Anonym, 1979) was supposedly the source for the title of the second Nurse With Wound LP, To The Quiet Men From A Tiny Girl. The label was founded by Yuzuri Agi (he was also rumored to have ran Voice records, which in 75-76 released the ultra-mysterious Brast Burn and Karuna Khyal LPs). The following label manifesto was published in 1979: 'We will produce records pursuing 1). Electronics Music, 2). 'Music as Furniture' series (Modernistic Music), 3). Invation to Kayo-kyoku, 4). Music with experimental new vision (Punk., New Wave, Free Music, Modernistic Music, etc.).'
FOLK, BLUES AND ROOTS
V/A- WAYFARING STRANGERS: GUITAR SOLI 2LP (numero group, usa)
21.98usd/11.09gbp/14.16eur/2261jpy (approx)
*Double LP version, great gatefold sleeve… Bridging the gap between American primitive pioneers John Fahey, Robbie Basho, and Leo Kottke, and the California modernists William Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, and Michael Hedges, Guitar Soli explores the private side of the solo guitar movement from 1966-1981. While Takoma and Windham Hill were laying the groundwork for the new age marketing juggernaut of the mid '80s, these fourteen loners were picking away in tiny cafes, selling records hand to hand. The double LP set comes housed in a beautiful recycled cardboard gatefold sleeve and features Ted Lucas, Daniel Hecht, Dan Lambert, Jim Ohlschmidt, Tom Smith, Mark Lang, Richard Crandell, William Eaton, George Cromarty, Scott Witte, Brad Chequer, Dwayne Canan, and Dana Westover.
V/A- WAYFARING STRANGERS: LADIES FROM THE CANYON CD (numero group, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… Compilaton of obscure and unknown 1970s female folk artists, featuring Becky Severson, Collie Ryan, Linda Rich, Caroline Peyton, Carla Sciaky, Judy Kelly, Shira Small, Jennie Pearl, Mary Perrin, Priscilla Quinby, Marj Snyder, Barbara Sipple, Ginny Reilly & Ellen Warshaw. For those looking to go beyond the Perhacs/Sill resurgence, this is a pretty insightful set, well documented in Numero-style. By 1970 the folk revival was all but over. Gone were the days of 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' and 'If I Had A Hammer.' ABC's Hootenanny had been cancelled. Broadside was out, Rolling Stone in. Richard Farina was dead. Dylan plugged in. Joan Baez and Judy Collins gave way to a younger, more introspective generation of songwriters. The sound that began in the hills and caught fire on the lower east side of Manhattan was now being reborn in the canyons of California. The fruits of folk's second renaissance are collected here. Wedged beneath the infrastructure of the music business, playing in coffee houses and at church picnics. Deeper than recent crit-revisionist darlings Linda Perhacs, Judee Sill, or Vashti Bunyan, Ladies From The Canyon takes a solid look at folk's private and obscure underbelly.
FUNK AND SOUL
V/A- NEW ORLEANS FUNK VOLUME 2 3LP (soul jazz, uk)
26.98usd/13.61gbp/17.38eur/2776jpy (approx)
*This is Soul Jazz Records' new journey into the heart of New Orleans and a guide to the city's finest funk music produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Featuring everyone from The Meters to Eddie Bo, Lee Dorsey to Betty Harris, this is a who's who of the Crescent City's most famous and most funky! The city of New Orleans has deep musical roots that stretch back to Africa. New Orleans first gave birth to jazz music, a black musical form centered on rhythm, improvisation, freedom and collectivity at the turn of the century. Similarly in the late 1960s, New Orleans funk came to define a unique sound, mixing Caribbean rhythms, New Orleans second-line syncopation and rhythm and blues, all played by the Big Easy's finest musicians. While jazz and funk music spread throughout the world, many African-American musical traditions remained within the city limits such as Mardi Gras and Carnival, Saturday Night fish fries, funeral marching bands and much more, which partly explains why New Orleans music is so unique. The album comes with extensive sleeve-notes, exclusive photography and more, and is an essential guide to the musical landscape of New Orleans and -- together with Soul Jazz Records' earlier New Orleans' releases -- presents the definitive story of New Orleans funk. Although on the mainland coast, New Orleans is also surrounded by lakes, giving the city an island feel. Similarly, its proximity to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti and the other West Indian Isles means that Latin and Caribbean musical influences are in its veins as much as American musical traditions. The upside of this city's isolation is that New Orleans musical traditions flourished away from those of the rest of America. A thriving city full of artists, musicians, singers, producers, record companies, studios (well, one studio, actually) led to a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week musical life, playing in clubs, bars, brothels, carnivals and parades. The downside of the city's isolation from the rest of the U.S. was that the city never developed a solid music industry to back up the creative over-supply. While New York had Atlantic, Detroit had Motown, Memphis had Stax, Chicago had Chess, Los Angeles had Modern, New Orleans had a multitude of small businesses fighting for space -- and often each other. Without the marketing, promotional weight, business and financial clout, New Orleans labels found it hard to get the nationwide distribution necessary to fill the million-odd jukeboxes throughout the country. So while every family in America knows the music of Gladys Knight or Smokey Robinson, few could tell you about -- let alone hum a tune from -- Benny Spellman, Inell Young, Warren Lee...this is far from being a reflection of the artists' creativity or musicality -- as anyone can tell you, New Orleans' melodies are the catchiest of all -- more it is a reflection of the limitations of the local music industry. Some New Orleans artists became successful throughout the U.S., such as Fats Domino in the 1950s and in the late 1960s, The Meters and Lee Dorsey, but many artists remained within the city limits. This makes for a fascinating goldmine of music released by a complex myriad of small labels run mainly by New Orleans producers, promoters and artists themselves. New Orleans Funk 2 brings together many of these artists along with text, sleeve-notes and photographs that gives social and historical context to the incredibly funky music of New Orleans.
GLOBAL
MAHMOUD AHMED- ERÈ MÈLA MÈLA LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… The re-release series of original Ethiopian classic vinyl continues -- the finest Ethio jazz by Mahmoud Ahmed and his band from 1975 plus two tracks from 1978. The liner notes: 'Melancholy blues, piercingly minimalist country airs, brassy, danceable urban jazz, heart-wrenching, off-key crooners: a rich and stirring patchwork of sounds, crossing Afro-beat, Latino-swing moves and Eastern arabesques (Anaïs Prosaïc).' Such were the first -- informed and enthusiastic -- opinions of the music press when the first strains of modern Ethiopian music sounded on our shores. This was in 1984-1985. Such a positive note, struck about such a country at such a time, created plenty of reverb. The country had been so thoroughly trashed by the media's feeding-frenzy, which spewed out a mix of horror and pious pity, bitter denunciation and humanitarian appeals, wallet-tickling clichés and refusal of identity. In one brutal swoop, TV-reality transformed Ethiopia into a cursed nation, forsaken by God and by man. In contrast to these tragedies, but in the same hackneyed tones, Mahmoud Ahmed's life resembles an edifying fairy-tale where destiny, talent and achievement combine to triumph over poverty, fate and the evil eye. Biography, history and legend, with the help of God, infallibly weave the lesson of merit rewarded. But who can argue, in spite of the mockery that celebrities invariably draw, when faced with one of the greatest voices in all of Africa? Once upon a time, there was a street urchin in Addis Ababa, who started off as a shoe-shine boy and went on to become one of his country's biggest stars, opening the door to Ethiopian music to Western audiences. --Francis Falceto
MULATU ASTATKE FEAT. FEKADE AMDE MASKAL- ETHIO JAZZ LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… The Ethio Jazz album by Mulatu Astatqé is a jewel of the modern Ethiopian music and a mythical album, since the beginning of Ethiopian music reissues (mainly on Buda Musique). An incredibly groovy Ethiopian record, originally from 1969-1972. Amazing orchestral 'Ethio-groove' filled with US soul, jazz, sometimes Latin and the deepest Eastern rhythms, even including some great nasty and dirty fuzz guitars. A true gem of Ethiopian modern instrumental music, which illustrates perfectly this symbiosis of strong rhythms and quality arrangements of subtle yet deep Ethiopian melodies. A must for all '60s/'70s collectors! In the Ethiopian musical landscape, Mulatu Astatke is a unique musician, composer, arranger. His real contribution consists in his action for instrumental music, in a country where orchestral traditions doesn't exist. For the last 30 years, he is the leading head of the Ethiopian musical scene. First vinyl reissue and definitely one of the most important Ethiopian music albums.
V/A- ETHIOPIAN MODERN INSTRUMENTALS HITS LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Ethiopians' deep-seated ethiocentrism, the legacy of a thousand years of history, has contributed in no small way to their music's strong national identity, particularly impervious to any African influences. Latin influences, so pervasive in the great musical centers of West Africa and the Congo, have been similarly rebuffed, despite the brilliant attempts of a musician like Mulatu Astatke. He was the first and for a long time the only Ethiopian to have studied music abroad (England and USA). In the late '60s, he brought back 'ethio-jazz', as well as a passion for Latin rhythms that was not readily shared by the Ethiopian audience. As early as 1966, he released a single and two LPs in the US entitled Afro-Latin Soul (and a third LP, Mulatu of Ethiopia in 1972), with his Ethiopian Quintet composed of American and Latin-American musicians (Worthy Records). That was three years before Fela's first American tour and six years prior to Manu Dibango's key breakthrough with the release of Soul Makossa in the Western 'pre-World music' market. All this goes to show how much the history of the African continent's musical modernity should be reconsidered in light of the Ethiopian adventure, even though this lone spark bore little relation, musically or ideologically to the musical revolutions initiated most notably by Ghanian highlife, South African jazz, Congolese rumba or, much later on, by Fela.
V/A- ETHIOPIAN URBAN MODERN MUSIC VOL.1: ETHIOPIAN SOUL AND GROOVE LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Urban Ethiopian music stands out within the African continent thanks to its creativity and originality. Whatever the shade -- pop, blues, jazz or soul -- it comes from a fusion of local musical traditions mixed with an echo of Western music. It bewitched Ethiopia during the 'Swinging Addis' decade before recently winning the favors of a well-informed audience all over the world. This first vinyl volume of Ethiopian Urban Modern Music presents some of the Ethiopian 'groove jewels' drawn from the essential CD Ethiopiques series directed by Francis Falceto and published by Buda music.
ALEMAYEHU ESHETE- ETHIOPIAN URBAN MODERN MUSIC VOL.2 LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Alèmayèhu Eshèté is no less than one of the great voices of the heyday of modern Ethiopian music, the swinging sixties which, in this country, went on until the fall of the Emperor Haile Sellassie 1 in 1974. On a par with Tlahoun Gèssèssè, Bzunèsh Bèqèlè or Mahmoud Ahmed, Alèmayèhu is a star at the top level of the constellation that once lit up the wild nights in the capital.
LULA CORTES E ZE RAMALHO- PAÊBIRÚ 2LP (mr. bongo, uk)
39.98usd/20.17gbp/25.75eur/4113jpy (approx)
*restocked… double lp version, deluxe gatefold sleeve, limited to 1000 copies worldwide… Paêbirú is an obscure Brazilian psych concept album about the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) that was lost to time in a warehouse fire in 1974, causing it to become a massively sought-after lost classic, fetching up to $1500 for vinyl copies. This recording of the collaboration between Brazilian artists Lula Côrtes and Zé Ramalho is a wonderfully off-kilter record, full of fantastic hooky and strange tunes that range all over the place, from full-on freakouts to quiet pastoral. The entire range of 1970s hippie Brazilian musician culture is displayed in this record. It's experimental, but it's relentlessly driven towards fun. If you like good music, you will like this legendary album untouched by time. Côrtes, who composes and plays on many of the tracks, seemingly appears only when talking about obscure Brazilian psych reissues, Ramalho, on the other hand, has built a solid career as a Brazilian pop singer and takes on most vocal duties. It's a very atmospheric blend, sung and chanted vocals are no more or less important than any of the other elements, which include classical acoustic and fuzzy electric guitar, piano, organ, flute, sax and a range of percussion. It's free and psychedelic, but just reigned in enough to keep it tense and exciting. The closest comparison might be to combine Amon Düül with Sunburned Hand of the Man and perhaps Double Leopards, if they lived on a commune together in Brazil and recorded while indulging in mass quantities of narcotics. In Brazil from the late 1960s onward, Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, Tom Zé, and many others blended elements of psychedelic rock, jazz, indigenous folk, with more 'classic' urban styles (bossa nova, samba, etc.) and instrumentation. As much a political identity movement as a cultural, Tropicalia artists as a whole were interested in using artistic expression as removing barriers and as a means of enabling other societal freedoms. Simultaneously, but across the Atlantic, European mystical trance rock of the time, beginning with outfits like Parson Sound and Amon Düül, and continued by Träd Gräs och Stenar and Algarnas Tradgard.
CILIBRINAS DO EDEN- CILIBRINAS DO ÉDEN LP (nosmokerecords, spain)
28.98usd/14.62gbp/18.67eur/2981jpy (approx)
*Rita Lee of Os Mutantes and her friend Lúcia Turnbull's first outside project, these recordings were done for Philips in 1973. Cilibrinas Do Éden have played at Os Mutantes show in May 1973, at Palácio de Convenções do Anhembi, in São Paulo. It was Cilibrinas' first gig. At this show, Rita and Lúcia played with all the Os Mutantes backline, the show appeared to be a psychedelic edge with Rita and Lúcia dressed like some outside aliens for that time. They also dressed in colored clothes and feathers like a progressive rock band. Never officially released on vinyl or CD, Now a group of Brazilian fans with European residence pick the recordings and put them in this deluxe vinyl format, with only 500 numbered copies done. This release contain also two rare outtakes from Os Mutantes. You will certainly dig this if you like Mutantes: these recordings are a mix of the psychedelic Os Mutantes with some glam-rock freakness. Fantastic, professionally remastered sound, unbelievable material for all the Os Mutantes fans, and one of the best lost albums of Brazilian psychedelia!
V/A- NIGERIA DISCO FUNK SPECIAL: THE SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND LAGOS DANCEFLOOR 1974-79 2LP (soundway, uk)
22.98usd/11.60gbp/14.80eur/2364jpy (approx)
*Lagos, Nigeria, 1974-1979: the funk & disco capital of West Africa. More nightclubs, bars, spots and dancefloors than any place along the coast from Dakar all the way to Kinshasa. Nigeria Disco Funk Special is an amazing collection of heavy dancefloor grooves from urban Lagos in the '70s -- hot and driving slices of funk, disco and boogie that show just how vibrant the music scene was in one of West Africa's most populous and culturally diverse cities. In the '70s, it wasn't just James Brown who influenced the musicians playing in the nightspots of Lagos -- the loose-structured and elongated jams that he was pioneering in America had been a part of Nigerian music much longer than that. This album is the sound of Cuban-heeled and micro-minied Lagos youth soaking up the sound of the American discotheque and putting their own inimitable twist on the proceedings. The CD and double gatefold vinyl include rare tracks from famous musicians like Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies and Mono Mono's Joni Haastrup, as well as selections from cult bands like Asiko Rock Group, SJOB Movement and Jay-U Experience. Other artists include: The Sahara All Stars, T-Fire, Voices Of Darkness and Dr. Adolf Aonotu.
V/A- NIGERIA SPECIAL: MODERN HIGHLIFE, AFRO-SOUNDS & NIGERIAN BLUES 1970-1976 PART 1 2LP (soundway, uk)
22.98usd/11.60gbp/14.80eur/2364jpy (approx)
*restocked… Since 2002, Soundway Records has been synonymous with high-quality and groundbreaking compilations of music from Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Nigeria Special is the most ambitious project yet for the label -- a truly in-depth, double album look at Nigerian music in the early to mid-'70s, encompassing a broad range of styles. Compiler and DJ Miles Cleret has spent five years working on this album -- involving trips to Lagos and around Nigeria interviewing musicians and researching recordings, as well as a suitable amount of time scouring dusty record stores and warehouses for elusive sounds. This compilation presents some of the best un-reissued and forgotten sounds from Nigeria, covering the amazingly vibrant and diverse styles that emerged and flourished at the time. Everything from highlife, jazz, Afro-beat and blues to more traditional styles are represented to give as comprehensive a survey of the scene as possible. The 32-page booklet covers a history of the time plus in-depth information on the artists and musicians, as well as a look at the amazing pop-art cover designs of Nigerian records. Side 1. 1. Ayamma - The Anambra Beats (4:05), 2. Okwukwe Na Nchekwube - Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National (6:09), 3. Amalinja - The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination (5:15) Side 2. 1. Akula Owu Onyeara - The Funkees (7:28), 2. Oja Omoba - Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers Band (3:41), 3. Koma Mosi - The Harbours Band (2:54) Side 3. 1. Nekwaha Semi Colon - The Semi-Colon(3:29),2. Osalobua Rekpama -Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestros (3:20),3. Onwu Ama Dike- St. Augustine & His Rovers Dance Band (6:05) Side 4. 1. Feso Jaiye - The Sahara All Stars of Jos (4:08), 2. Ema Kowa Iasa Ile Wa - Mono Mono (6:48), 3. To whom it may concern - Tunji Oyelana & The Benders (2:56).
V/A- NIGERIA SPECIAL: MODERN HIGHLIFE, AFRO-SOUNDS & NIGERIAN BLUES 1970-1976 PART 2 2LP (soundway, uk)
22.98usd/11.60gbp/14.80eur/2364jpy (approx)
*restocked… Since 2002, Soundway Records has been synonymous with high-quality and groundbreaking compilations of music from Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Nigeria Special is the most ambitious project yet for the label -- a truly in-depth, double album look at Nigerian music in the early to mid-'70s, encompassing a broad range of styles. Compiler and DJ Miles Cleret has spent five years working on this album -- involving trips to Lagos and around Nigeria interviewing musicians and researching recordings, as well as a suitable amount of time scouring dusty record stores and warehouses for elusive sounds. This compilation presents some of the best un-reissued and forgotten sounds from Nigeria, covering the amazingly vibrant and diverse styles that emerged and flourished at the time. Everything from highlife, jazz, Afro-beat and blues to more traditional styles are represented to give as comprehensive a survey of the scene as possible. The 32-page booklet covers a history of the time plus in-depth information on the artists and musicians, as well as a look at the amazing pop-art cover designs of Nigerian records. Side 1. 1. Asiko Mi Ni - The Nigerian Police Force Band(The Force 7) (5:09), 2. Belema ? Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown)(6:12), 3. Alabeke - Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band of Aba (4:35) Side 2. 1. I Want a Break Thru' - The Hykkers (3:01), 2. Arraino - Popular Cooper and His All Beats Band (3:02), 3. Simini ? Yaya - Collins Oke Elaiho & His Odoligie Nobles Dance Band.(3:39) 4. Buroda Mase - Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top beats (4:55) Side 3. 1. Business Before Pleasure - George Akaeze & His Augmented Hits (4:36), 2. Omo Yen Wu Mi - Shadow Abraham with Mono Mono Friends (3:28), 3. Blak Sound -Leo Fadaka & The Heroes (4:53) Side 4. 1. Torri Wowo - Godwin Ezike & The Ambassadors (3:07), 2. Eguae Oba - Osayomore Joseph & The Creative 7 (4:29), 3. Akpaisong - Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes (2:28), 4. Ugali - The Tony Benson Sextet (5:21).
DUBSTEP AND GRIME
SMASHER & LEWI WHITE- BACK IN DA DAY 12” (beyond da booth, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Impressive murkage from Smasher, acclaiming his name in two parts with Lewi running the voodoo down across two mighty instrumental versions.
TRG- TIME IS NOW/THEY KNOW 12” (immerse, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Massive breaking dubstep from the Romanian producer most likely to go the distance.
RAZOR X PRODUCTIONS- KILLING SOUND 2LP (rephlex, uk)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… A collection of 7" singles and previously-unreleased tracks from UK-based Kevin Martin's (The Bug) Razor X Productions, started in collaboration with The Rootsman. Features apocalyptic mashup ragga anthems from the classic Razor X 7" imprint, as well as a few exclusive tracks which all show the rougher side of this act. Killing Sound celebrates soundclash as urban warfare. Floorquake basslines, body breaking beats and a barrage of deafening electronics amplifies the noise of cultures clashing. Fusing ragga's obsession with sex and violence to punk's confrontational energy, this ear bashing blast of detonated breaks is a fired-up antidote to the glut of careerists clogging up the airwaves, and valiantly continues the dirty work begun by On-U-Sound, World Domination Enterprises, Public Image, Bad Brains et al. An unforgettable rush of sonic insanity and red level intensity, distorted bleeps, explosive beats and terrifying vocal performances provide the blueprint for a skullcrush party disenfranchised rockers can appreciate and reggae casualties can celebrate. From the initial, unforgettable homicidal anthem penned by He-Man, to the melancholic crooning of Studio One veteran Tony Tuff, from the Tiger-style sadism of Wayne Lonesome and the tongue-in-cheek fighting talk of Warrior Queen, the lesser known MCs give legendary mic chatters Cutty Ranks and Daddy Freddy a murderous run for their money in the verbal skills and lyrical chills department. Call it yardcore, bashment, mutant ragga or whatever -- these tracks rock hard and gleefully burn up the rule book.
PEVERELIST- INFINITY IS NOW/JUNKTION 12” (tectonic, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*West country boy Peverelist returns home to Bristol's forefront dubstep label. What has set Peverelist's productions and DJ sets aside is his adroit blend of deep Bristolian sound system heritage with a more European, specifically Berliner take on the question of bass weight. These are two bumping joints of bass line destruction, stepping lightly around the four-four and sounding like the perfect fusion of dub and techno. Support from all the usual suspects -- MASSIVE.
WONDER- SWAMP MEET/FULL METAL JACKET 12” (wonderland, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Heavy wares from Wonder, this time coming to us with this fresh 2-tracker for the Wonderland imprint. 'Swamp Meet' is one of those signature metallic killers that seems to be constructed out of bits of malfunctioning machinery -- a heaving mass of treated bass progressions and menacing melodies, Wonder style. 'Full Metal Jacket' is a more staggered affair, decimated rave chords squashed and buried deep in the mix while an angry bass fuzz towers over proceedings. Also, it mixes in very well with Justin Timberlake's 'Cry Me A River,' and if that ain't a selling point...
HOUSE, TECHNO AND DISCO
MOLLONO.BASS/DREHER & SM.ART- SOS 12” (3000 grad, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*3000° is a known fixture as an experienced artist pool from Mecklenburg in northern Germany. Fortschritt3000 has been organizing parties for over ten years with a focus on electronic dance music. They are now, and have been than, moving ahead of time and style. In 2004 the crew created their own booking agency under the name of 3000 Degrees Booking. There is more because the crew not only runs its own label Acker Records but also has just initiated a second label, which originated out of the background of Kombinat100. The new label 3000° Records is tailored for, and focuses on, functional club music. The first release on this new label has been produced by its label head Mollono.Bass who is known for superb releases on Ostwind and Acker Records. His deep and driving sound with an atmospheric touch is once again coming out in this record while the second track by the Berlin live act Dreher & Smart is, like always, a true surprise for ears and legs. Together they have celebrated an ever growing number of genius remixes as for instance the Depeche Mode 'Martyr' on Mute 10 or 'Grillen im Park' a remix for Kollektiv Turmstrasse. Moreover during their numerous live gigs and independent releases the crew has proven to stay true to essence yet at the same time surprises with new ideas and infinite innovation. Their sound thus drives, is yet ever changing and harmonic while bridging the impossible by being full of love for detail and modern arrangement. A perfect debut -- we are keen to hear more soon!
THOMAS MULLER- RIDE ON 12” (bpitch control, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*A French transplant to Berlin, Thomas Muller presents Ride On, his impressions of Parisian nightlife and a voyage though Europe's metropolises. "Ride On" slowly forms a hypnotic atmosphere until a long, deep break brings us back to earth. "X Nights" invades the ears with an awesome and dark bass line with small details that create a new space within the track. "Puppet's Dream" is Thomas' homage to Berlin's Bar 25, bringing back the spirit of summer onto the turntable.
SIMON BEESTON- KRANKENWAGEN 12” (district of corruption, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*DoC presents births yet another up and comer to 12" club, Simon Beeston. 'Krankenwagen' is a super twisted rave bomb and features two heavy hitting remixes from Liebe ist Cool and DoC label boss, Aaron Hedges. Beeston hails all the way from Auckland, New Zealand but now calls Berlin home. Simon first came to play a series of gigs in Berlin in 2003 including a performance at the original Tresor. Two years later, Simon has set up shop in the techno capital of Germany and has been growing in popularity in the underground scene. We were first introduced to the original version of 'Krankenwagen' in very particular circumstances. After label boss Aaron got his hands on it he has played it at every DJ gig since to constant hands in the air crowds. During one of these particular parties, which in a very oddly Berlin manner was taking place in a secret location hidden behind a donner imbiss, Liebe ist Cool kids (Peter and Kitty) fell in love with the track too. We all decided, among other erroneous and often forgettable pieces of information, to do a remix. That is how the Liebe ist Cool remix was born. Liebe ist Cool provides a stripped down and dirty Berlin minimal take on 'Krankenwagen.' Working with tight grooves and tribal rhythms, their remix builds quickly to a fiery pace and keeps the energy. Layered on top of this percussive aphrodisiac are super quirky sound effects and stripped vocal samples. Aaron Hedges provides a down and dirty rave bomb of a remix. You really just have to hear this one! Pushing high energy percussion and slowly developing arrangement patterns make this track a real journey.
COMA- COMA 12” (firm, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Coma are Marius Bubat and Georg Conrad and they are the long awaited rush of fresh air in the streets of Cologne and in the clubs worldwide. They combine pop and rave, techno and rock in a very unique, subtle and elegant way. Coma are nu-rave and old school techno, '80s pop and 2k-modernity in a deep hug. Coma gives the right answer to the wrong hypes and new influences, voices and feelings to electronic dance music. Live on stage Marius and Georg appear with laptop, guitar and microphone and they know how to have fun with their own beats and how to make the people scream constantly.
WILLIAMS- EL BAILE 12” (get physical, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Scottish producer Williams is back with El Baile for Get Physical. The title track immediately enthralls with its galloping kick, snare and analog bass pattern, and an electro motif that propels it onwards into the heart of the dancefloor. "The Unbearable Truth" is a thrillingly modern, moody take on the straight-up acid track. "Kiss Of Life" features an interplay of synths, kosmische-style chords and a tech-house strut. House music to get lost inside.
GUI BORATTO- ANUNCIACIÓN 12” (k2, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Since his debut 'Arqipelago' (K2/4) Gui Boratto has achieved almost everything a techno artist can achieve these days. His album Chromophobia, including the omnipresent single 'Beautiful Life' has been a firm favorite amongst DJs from every angle. It's the rare combination of brilliant technical skills, an uncanny ear for catchy hooklines and this razor blade-sharp grooves that make him an exceptional figure in techno world of today. With Anunciación, he's back where everything began: on Kompakt's dinky K2. Soundwise, it's a wee bit darker than Chromophobia but hey -- that's this winter's fashion. But don't worry, there's still a fair amount of soulfulness involved.
GUILLAUME & THE COUTU DUMONTS- LE CREW NORMAND 12” (karat, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*After a remarkable first appearance in 2005 with his project Egg, Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts pays a second visit to Karat label but this time in solo! Guillaume, who recently released his critically acclaimed first full length album for Musique Risquée, is on an intense roll of production. His releases have been adding up restlessly over the course of the past year, though contrary to the norm, this latest release clearly shows that Guillaume is fully capable of maintaining both a high level of output without compromising a shred of the quality we have all come to expect from his releases. The three tracks from this latest release, Le Crew Normand, are exquisitely fresh. A gifted percussionist, he uses his talent to elaborate a captivating musical vision that is both playful and sexy. Though rhythm is the key element here, the complexity and refinement of his arrangements always reveal a simple and efficient groove, confirming once again that even the most elaborate ideas are best presented in a simple language, and make no mistake; this EP is packed full of wonderfully fresh ideas! Behind this explicit invitation to the dancefloor can be found a music of a great finesse, that offers an irresistible and intoxicating breath of fresh air in todays climate of cookie cutter formulas and genre cliches. Cookie cutter formulas and genre clichés.
ALTER EGO- WHY NOT?! 2LP (klang elektronik, germany)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… It's been three years since Alter Ego's last album, Transphormer, so Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke unleash more of their madness upon the world. Why Not?! may not be the Alter Ego album you've been expecting. Picking up where Transphormer left off, it's frontloaded with all the ballsy Alter Ego hallmarks you've come to expect: buzzing squalls of synthesizer, leads that cut like a blowtorch, and rhythms that pack a rock 'n' roll punch to house and techno's jacking package. It's raw, dirty and just barely restrained. But Why Not?! is something else: it's funny. Maybe even a little bit goofy. This is techno, but it's not of the stonefaced, screwfaced variety. It's good, clean fun -- well, except when it's dirty, which is most of the time, given Alter Ego's affection for ragged waveforms and distortion-crusted drums. Most of all, it's dizzying, which might have something to do with the fact that virtually every track is slathered in grand, sweeping sounds with their portamento settings tuned to Roller Coaster. Listening to the album feels a little like racing down a playground slide that's been hooked up to a moderate electric current, and landing in a pile of mud. It's safe to say that NEVER before has classic house, techno and ragga/dubstep been combined in such a way. This record is destined to cause a stir amongst the current wave of French party crashers. Alter Ego have never been the most reverent of acts -- just consider the name of their early incarnation, Acid Jesus -- and on Why Not?!, from the titles to their tunes, their irreverence hits a restless new high, without ever sacrificing the all-powerful groove.
DIRK LEYERS- ALMA 12” (klang elektronik, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Not even a month after his Klang debut together with his studio partner Nerk, Dirk Leyers comes up with his first own record for Klang Elektronik. If you compare both releases something catches your ears for sure: Dirk Leyers' own music sounds totally different from his productions with Nerk, but both styles share an important common ground: they're far away from the beaten tracks of standard club music. Where humor, chaos and a quacky dancefloor are the definitive factors for Nerk & Dirk Leyers, Dirk prefers the plain beauty of elegant involving Detroit techno grooves on this record. With 'Azul' you got the most epic and at the same time impulsive track of this record. Above an anxious meandering bass line flash bright synthesizer sounds, while the beat unerringly gallops directly towards dancer's heaven. What a perfect trip! On the B-side, Dirk Leyers calms down a little bit and begrudges us with a conveniently laid-back almost ambient piece of music called 'Azur,' before he relieves us with the spheric whispering last track 'Alma' out of this record.
SUPERPITCHER VS. THE CONGOSOUND- SAY I'M YOUR NUMBER ONE 12” (kompakt, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Congosound (Carles Congost) stems from one of the most vibrant nightlife cities in the world: Madrid. Mainly famous for his video works, with the musician Fibla he also ventures into the world of dance music, sporting a casual yet persuasive style of electronic post-disco that feels comfortable between Metro Area and the Balearic revival. Superpitcher's remix of "Say I'm Your Number One" is an 11-minute wildpitch-gone-crazy affair that is absolutely devastating on the floor.
TAMA SUMO & PROSUMER- PLAY UP/BROTHERS, SISTERS 12” (ostgut, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*What is house music? A question that keeps coming up for decades now. Our catalogue number 14 has been produced by Tama Sumo and Prosumer collaboratively. At the same time it marks the first release ever by Tama Sumo, whose DJ career started in 1993. When Tama claims 'bass makes you happy,' then this is not only true for her very funky Sunday afternoon sets as a resident at Berlin's Panorama Bar, but it also applies to both tracks born out of her friendship with Achim 'Prosumer' Brandenburg. 'Play Up' and 'Brothers, Sisters': Two tracks reminiscent of Trax. Kickdrums and basslines dig deep; funky, short guitar licks lead up to breaks after which arms fly to heaven and sweat drips from the ceiling. Prosumer just knows how to create those special moments by using only a few select, simple elements. A technique, Tama Sumo is, as it seems, familiar with as well. You can call it the everlasting laws of the old school!
MARTIN BUTTRICH- STONED AUTOPILOT 12” (planet e communications, usa)
9.98usd/5.04gbp/6.43eur/1026jpy (approx)
*'Stoned Autopilot' written & produced by Martin Buttrich. Mastered by Enrico Mercaldi @ Timetools Mastering. 'Cruise Control' was written & produced by Martin Buttrich. Mastered by Enrico Mercaldi @ Timetools Mastering. Both tracks are Detroit-influenced and masterful.
JOHN DAHLBÄCK- WINNERS & FOOLS 2LP (picadoll, germany)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*Double LP version. This is the third full-length release from John Dahlbäck. Starting at the tender age of 16, this prolific producer and label owner has placed himself into international electronic music's top league. With more releases out than Bud Spencer had fist fights or Hugh Hefner had bunnies, John has grown into a mature musician over the years. Winners & Fools is definitely his most sophisticated work to date and a step forward. After mainly producing dance tracks in the last years, John is now putting all his effort into detailed and deep musical work. Winners & Fools is a well-balanced journey through multiple electronic music worlds -- insane club weapons stand proudly next to beautiful vocal tunes and big room anthems in the vein of Alan Braxe or Daft Punk -- and it is certain to draw a whole new bunch of listeners to his music. Other Swedish producers like Eric Prydz, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosse may have paved the way to pop, but John Dahlbäck has entered a totally new building filled with glistening synths, sharp, snappy beats, and robots in skinny ties.
AXEL BARTSCH & ALEX NIGGEMANN- TWOFER 12” (sportclub, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Right after moving to Berlin, Sportclub presents freshly traded Alex Niggemann who already caused a stir with his 'Darko' remix for Booka Shade. Niggemann debuts with a deep killer track featuring a permanently magnetizing melody line, aspiring to be the spring hit of the new year. After being abstinent for a couple of months, Axel getting back on the scene with the b-side 'Daccord.' Decent percussion, deep bassline, loopy. Trancy, dubby monotonously rising but still straight forward track design is the best practice. A true Bartsch.
LANGENBERG- SLOWDOWN 12” (sthlmaudio, switzerland)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Already hammered by Chaton, Ripperton and Lee Van Dowski, Langenberg is gifting us with a stunning two track ep. Pressed with full fat and all your nightly needed calories, the two 45 rpm tracks presented here are perfectly representing modern club culture. A true groove, a rare and personal sound-crafting and design skills represent very well the Langenberg talent. Get on with us and dance!
SIMON HAYDO- DIFFERENT SHADES OF WHITE 12” (stockholm ltd, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*After the huge 'Score for Direction' success with label owner Pär Grindvik, Stockholm LTD presents a new Swedish talent for the world. Simon Haydo is a really close friend of Pär Grindvik and the Stockholm LTD family. For several years, Simon has been playing records among the high end clubs in his hometown of Stockholm, Sweden. A while ago he finally got himself some studio equipment and has been asking for production tips from time to time, but when we received his demo, we realized that he didn't really need them. Simon knocked us right out of our chairs! We rarely get demos this emotional and we didn't know that Simon would pass us one as we had not heard a bleep of his music until that day. Most of the demos you get are from people trying to sound like someone else, but Simon has a sound of his own. We are really proud to have Simon Haydo joining the label and his first record Different Shades of White will follow us forever!
AGARIC- THE DARK HOLDS THE SUN 12” (sunset diskos, sweden)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Sunset Diskos is back with another killer EP from Agaric, this time with a remix by no less than Camea. "Come Below" is a sneaky funk bomb, slowly building and building with a deep and punchy groove. "No One Knows" is like a rattlesnake on acid, twisting and twisting, with a massive and poisonous groove building up and up. Camea takes the track to more spooky territories, perfect for massive sound systems.
MIKAEL STAVOSTRAND & FRANCO CINELLI- MONDAY BLUE 12” (sunset diskos, sweden)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*restocked… Sunset Diskos is back with a huge EP by label boss Mikael Stavöstrand teamed up with Argentinian wiz kid Franco Cinelli. "Money Talk" starts with deep and funky basslines and builds up to a freaking percussion monster. "M Forever" is groovy and deep with lots of details and turns -- perfect for after hours.
LUCIO AQUILINA- SQUARED CIRCLE & DISCO BUS REMIXES 12” (trapez, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Italian DJ and producer Lucio Aquilina has already released two records with Trapez. In anticipation of his upcoming remix record, one track from each of his previous recordings are remixed here. "Squared Circle" was remixed by Red Robin & Jakob Hilden, and has a playful, quirky, massive bass line. On the flipside, Roland M. Dill remixes "Disco Bus." He has created a peak-time rocker, cutting up the vocal and other parts to make it a funky and mixable techno tool.
AIRBUS MODULAR- DESTINATIONS 12” (traum, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Greek duo Airbus Modular release this 3-tracker in anticipation of their debut full-length. "Destinations" is a brainy, melodic avalanche with sequences wandering up and down, randomly creating a Latin-like flavor. "Poise" is technical and energetic, with lots of different parameters and small details that develop into a dubby, relaxed, techno-house track. "Manoeuvres Time Seconds" is more experimental and occasionally hits with organ stabs and cool breaks.
ALECS MARTA- RAMPER + PATRICK ZIGON REMIX 12” (treibstoff, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*The Barcelona-Cologne-Express rides again: Alecs Marta is in charge this time, the bustling Catalan with the stinging glance. As one half of the Swat Squad he may prefer to wander about in the suburbs of ornamentation but on his own he always enters competition through the front door. He isn't the loitering kind of guy anyway, which shows quite clearly in 'Ramper': this track drives on rails, a well lubricated hybrid confronting light-hearted and bouncy friendliness with demanding clarity. It's casual and focused at the same time, just as we come to expect from the Catalans as the 'Spanish Germans.' Quite a coincidence then that the remix descends from the South of Germany, bearing the trademark sounds of its producer Patrick Zigon. The guy that made good tracks into great ones at Cocoon or Kling Klong condenses the airier original to some sort of nightly tour de force, procuring tightly shaved beats and one hell of a massive bassline blanking the sky like a solar eclipse. I do not wear my sunglasses at night anymore and here's the reason why.
JOHN STARLIGHT- ROAD RAGE 12” (ukw, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*John Starlight is ridin' dirty and kickin' up some dust with this one-sided bass-o-mator. Forward, reverse, bump, bump, reverse... "Road Rage" is a fine example of electronic music that isn't afraid of experimentation. That's the distinctive John Starlight sound which he defined in 2003 with the milestone Blood Angels: organic, bass-grinding and massive! That beer must be chilled, the engine must be thrilled, lame pling-plongs get out of the way.
GOWENTGONE/MARCEL DETTMANN & FENGLER- REMIXES 12” (vidab, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Here we go with the next release on Vidab. Number 5.5 features two remixes by Berghain residents Marcel Fengler and Marcel Dettmann. Listen to their interpretation of two unreleased Gowentgone tracks. There is no need to describe the tracks point by point. Just give them your full attention and enjoy them.
GIFT CERTIFICATES
gift certificates are always available in any denomination and come in a envelope ready to be stocking stuffed, slipped into pockets or dispensed in any way you see fit. they can be paid for in cash, credit card (visa, master card or discover) or paypal in person, phoned in or via email. gift certificates not paid for in person can either be mailed to you, or we can keep it in shop if the recipient plans to use it for mail-order.
ADDRESS
tequila sunrise records
525 w. girard avenue
(btwn 5th and 6th streets)
philadelphia, pa 19122
SUBWAY: blue or orange line to girard ave TROLLY: 15 to 5th street BUS: 57 to girard/3rd-4th st; 47 to girard/7th-8th st.
MAP
t/us: 1215 965 9616
t/uk: 0203 004 8357*
e: ajv@tequilasunriserecords.com
u: www.tequilasunriserecords.com
m: www.myspace.com/tequilasunriserecords
b: www. tequilasunriserecordshop.blogspot.com
HOURS (US)
monday: closed
tuesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
Wednesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
thursday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
friday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
saturday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
sunday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
HOURS (*UK)
monday: closed
tuesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
Wednesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
thursday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
friday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
saturday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
sunday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
thanks for looking.
welp, it would seem april shows are upon us here in PHL… thus making it a poor weekend for outdoor activities, but ‘round here we see it as a golden opportunity for you all to catch up with some vinyl purchasing (!)… you’ll notice this weeks list is a touch light on the rock equation, that is if you consider the franklin dbl lp on cocodrilo easy listening… it’s not. and besides did you see last weeks list? rock was well rep’d there… almost as well rep’d as the new and restocked noise titles on this weeks list. more olde english spelling bee and no fun productions restocks as well as new titles from mouthus, hototogisu, kranky records, magik markers and more… got the ethiopian instrumental hits on l’arome back in (as well as the other *essential* ethiopian titles on said label), this one was outta print for a spell. it’s a good one, don’t miss out again. more nigerian funk/disco on soundway; some new dubstep titles (plus a surprise restock of the razor x prods dbl lp!!!), and tons *tons* of new dance imports! come on by and check em out!
gracias
anthony
as always, many of the titles are in very limited quantity, so if you're interested in anything listed below, feel free to call or email me, I will gladly hold items for up to a week.
prices do not include shipping and handling. for those of you shipping within the continental united states I offer a 5.00usd flat shipping rate for any amount of records and/or compact discs. shipping cost for international orders are calculated on an order by order basis. payments for orders can be made via paypal or with a credit card by telephone between 12-6pm/est.
i also offer bike messanger service via timecycle couriers. for the low cost of 10.00usd i can deliver any amount of records and/or cds you wish to purchase to your center city philadelphia location (this includes some parts of south, west and north philadelphia) within two hours (and for those of you who need your records even faster, we also offer ‘rush’ service for the low flat rate of 20.00usd for any amount of records/cds delivered to you within one hour). of course, we are still more than happy to ship records via the usps within philadelphia. as with the international shipments, orders placed before 5pm/est will ship out that evening and should reach their destination by the following day.
ROCK, POP AND PSYCHEDELIC
FRANKLIN- LIFE CIRCLE 2LP (cocodrilo, spain)
44.98usd/22.70gbp/28.97eur/4628jpy (approx)
*Franklin were one of the first underground bands from Spain, formed in the late '60s by some of the best musicians based in Madrid at the time. Fuelled by the killer guitars of Pablo Weeber and Antonio Gª De Diego, they only recorded two sought after & excellent hard-psych 45s (the first one, containing their psyched to the max cover of the Stones 'Satisfaction' was recently included on the Andergraun Vibrations comp). In 1974, the band recorded a whole album which was never released until now. Their new line-up for those sessions featured two drummers and a new keyboard player. Life Circle is a conceptual album which sounds more prog-rock than their previous 45s, in fact we must say this is a must for anyone into Spanish progressive sounds. Nine tracks full of hard guitar, mini-Moog, Mellotron, analog keyboards, some spacey and experimental-symphonic passages, English vocals. Titles like 'Renaissance,' 'Intro for Cosmic Body,' 'Takeoff.' Double vinyl set, 500 copies limited, featuring the whole Franklin output: their two 45s, the unreleased Life Circle album remastered from the master tapes and a couple of rare live tracks. Includes insert with liner notes and photos.
PUNK AND POST-PUNK
SUICIDE- SUICIDE LP (red star, usa)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*restocked… Official 1999 reissue of the first Suicide LP from 1977, on the original Red Star label. Digitally remastered, iconic cover art intact. Beyond-essential late '70s underground listening which has carried near boundless influence. Suicide were Alan Vega (voice) and Martin Rev (electronics). Classic punk-electronic trance that sounds as intense and vivid as ever and unlike some of their peers from the era, still as dangerously futuristic. This edition contains two extra tracks not on the original LP: a remix of Cheree, and Keep Your Dreams.
AVANT GARDE AND NOISE
SUTCLIFFE JUGEND- TRANSGRESSION LP (dogma chase, japan)
33.98usd/17.15gbp/21.89eur/3496jpy (approx)
*Dogma Chase proud to announce the new album of the true innovative power electronics band from uk. Sutcliffe jugend transgression follows this is the truth on ground fault recordings and Hospital Productions. It comes absolutely standing and disturbing electronics noise which is thorough aggressiveness and total directly fierce vocals. Its tension is ultra violent including seditious for all of need it. We are sure that you feel strongly again they are still outstanding and are growing toward into the living truth. We would like to dedicate it for all of the human living with strength that continue to be honest and real NOISE fanatics. This release was sold at their first Japan tour in April. It comes on pure white vinyl with a A4 sized insert in textual sleeve with embossed band name. Limited to 500 copies.
HOTOTOGISU- UNDER THE ROSE LP (heavy blossom, usa)
20.98usd/10.59gbp/13.51eur/2158jpy (approx)
*Hototogisu’s first lp release on their own imprint Heavy Blossom! Under the Rose is a pair of incantations for the dark and vengeful animal spirits. Sung in two parts Malignant Coronation and Origami Skulls are blackened arias, dizzying vortexes and canyons of screams, guitars and chaotic rhythms. Arising from this richly recorded and mastered vinyl slab come black tarpits of malevolence and savage beauty, harking back to a pre-Christian universe of animating spirits and tutelary daemons . Comes in black jacket with a full color photograph attached to the front cover and thickly inked silk-screened backs. Edition of 600.
STARS OF THE LID- THE TIRED SOUNDS OF STARS OF THE LID 3LP (kranky, usa)
25.98usd/13.11gbp/16.73eur/2673jpy (approx)
*repressed… Are there other earthling-conjured soundworks rivaling the majesty of Henry Flynt's minimalist hillbilly fiddle fantasias or the heavens-rending power of Messiaen's works for organ? Undoubtedly, else why bother listening. But the only thing speaking at us right now from these charmed regions are the celestial airs of these Stars of the Lid. Alternately lulling and wielding a potency that wholly escapes 'experimental' musics, sotl bring big, whomping chunks of sonic firmament with a sustaining, life-affirming sweep. For the most part the latest sotl missive offers sound sources which refuse to readily reveal themselves. Treated strings, organ or backwards tubular bell runs -- it's simply a sublime chorus of instrument voices, irresistible as the undertow. Also gurgling up in the mix are whimpering pups, shuffling feet, Dictaphone-preserved foreign lecture hall blather, a city bus shouldering to an unsteady stop -- common enough stuff, but rendered here as the sounds of civilization heard distantly, the human receiver filtering everything through a palpable dis-ease that bespeaks a Higher yearning. -- Dean Blackwood
STARS OF THE LID- STARS OF THE LID AND THEIR REFINEMENT OF THE DECLINE 3LP (kranky, usa)
25.98usd/13.11gbp/16.73eur/2673jpy (approx)
*repressed… The long awaited new album from Stars of the Lid is finally ready for your sonic immersion. Painstakingly recorded, processed and assembled over the last five years, sotl once again deliver a massive work filling two compact discs and three vinyl albums, clocking in at over two hours. While most albums of this length would be considered tedious at best, sotl are arguably the only contemporary composers who can seemingly alter the time-space continuum simply through the playback of their organized sound. They take time itself and stretch, compress and turn it inside out, altering what would otherwise be an arduous test of nerves into an interlude of half awake dreams that ends too soon. In this album, sotl picks up where The Tired Sounds Of... left off with an emphasis on melodic development, moving their epic soundscapes beyond mere drone and subsequently frustrating all the typical ambient cliches associated with their music. Perhaps the best references for this current work would be found in the score to the film Le Mepris by Georges Delerue, the orchestral works of Zbigniew Preisner, or the 1958 CSO/ Fritz Reiner recording of Hovhaness' Mysterious Mountain, specifically the third movement. But in the final analysis, such comparisons are superfluous at best, as Stars of the Lid have created a musical universe in which they are the sole inhabitant. Simply put, this album is a masterpiece.
DEAD C/HI GOD PEOPLE- SPLIT LP (nervous jerk, australia)
25.98usd/13.11gbp/16.73eur/2673jpy (approx)
*restocked… debut release from new Australian label Nervous Jerk (Formally Art School Dropout records). Amazing split lp by New Zealand free noise legends Dead C and local heroes of surreal theatre, world damage and spaced rock The Hi God People. Dead C provide 2 tracks taken from their ATP show in LA 2002. Starts of with a suprisingly gentle and repetitive rock mantra, ends in punk noise, feedback wall of squall - killer! Hi God supply 3 tracks - a mind blinding mix of sermonic atmosphere, space chug, tribal clunk and glorious plunk. All up a genius paring of 2 of the southern hemispheres finest: Noise, trance, rock, feedback, fun, love and weirdness all wrapped in a stunning silk-screened sleeve by Dylan Mattoral (snawklor, hi god). Local record of the year.... ?" - Synaethesia. "Pairing of northern suburbs conceptual improv performance art collective and New Zealand noise addicts of a 20 year vintage. the Dead C boil down the top-impact sections of their relentless 2002 LA ATP performance to 18 minutes of brutality. Hi God People take ears on a free form sonic adventure. Limited to 500 copies, each come with silk screened artwork by Dylan Martorell thatll have your mind collapsing at first sight of its intricacies. -Missing Link.
SUSAN ALCORN- AND I AWAIT THE RESURRECTION OF THE PEDAL STEEL GUITAR LP (olde english spelling bee, usa)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… This is the fifth solo offering by the Houston, Texas-based pedal steel sorceress, Susan Alcorn. 'The Heart Sutra' opens and is inspired by the 'Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Wisdom,' which was delivered by Buddha 2,500 years ago. It is a beautiful, yet solemn work that reverberates from within, as Susan strums those magical strings. The title track, 'And I Await the Resurrection of the Pedal Steel Guitar,' was inspired by Messiaen's 'Et Expecto Ressurectionum Mortuorum.' It is a near 16-minute epic of stirring, haunting sounds. Each note is stretched out and floats like a spirit on the wind in a graveyard. Ms. Alcorn's approach to the pedal steel guitar is completely unique and she doesn't quite sound like anyone else. If one is patient enough, they will realize that she makes every note and space count.
MOUTHUS & AXOLOTL- 12-15-04 LP (olde english spelling bee, usa)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*Last copies of this out of print side from 2005… Much anticipated hook-up between these two modern rock titans, recorded at The Tarpit (home of the Double Leopards/Mouthus White Rock sessions et al) on Christmas day, 2004. Mouthus sound totally beautiful here, with that drugged slow-motion tone extending their higher-minded rock-brut into whole new vectors of 'there'. Some almost-dissolved high-end fuzz guitar ala Matthew Bower skirts the very periphery of your ears while distressed choral vocals flit in and out of corporeal form and drums slowly pad towards an ever-receding horizon. A magical late-night spirit fuck played by an orchestra of beautifully-doomed ghosts in the last comedown throes of pure LSD. Highly recommended. Edition of 550 copies in full-colour printed sleeves with insert. –volcanic tongue
MOUTHUS & COUSINS OF REGGAE- SPLIT LP (olde english spelling bee, usa)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*A side each of fertile noise-rot from Montreals Cousins of Reggae and Brooklyns Mouthus. Soundly rejected by Discovery Channel - the Cousins five-track suite about the Hudson Bay follows up their limited & hard-to-find debut l.p. (on Ohnonoise) & a recent cd-r on Mouthuss Our Mouth imprint. They set sail with some hyperactive stompers and narcoleptic stumblers intent on capsizing all vessels in their path before coming under attack by a squadron of pissed off jet-skiiers. On flip are two massive Mouthus jams - "New Drugz" & "Better Than Facemask" which perfectly capture a day spent peaking on mescaline at the Daytona 500. Limited edition of 500 with unique handpainted covers and full-color inserts.
MOUTHUS- SISTER VIBRATION LP (our mouth, usa)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*this might be their most devolved circumnavigation of rock from to date. The guitars are impossibly impacted, muffled sandpaper huffs that move in tectonic slugs while the drums shrug between boings of tone-pad squelch, electrified steel-band ceremonials and primitively executed power stomps. This kinda profound retro-futurist refusal lines em up with a buncha modernists like Chrome, TG and even live Mars but there’s something in the distant, hiccupping vocals and the generally manhandled atmosphere that sounds like a more drug-degraded take on the kinda hillbilly scorch that Alpo-era Cheater Slicks occasionally delivered on. If you like yr rock gasoline-damaged to the point of almost-intelligible, stick out your cans. Limited edition of 500 copies in art sleeves released on the group’s own private press imprint. –volcanic tongue
KAORU ABE/SABU TOYOZUMI OVERHANG PARTY- SENZEI 2LP (qbico, italy)
43.98usd/22.19gbp/28.33eur/4525jpy (approx)
*Kaoru Abe: (alto sax). Sabu Toyozumi: (drums, percussion). Rec. February 25 and April 15 & 30, 1978 live at Gaya, Tokyo, Japan. Unrelease recordings available here for the 1st time after more then 25 years… Long ago, when I started listening to free jazz records and was blowing on my alto, the abrasive sax sound of Kaoru Abe immediately fascinate me and he instantly became one of my hero... by then Id have NEVER imagined that one day Id have released an unissued record by him. This dream come true is now possible thanks to my dear friend Sabu, who discovered these very well recorded magical live sessions. Here, youd still hear Abe piercing sound (even if in this period he suffered terribly from physical and mental pain), few months before his tragic death for acute stomach rupture (official report, but his habit was known...). Unfortunately, he died too young, at 29 years old, on Sept. 9, 1978. His solo activity had been documented on at least more then 15 releases (between LP and CDs), but his collaborations had been less documented: three seminal releases in duo with guitarist Masayuki Takayanagi, another duo DLP with Sabu, a duo/trio from 1970/71, a duo LP with bassist Motoharu Yoshizawa and finally group playing with Derek Bailey and Milford Graves. So this new duo live sets are much more welcome. He was definitively one of the greatest improvisor from Japan and Sabu with his creative and powerful drumming, the ideal partner to let him freely express all his intense emotions. Raw energy, aggressive playing, heavy stuff. -- qbico
JUTOK KANEKO/TAKAHISA KIKUKAWA- WEDGED NIGHT LP (siwa, usa)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… October 2002 recording of improvisations and songs by Jutok Kaneko (guitar) and Takahisa Kikukawa (drums). Kaneko should be familiar to some as the man behind the heavy psychedelia of Kousokuya (whose much sought after debut LP from 1989 has finally resurfaced on PSF). Kikukawa's name on the other hand will likely not ring too many bells outside of his home country but he did supply some sublimely spaced drumming to the dreamy Che-Shizu for a while and he plays percussion and piano in UZU. Both in Kousokuya and in Kaneko's solo work the line between composition and improvisation is a very blurry one so it's only in the loosest of terms that we say side one of this album is an 'improvisation' and side two consists of a couple of 'songs'. The LP comes in an appropriately black and black on black silkscreened cover with two screened inserts.
TORI KUDO/LA CONSUMPTION 4- ATLANTIC CITY LP (siwa, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… archive lp of material recorded by Tori Kudo and some fellow travellers during a stay in New York in the Summer of 1981. Originally released on cassette the approach on these recordings was a long way from the eerie organ driven Noise Tenno LP that Tori and Reiko released a year earlier. About half of Atlantic City consists of songs, teeth bared and falling apart as they come together but still in a style similar to Tori's subsequent work with Maher Shalal Hash Baz. The other half is made up mostly of extended guitar jams rooted equally in rock and blues but retaining Tori's rather unique take on the idioms. Screenprinted cover and insert art adapted from drawings and photos taken in NY and Atlantic City in 1981.
CHIE MUKAI- SOLO IMPROVISATIONS CD (siwa, usa)
15.98usd/8.06gbp/10.29eur/1644jpy (approx)
*restocked… cd reissue of Chie Mukai's second solo album originally released on LP in 2000. Three tracks recorded at Kid Ailack Art Hall in Tokyo in the late '90s. Just over 40 minutes of solo improvisations featuring the beautiful deep drone of the er-hu (a traditional bowed Chinese instrument), augmented by voice, kengali, rings and cymbals. Mukai is an important (and underdocumented) figure in the Japanese underground whose work goes back to her time as a student under Takahisa Kosugi in the late '70s which resulted in her participation in the legendary East Bionic Symphonia album. Since then, she has continued to work with her own Ché-SHIZU outfit and appear on recordings with artists such as Maher Shalal Hash Baz, Rinji Fukuoka (Overhang Party), Sei'ichi Yamamoto (Boredoms) and Masayoshi Urabe. This CD is housed in a screenprinted gatefold chipboard sleeve and is released in an edition of 600… It is such an unadulterated pleasure to have this Siwa album, her first release outside of Japan, back in print. Three longish pieces, all recorded live in the late nineties. There's a far fuller drone sound to her er-hu here, compared to that on her previous solo release (Kokyu Improvisation, on PSF), a wavering intensity that pulls your brain straight into a sensation-dulled trance. And with none of the evil wince often associated with solo violin improvs, you're free to fully appreciate the fractional control and deep humming resonance of the instrument. It's a beguiling sound, seeming to combine both earth and air in one eternal thrumming, shimmering pull of gut on steel string. Mukai augments the sound with an occasional percussion crash, and a verse or two of wordless higher-mind vocalization. What more could a human ask for? This is sumptuous late-night improv, a fine goose-feather pillow for addled minds everywhere. --Alan Cummings
SEISHOKKI- 1975-1977 LP (siwa, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… Seishokki (roughly translates as 'Organs Of Blue Eclipse') was an outfit formed while it's members were still in high school and active from 1975-1977 in Asahikawa in northern Japan. The onset of punk may have validated these six non-musicians decision to start a band but original member Ikuro Takahashi (who went on to perform with a veritable who's who list of outfits including Fushitsusha, High Rise, Che-Shizu and Maher Shalal Hash Baz) has suggested that a lot of their inspiration came from what was probably a misreading of early minimalism. With their musical influences as likely to be only heard of as actually heard what comes out in these recordings is a wonderfully primitive approach to the repetition of minimalism with exuberant forays into wild synth/percussion driven noise. The result is a sound that falls somewhere between the original Amon Duul LPs and Outside the Dream Syndicate with a nod towards the subsequent development of noise as a genre in the Japanese underground. These are believed to be the only surviving recordings of this band with the exception of a vocal track with lyrics concerning an eternal teenage concern deemed too mortifying for release. Limited vinyl only edition in lurid 5 color screenprinted jacket.
MAGIC MARKERS- RELAX IN A PANIC FREE ATMOSPHERE LP (spring press, australia)
30.98usd/15.63gbp/19.95eur/3187jpy (approx)
*Our first release by Hartford, Connecticut outfit Magik Markers is out now. The beautiful 12" LP [featuring artwork by Pete Nolan] contains the best Markers free rock meanderings youre bound to hear. The current lineup consisting of Elisa Ambrogio & Pete Nolan sees Steve Gunn (General Head Quarters) & Josh Burkett (Joshua, The Believers) pitching in on the new material. The record is in a strictly limited edition of 250 copies. Excited? So are we. Tracklisting: Relax In a Panic Free Atmosphere [10.39] (lIve at Smell, LA), Come Back to the Five & Dime, Tex Watkins [12.27] (Live in Cleveland), When Big John Gets Up [8.12] (Live in Denton, TX).
HAIR POLICE- BLIND KINGDOM LP (ultra eczema, belgium)
27.98usd/14.12gbp/18.02eur/2878jpy (approx)
*restocked… Odd colored carpet of bizarre 3D fields dominate the bright and lurid psychedelic forests you'll have to run thru to grab a mug a brew at the end of the trip! Hop on the back of a giant pink elephant and let go, eventually follow his tiny dick-like tail if u are too small to climb up this pink turt in space! But do give it a try and check out what's left? Thats right: nothing! Just a puddle of restless throbbing poop in different colours. The elephant turns out to be a puddle as well and the sounds you're hearing are all on the most psychedelic Hair Police LP so far! This is definitely way different then any of their other recordings, way more high bliss, blown out delayed voice and hardly any harshness. Originally recorded as a Hair Police radio special for Radio Centraal in Antwerp! Thick black and neon blue eye destructive cover design and a psychic laser etch on the B-side of this 180 grams wax!
GREG KELLEY & ALEX NEILSON- GRAVESIDE DOLES LP (ultra eczema, belgium)
27.98usd/14.12gbp/18.02eur/2878jpy (approx)
*two of the most intense young "free" dudes from different parts of the globe (kelley from boston, neilson from leeds) unite for this completely weird record, taking free music to a different level, recorded on top of eachother via mail. this sounds like moving the heaviest metal closet on a little rubber boat from brighton to the east coast of the united states, kicking off with a heavy free jazzy tune full of retarded trumpets stuffed with little babies screaming for a change slightly changing into ice cold acoustic metal scraping ambience. tons of different sounds to discover and very unclear whether they came out of a trumpet, a drumset, a mouth or a whale. comes in a black and silver fine line drawn cover by dennis tyfus limited to 400 copies.
TOLERANCE- DIVINE LP (vanity/no label, usa)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… Vanity was a legendary Osaka-based underground label from the late 70s/early 80s. They released albums of primitive electronics by the likes of Aunt Sally, Sympathy Nervous, Dada, Sab, BGM, etc. None have been officially reissued (besides the first Aunt Sally I guess) and the original LPs have been basically unfindable anywhere in the western world since the day of release. This is a "gray area" reissue of the 2nd Tolerance album, originally issued in 1981. Their music has been described as "almost proto-Ambient Techno". Tolerance, consisting of Junko Tanage and Masmai Yoshikawa, were the only band that released a second album on Vanity. Their first LP (Anonym, 1979) was supposedly the source for the title of the second Nurse With Wound LP, To The Quiet Men From A Tiny Girl. The label was founded by Yuzuri Agi (he was also rumored to have ran Voice records, which in 75-76 released the ultra-mysterious Brast Burn and Karuna Khyal LPs). The following label manifesto was published in 1979: 'We will produce records pursuing 1). Electronics Music, 2). 'Music as Furniture' series (Modernistic Music), 3). Invation to Kayo-kyoku, 4). Music with experimental new vision (Punk., New Wave, Free Music, Modernistic Music, etc.).'
FOLK, BLUES AND ROOTS
V/A- WAYFARING STRANGERS: GUITAR SOLI 2LP (numero group, usa)
21.98usd/11.09gbp/14.16eur/2261jpy (approx)
*Double LP version, great gatefold sleeve… Bridging the gap between American primitive pioneers John Fahey, Robbie Basho, and Leo Kottke, and the California modernists William Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, and Michael Hedges, Guitar Soli explores the private side of the solo guitar movement from 1966-1981. While Takoma and Windham Hill were laying the groundwork for the new age marketing juggernaut of the mid '80s, these fourteen loners were picking away in tiny cafes, selling records hand to hand. The double LP set comes housed in a beautiful recycled cardboard gatefold sleeve and features Ted Lucas, Daniel Hecht, Dan Lambert, Jim Ohlschmidt, Tom Smith, Mark Lang, Richard Crandell, William Eaton, George Cromarty, Scott Witte, Brad Chequer, Dwayne Canan, and Dana Westover.
V/A- WAYFARING STRANGERS: LADIES FROM THE CANYON CD (numero group, usa)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… Compilaton of obscure and unknown 1970s female folk artists, featuring Becky Severson, Collie Ryan, Linda Rich, Caroline Peyton, Carla Sciaky, Judy Kelly, Shira Small, Jennie Pearl, Mary Perrin, Priscilla Quinby, Marj Snyder, Barbara Sipple, Ginny Reilly & Ellen Warshaw. For those looking to go beyond the Perhacs/Sill resurgence, this is a pretty insightful set, well documented in Numero-style. By 1970 the folk revival was all but over. Gone were the days of 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken' and 'If I Had A Hammer.' ABC's Hootenanny had been cancelled. Broadside was out, Rolling Stone in. Richard Farina was dead. Dylan plugged in. Joan Baez and Judy Collins gave way to a younger, more introspective generation of songwriters. The sound that began in the hills and caught fire on the lower east side of Manhattan was now being reborn in the canyons of California. The fruits of folk's second renaissance are collected here. Wedged beneath the infrastructure of the music business, playing in coffee houses and at church picnics. Deeper than recent crit-revisionist darlings Linda Perhacs, Judee Sill, or Vashti Bunyan, Ladies From The Canyon takes a solid look at folk's private and obscure underbelly.
FUNK AND SOUL
V/A- NEW ORLEANS FUNK VOLUME 2 3LP (soul jazz, uk)
26.98usd/13.61gbp/17.38eur/2776jpy (approx)
*This is Soul Jazz Records' new journey into the heart of New Orleans and a guide to the city's finest funk music produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Featuring everyone from The Meters to Eddie Bo, Lee Dorsey to Betty Harris, this is a who's who of the Crescent City's most famous and most funky! The city of New Orleans has deep musical roots that stretch back to Africa. New Orleans first gave birth to jazz music, a black musical form centered on rhythm, improvisation, freedom and collectivity at the turn of the century. Similarly in the late 1960s, New Orleans funk came to define a unique sound, mixing Caribbean rhythms, New Orleans second-line syncopation and rhythm and blues, all played by the Big Easy's finest musicians. While jazz and funk music spread throughout the world, many African-American musical traditions remained within the city limits such as Mardi Gras and Carnival, Saturday Night fish fries, funeral marching bands and much more, which partly explains why New Orleans music is so unique. The album comes with extensive sleeve-notes, exclusive photography and more, and is an essential guide to the musical landscape of New Orleans and -- together with Soul Jazz Records' earlier New Orleans' releases -- presents the definitive story of New Orleans funk. Although on the mainland coast, New Orleans is also surrounded by lakes, giving the city an island feel. Similarly, its proximity to Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti and the other West Indian Isles means that Latin and Caribbean musical influences are in its veins as much as American musical traditions. The upside of this city's isolation is that New Orleans musical traditions flourished away from those of the rest of America. A thriving city full of artists, musicians, singers, producers, record companies, studios (well, one studio, actually) led to a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week musical life, playing in clubs, bars, brothels, carnivals and parades. The downside of the city's isolation from the rest of the U.S. was that the city never developed a solid music industry to back up the creative over-supply. While New York had Atlantic, Detroit had Motown, Memphis had Stax, Chicago had Chess, Los Angeles had Modern, New Orleans had a multitude of small businesses fighting for space -- and often each other. Without the marketing, promotional weight, business and financial clout, New Orleans labels found it hard to get the nationwide distribution necessary to fill the million-odd jukeboxes throughout the country. So while every family in America knows the music of Gladys Knight or Smokey Robinson, few could tell you about -- let alone hum a tune from -- Benny Spellman, Inell Young, Warren Lee...this is far from being a reflection of the artists' creativity or musicality -- as anyone can tell you, New Orleans' melodies are the catchiest of all -- more it is a reflection of the limitations of the local music industry. Some New Orleans artists became successful throughout the U.S., such as Fats Domino in the 1950s and in the late 1960s, The Meters and Lee Dorsey, but many artists remained within the city limits. This makes for a fascinating goldmine of music released by a complex myriad of small labels run mainly by New Orleans producers, promoters and artists themselves. New Orleans Funk 2 brings together many of these artists along with text, sleeve-notes and photographs that gives social and historical context to the incredibly funky music of New Orleans.
GLOBAL
MAHMOUD AHMED- ERÈ MÈLA MÈLA LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… The re-release series of original Ethiopian classic vinyl continues -- the finest Ethio jazz by Mahmoud Ahmed and his band from 1975 plus two tracks from 1978. The liner notes: 'Melancholy blues, piercingly minimalist country airs, brassy, danceable urban jazz, heart-wrenching, off-key crooners: a rich and stirring patchwork of sounds, crossing Afro-beat, Latino-swing moves and Eastern arabesques (Anaïs Prosaïc).' Such were the first -- informed and enthusiastic -- opinions of the music press when the first strains of modern Ethiopian music sounded on our shores. This was in 1984-1985. Such a positive note, struck about such a country at such a time, created plenty of reverb. The country had been so thoroughly trashed by the media's feeding-frenzy, which spewed out a mix of horror and pious pity, bitter denunciation and humanitarian appeals, wallet-tickling clichés and refusal of identity. In one brutal swoop, TV-reality transformed Ethiopia into a cursed nation, forsaken by God and by man. In contrast to these tragedies, but in the same hackneyed tones, Mahmoud Ahmed's life resembles an edifying fairy-tale where destiny, talent and achievement combine to triumph over poverty, fate and the evil eye. Biography, history and legend, with the help of God, infallibly weave the lesson of merit rewarded. But who can argue, in spite of the mockery that celebrities invariably draw, when faced with one of the greatest voices in all of Africa? Once upon a time, there was a street urchin in Addis Ababa, who started off as a shoe-shine boy and went on to become one of his country's biggest stars, opening the door to Ethiopian music to Western audiences. --Francis Falceto
MULATU ASTATKE FEAT. FEKADE AMDE MASKAL- ETHIO JAZZ LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… The Ethio Jazz album by Mulatu Astatqé is a jewel of the modern Ethiopian music and a mythical album, since the beginning of Ethiopian music reissues (mainly on Buda Musique). An incredibly groovy Ethiopian record, originally from 1969-1972. Amazing orchestral 'Ethio-groove' filled with US soul, jazz, sometimes Latin and the deepest Eastern rhythms, even including some great nasty and dirty fuzz guitars. A true gem of Ethiopian modern instrumental music, which illustrates perfectly this symbiosis of strong rhythms and quality arrangements of subtle yet deep Ethiopian melodies. A must for all '60s/'70s collectors! In the Ethiopian musical landscape, Mulatu Astatke is a unique musician, composer, arranger. His real contribution consists in his action for instrumental music, in a country where orchestral traditions doesn't exist. For the last 30 years, he is the leading head of the Ethiopian musical scene. First vinyl reissue and definitely one of the most important Ethiopian music albums.
V/A- ETHIOPIAN MODERN INSTRUMENTALS HITS LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Ethiopians' deep-seated ethiocentrism, the legacy of a thousand years of history, has contributed in no small way to their music's strong national identity, particularly impervious to any African influences. Latin influences, so pervasive in the great musical centers of West Africa and the Congo, have been similarly rebuffed, despite the brilliant attempts of a musician like Mulatu Astatke. He was the first and for a long time the only Ethiopian to have studied music abroad (England and USA). In the late '60s, he brought back 'ethio-jazz', as well as a passion for Latin rhythms that was not readily shared by the Ethiopian audience. As early as 1966, he released a single and two LPs in the US entitled Afro-Latin Soul (and a third LP, Mulatu of Ethiopia in 1972), with his Ethiopian Quintet composed of American and Latin-American musicians (Worthy Records). That was three years before Fela's first American tour and six years prior to Manu Dibango's key breakthrough with the release of Soul Makossa in the Western 'pre-World music' market. All this goes to show how much the history of the African continent's musical modernity should be reconsidered in light of the Ethiopian adventure, even though this lone spark bore little relation, musically or ideologically to the musical revolutions initiated most notably by Ghanian highlife, South African jazz, Congolese rumba or, much later on, by Fela.
V/A- ETHIOPIAN URBAN MODERN MUSIC VOL.1: ETHIOPIAN SOUL AND GROOVE LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Urban Ethiopian music stands out within the African continent thanks to its creativity and originality. Whatever the shade -- pop, blues, jazz or soul -- it comes from a fusion of local musical traditions mixed with an echo of Western music. It bewitched Ethiopia during the 'Swinging Addis' decade before recently winning the favors of a well-informed audience all over the world. This first vinyl volume of Ethiopian Urban Modern Music presents some of the Ethiopian 'groove jewels' drawn from the essential CD Ethiopiques series directed by Francis Falceto and published by Buda music.
ALEMAYEHU ESHETE- ETHIOPIAN URBAN MODERN MUSIC VOL.2 LP (l’arome productions, france)
17.98usd/9.07gbp/11.58eur/1850jpy (approx)
*shop favorite restocked… Alèmayèhu Eshèté is no less than one of the great voices of the heyday of modern Ethiopian music, the swinging sixties which, in this country, went on until the fall of the Emperor Haile Sellassie 1 in 1974. On a par with Tlahoun Gèssèssè, Bzunèsh Bèqèlè or Mahmoud Ahmed, Alèmayèhu is a star at the top level of the constellation that once lit up the wild nights in the capital.
LULA CORTES E ZE RAMALHO- PAÊBIRÚ 2LP (mr. bongo, uk)
39.98usd/20.17gbp/25.75eur/4113jpy (approx)
*restocked… double lp version, deluxe gatefold sleeve, limited to 1000 copies worldwide… Paêbirú is an obscure Brazilian psych concept album about the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) that was lost to time in a warehouse fire in 1974, causing it to become a massively sought-after lost classic, fetching up to $1500 for vinyl copies. This recording of the collaboration between Brazilian artists Lula Côrtes and Zé Ramalho is a wonderfully off-kilter record, full of fantastic hooky and strange tunes that range all over the place, from full-on freakouts to quiet pastoral. The entire range of 1970s hippie Brazilian musician culture is displayed in this record. It's experimental, but it's relentlessly driven towards fun. If you like good music, you will like this legendary album untouched by time. Côrtes, who composes and plays on many of the tracks, seemingly appears only when talking about obscure Brazilian psych reissues, Ramalho, on the other hand, has built a solid career as a Brazilian pop singer and takes on most vocal duties. It's a very atmospheric blend, sung and chanted vocals are no more or less important than any of the other elements, which include classical acoustic and fuzzy electric guitar, piano, organ, flute, sax and a range of percussion. It's free and psychedelic, but just reigned in enough to keep it tense and exciting. The closest comparison might be to combine Amon Düül with Sunburned Hand of the Man and perhaps Double Leopards, if they lived on a commune together in Brazil and recorded while indulging in mass quantities of narcotics. In Brazil from the late 1960s onward, Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, Tom Zé, and many others blended elements of psychedelic rock, jazz, indigenous folk, with more 'classic' urban styles (bossa nova, samba, etc.) and instrumentation. As much a political identity movement as a cultural, Tropicalia artists as a whole were interested in using artistic expression as removing barriers and as a means of enabling other societal freedoms. Simultaneously, but across the Atlantic, European mystical trance rock of the time, beginning with outfits like Parson Sound and Amon Düül, and continued by Träd Gräs och Stenar and Algarnas Tradgard.
CILIBRINAS DO EDEN- CILIBRINAS DO ÉDEN LP (nosmokerecords, spain)
28.98usd/14.62gbp/18.67eur/2981jpy (approx)
*Rita Lee of Os Mutantes and her friend Lúcia Turnbull's first outside project, these recordings were done for Philips in 1973. Cilibrinas Do Éden have played at Os Mutantes show in May 1973, at Palácio de Convenções do Anhembi, in São Paulo. It was Cilibrinas' first gig. At this show, Rita and Lúcia played with all the Os Mutantes backline, the show appeared to be a psychedelic edge with Rita and Lúcia dressed like some outside aliens for that time. They also dressed in colored clothes and feathers like a progressive rock band. Never officially released on vinyl or CD, Now a group of Brazilian fans with European residence pick the recordings and put them in this deluxe vinyl format, with only 500 numbered copies done. This release contain also two rare outtakes from Os Mutantes. You will certainly dig this if you like Mutantes: these recordings are a mix of the psychedelic Os Mutantes with some glam-rock freakness. Fantastic, professionally remastered sound, unbelievable material for all the Os Mutantes fans, and one of the best lost albums of Brazilian psychedelia!
V/A- NIGERIA DISCO FUNK SPECIAL: THE SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND LAGOS DANCEFLOOR 1974-79 2LP (soundway, uk)
22.98usd/11.60gbp/14.80eur/2364jpy (approx)
*Lagos, Nigeria, 1974-1979: the funk & disco capital of West Africa. More nightclubs, bars, spots and dancefloors than any place along the coast from Dakar all the way to Kinshasa. Nigeria Disco Funk Special is an amazing collection of heavy dancefloor grooves from urban Lagos in the '70s -- hot and driving slices of funk, disco and boogie that show just how vibrant the music scene was in one of West Africa's most populous and culturally diverse cities. In the '70s, it wasn't just James Brown who influenced the musicians playing in the nightspots of Lagos -- the loose-structured and elongated jams that he was pioneering in America had been a part of Nigerian music much longer than that. This album is the sound of Cuban-heeled and micro-minied Lagos youth soaking up the sound of the American discotheque and putting their own inimitable twist on the proceedings. The CD and double gatefold vinyl include rare tracks from famous musicians like Bongos Ikwue & The Groovies and Mono Mono's Joni Haastrup, as well as selections from cult bands like Asiko Rock Group, SJOB Movement and Jay-U Experience. Other artists include: The Sahara All Stars, T-Fire, Voices Of Darkness and Dr. Adolf Aonotu.
V/A- NIGERIA SPECIAL: MODERN HIGHLIFE, AFRO-SOUNDS & NIGERIAN BLUES 1970-1976 PART 1 2LP (soundway, uk)
22.98usd/11.60gbp/14.80eur/2364jpy (approx)
*restocked… Since 2002, Soundway Records has been synonymous with high-quality and groundbreaking compilations of music from Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Nigeria Special is the most ambitious project yet for the label -- a truly in-depth, double album look at Nigerian music in the early to mid-'70s, encompassing a broad range of styles. Compiler and DJ Miles Cleret has spent five years working on this album -- involving trips to Lagos and around Nigeria interviewing musicians and researching recordings, as well as a suitable amount of time scouring dusty record stores and warehouses for elusive sounds. This compilation presents some of the best un-reissued and forgotten sounds from Nigeria, covering the amazingly vibrant and diverse styles that emerged and flourished at the time. Everything from highlife, jazz, Afro-beat and blues to more traditional styles are represented to give as comprehensive a survey of the scene as possible. The 32-page booklet covers a history of the time plus in-depth information on the artists and musicians, as well as a look at the amazing pop-art cover designs of Nigerian records. Side 1. 1. Ayamma - The Anambra Beats (4:05), 2. Okwukwe Na Nchekwube - Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers National (6:09), 3. Amalinja - The Don Isaac Ezekiel Combination (5:15) Side 2. 1. Akula Owu Onyeara - The Funkees (7:28), 2. Oja Omoba - Dele Ojo & His Star Brothers Band (3:41), 3. Koma Mosi - The Harbours Band (2:54) Side 3. 1. Nekwaha Semi Colon - The Semi-Colon(3:29),2. Osalobua Rekpama -Sir Victor Uwaifo & His Melody Maestros (3:20),3. Onwu Ama Dike- St. Augustine & His Rovers Dance Band (6:05) Side 4. 1. Feso Jaiye - The Sahara All Stars of Jos (4:08), 2. Ema Kowa Iasa Ile Wa - Mono Mono (6:48), 3. To whom it may concern - Tunji Oyelana & The Benders (2:56).
V/A- NIGERIA SPECIAL: MODERN HIGHLIFE, AFRO-SOUNDS & NIGERIAN BLUES 1970-1976 PART 2 2LP (soundway, uk)
22.98usd/11.60gbp/14.80eur/2364jpy (approx)
*restocked… Since 2002, Soundway Records has been synonymous with high-quality and groundbreaking compilations of music from Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Nigeria Special is the most ambitious project yet for the label -- a truly in-depth, double album look at Nigerian music in the early to mid-'70s, encompassing a broad range of styles. Compiler and DJ Miles Cleret has spent five years working on this album -- involving trips to Lagos and around Nigeria interviewing musicians and researching recordings, as well as a suitable amount of time scouring dusty record stores and warehouses for elusive sounds. This compilation presents some of the best un-reissued and forgotten sounds from Nigeria, covering the amazingly vibrant and diverse styles that emerged and flourished at the time. Everything from highlife, jazz, Afro-beat and blues to more traditional styles are represented to give as comprehensive a survey of the scene as possible. The 32-page booklet covers a history of the time plus in-depth information on the artists and musicians, as well as a look at the amazing pop-art cover designs of Nigerian records. Side 1. 1. Asiko Mi Ni - The Nigerian Police Force Band(The Force 7) (5:09), 2. Belema ? Opotopo (Easy Kabaka Brown)(6:12), 3. Alabeke - Dan Satch & His Atomic 8 Dance Band of Aba (4:35) Side 2. 1. I Want a Break Thru' - The Hykkers (3:01), 2. Arraino - Popular Cooper and His All Beats Band (3:02), 3. Simini ? Yaya - Collins Oke Elaiho & His Odoligie Nobles Dance Band.(3:39) 4. Buroda Mase - Bola Johnson & His Easy Life Top beats (4:55) Side 3. 1. Business Before Pleasure - George Akaeze & His Augmented Hits (4:36), 2. Omo Yen Wu Mi - Shadow Abraham with Mono Mono Friends (3:28), 3. Blak Sound -Leo Fadaka & The Heroes (4:53) Side 4. 1. Torri Wowo - Godwin Ezike & The Ambassadors (3:07), 2. Eguae Oba - Osayomore Joseph & The Creative 7 (4:29), 3. Akpaisong - Etubom Rex Williams & His Nigerian Artistes (2:28), 4. Ugali - The Tony Benson Sextet (5:21).
DUBSTEP AND GRIME
SMASHER & LEWI WHITE- BACK IN DA DAY 12” (beyond da booth, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Impressive murkage from Smasher, acclaiming his name in two parts with Lewi running the voodoo down across two mighty instrumental versions.
TRG- TIME IS NOW/THEY KNOW 12” (immerse, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Massive breaking dubstep from the Romanian producer most likely to go the distance.
RAZOR X PRODUCTIONS- KILLING SOUND 2LP (rephlex, uk)
18.98usd/9.58gbp/12.23eur/1952jpy (approx)
*restocked… A collection of 7" singles and previously-unreleased tracks from UK-based Kevin Martin's (The Bug) Razor X Productions, started in collaboration with The Rootsman. Features apocalyptic mashup ragga anthems from the classic Razor X 7" imprint, as well as a few exclusive tracks which all show the rougher side of this act. Killing Sound celebrates soundclash as urban warfare. Floorquake basslines, body breaking beats and a barrage of deafening electronics amplifies the noise of cultures clashing. Fusing ragga's obsession with sex and violence to punk's confrontational energy, this ear bashing blast of detonated breaks is a fired-up antidote to the glut of careerists clogging up the airwaves, and valiantly continues the dirty work begun by On-U-Sound, World Domination Enterprises, Public Image, Bad Brains et al. An unforgettable rush of sonic insanity and red level intensity, distorted bleeps, explosive beats and terrifying vocal performances provide the blueprint for a skullcrush party disenfranchised rockers can appreciate and reggae casualties can celebrate. From the initial, unforgettable homicidal anthem penned by He-Man, to the melancholic crooning of Studio One veteran Tony Tuff, from the Tiger-style sadism of Wayne Lonesome and the tongue-in-cheek fighting talk of Warrior Queen, the lesser known MCs give legendary mic chatters Cutty Ranks and Daddy Freddy a murderous run for their money in the verbal skills and lyrical chills department. Call it yardcore, bashment, mutant ragga or whatever -- these tracks rock hard and gleefully burn up the rule book.
PEVERELIST- INFINITY IS NOW/JUNKTION 12” (tectonic, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*West country boy Peverelist returns home to Bristol's forefront dubstep label. What has set Peverelist's productions and DJ sets aside is his adroit blend of deep Bristolian sound system heritage with a more European, specifically Berliner take on the question of bass weight. These are two bumping joints of bass line destruction, stepping lightly around the four-four and sounding like the perfect fusion of dub and techno. Support from all the usual suspects -- MASSIVE.
WONDER- SWAMP MEET/FULL METAL JACKET 12” (wonderland, uk)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Heavy wares from Wonder, this time coming to us with this fresh 2-tracker for the Wonderland imprint. 'Swamp Meet' is one of those signature metallic killers that seems to be constructed out of bits of malfunctioning machinery -- a heaving mass of treated bass progressions and menacing melodies, Wonder style. 'Full Metal Jacket' is a more staggered affair, decimated rave chords squashed and buried deep in the mix while an angry bass fuzz towers over proceedings. Also, it mixes in very well with Justin Timberlake's 'Cry Me A River,' and if that ain't a selling point...
HOUSE, TECHNO AND DISCO
MOLLONO.BASS/DREHER & SM.ART- SOS 12” (3000 grad, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*3000° is a known fixture as an experienced artist pool from Mecklenburg in northern Germany. Fortschritt3000 has been organizing parties for over ten years with a focus on electronic dance music. They are now, and have been than, moving ahead of time and style. In 2004 the crew created their own booking agency under the name of 3000 Degrees Booking. There is more because the crew not only runs its own label Acker Records but also has just initiated a second label, which originated out of the background of Kombinat100. The new label 3000° Records is tailored for, and focuses on, functional club music. The first release on this new label has been produced by its label head Mollono.Bass who is known for superb releases on Ostwind and Acker Records. His deep and driving sound with an atmospheric touch is once again coming out in this record while the second track by the Berlin live act Dreher & Smart is, like always, a true surprise for ears and legs. Together they have celebrated an ever growing number of genius remixes as for instance the Depeche Mode 'Martyr' on Mute 10 or 'Grillen im Park' a remix for Kollektiv Turmstrasse. Moreover during their numerous live gigs and independent releases the crew has proven to stay true to essence yet at the same time surprises with new ideas and infinite innovation. Their sound thus drives, is yet ever changing and harmonic while bridging the impossible by being full of love for detail and modern arrangement. A perfect debut -- we are keen to hear more soon!
THOMAS MULLER- RIDE ON 12” (bpitch control, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*A French transplant to Berlin, Thomas Muller presents Ride On, his impressions of Parisian nightlife and a voyage though Europe's metropolises. "Ride On" slowly forms a hypnotic atmosphere until a long, deep break brings us back to earth. "X Nights" invades the ears with an awesome and dark bass line with small details that create a new space within the track. "Puppet's Dream" is Thomas' homage to Berlin's Bar 25, bringing back the spirit of summer onto the turntable.
SIMON BEESTON- KRANKENWAGEN 12” (district of corruption, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*DoC presents births yet another up and comer to 12" club, Simon Beeston. 'Krankenwagen' is a super twisted rave bomb and features two heavy hitting remixes from Liebe ist Cool and DoC label boss, Aaron Hedges. Beeston hails all the way from Auckland, New Zealand but now calls Berlin home. Simon first came to play a series of gigs in Berlin in 2003 including a performance at the original Tresor. Two years later, Simon has set up shop in the techno capital of Germany and has been growing in popularity in the underground scene. We were first introduced to the original version of 'Krankenwagen' in very particular circumstances. After label boss Aaron got his hands on it he has played it at every DJ gig since to constant hands in the air crowds. During one of these particular parties, which in a very oddly Berlin manner was taking place in a secret location hidden behind a donner imbiss, Liebe ist Cool kids (Peter and Kitty) fell in love with the track too. We all decided, among other erroneous and often forgettable pieces of information, to do a remix. That is how the Liebe ist Cool remix was born. Liebe ist Cool provides a stripped down and dirty Berlin minimal take on 'Krankenwagen.' Working with tight grooves and tribal rhythms, their remix builds quickly to a fiery pace and keeps the energy. Layered on top of this percussive aphrodisiac are super quirky sound effects and stripped vocal samples. Aaron Hedges provides a down and dirty rave bomb of a remix. You really just have to hear this one! Pushing high energy percussion and slowly developing arrangement patterns make this track a real journey.
COMA- COMA 12” (firm, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Coma are Marius Bubat and Georg Conrad and they are the long awaited rush of fresh air in the streets of Cologne and in the clubs worldwide. They combine pop and rave, techno and rock in a very unique, subtle and elegant way. Coma are nu-rave and old school techno, '80s pop and 2k-modernity in a deep hug. Coma gives the right answer to the wrong hypes and new influences, voices and feelings to electronic dance music. Live on stage Marius and Georg appear with laptop, guitar and microphone and they know how to have fun with their own beats and how to make the people scream constantly.
WILLIAMS- EL BAILE 12” (get physical, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Scottish producer Williams is back with El Baile for Get Physical. The title track immediately enthralls with its galloping kick, snare and analog bass pattern, and an electro motif that propels it onwards into the heart of the dancefloor. "The Unbearable Truth" is a thrillingly modern, moody take on the straight-up acid track. "Kiss Of Life" features an interplay of synths, kosmische-style chords and a tech-house strut. House music to get lost inside.
GUI BORATTO- ANUNCIACIÓN 12” (k2, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Since his debut 'Arqipelago' (K2/4) Gui Boratto has achieved almost everything a techno artist can achieve these days. His album Chromophobia, including the omnipresent single 'Beautiful Life' has been a firm favorite amongst DJs from every angle. It's the rare combination of brilliant technical skills, an uncanny ear for catchy hooklines and this razor blade-sharp grooves that make him an exceptional figure in techno world of today. With Anunciación, he's back where everything began: on Kompakt's dinky K2. Soundwise, it's a wee bit darker than Chromophobia but hey -- that's this winter's fashion. But don't worry, there's still a fair amount of soulfulness involved.
GUILLAUME & THE COUTU DUMONTS- LE CREW NORMAND 12” (karat, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*After a remarkable first appearance in 2005 with his project Egg, Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts pays a second visit to Karat label but this time in solo! Guillaume, who recently released his critically acclaimed first full length album for Musique Risquée, is on an intense roll of production. His releases have been adding up restlessly over the course of the past year, though contrary to the norm, this latest release clearly shows that Guillaume is fully capable of maintaining both a high level of output without compromising a shred of the quality we have all come to expect from his releases. The three tracks from this latest release, Le Crew Normand, are exquisitely fresh. A gifted percussionist, he uses his talent to elaborate a captivating musical vision that is both playful and sexy. Though rhythm is the key element here, the complexity and refinement of his arrangements always reveal a simple and efficient groove, confirming once again that even the most elaborate ideas are best presented in a simple language, and make no mistake; this EP is packed full of wonderfully fresh ideas! Behind this explicit invitation to the dancefloor can be found a music of a great finesse, that offers an irresistible and intoxicating breath of fresh air in todays climate of cookie cutter formulas and genre cliches. Cookie cutter formulas and genre clichés.
ALTER EGO- WHY NOT?! 2LP (klang elektronik, germany)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*restocked… It's been three years since Alter Ego's last album, Transphormer, so Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke unleash more of their madness upon the world. Why Not?! may not be the Alter Ego album you've been expecting. Picking up where Transphormer left off, it's frontloaded with all the ballsy Alter Ego hallmarks you've come to expect: buzzing squalls of synthesizer, leads that cut like a blowtorch, and rhythms that pack a rock 'n' roll punch to house and techno's jacking package. It's raw, dirty and just barely restrained. But Why Not?! is something else: it's funny. Maybe even a little bit goofy. This is techno, but it's not of the stonefaced, screwfaced variety. It's good, clean fun -- well, except when it's dirty, which is most of the time, given Alter Ego's affection for ragged waveforms and distortion-crusted drums. Most of all, it's dizzying, which might have something to do with the fact that virtually every track is slathered in grand, sweeping sounds with their portamento settings tuned to Roller Coaster. Listening to the album feels a little like racing down a playground slide that's been hooked up to a moderate electric current, and landing in a pile of mud. It's safe to say that NEVER before has classic house, techno and ragga/dubstep been combined in such a way. This record is destined to cause a stir amongst the current wave of French party crashers. Alter Ego have never been the most reverent of acts -- just consider the name of their early incarnation, Acid Jesus -- and on Why Not?!, from the titles to their tunes, their irreverence hits a restless new high, without ever sacrificing the all-powerful groove.
DIRK LEYERS- ALMA 12” (klang elektronik, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Not even a month after his Klang debut together with his studio partner Nerk, Dirk Leyers comes up with his first own record for Klang Elektronik. If you compare both releases something catches your ears for sure: Dirk Leyers' own music sounds totally different from his productions with Nerk, but both styles share an important common ground: they're far away from the beaten tracks of standard club music. Where humor, chaos and a quacky dancefloor are the definitive factors for Nerk & Dirk Leyers, Dirk prefers the plain beauty of elegant involving Detroit techno grooves on this record. With 'Azul' you got the most epic and at the same time impulsive track of this record. Above an anxious meandering bass line flash bright synthesizer sounds, while the beat unerringly gallops directly towards dancer's heaven. What a perfect trip! On the B-side, Dirk Leyers calms down a little bit and begrudges us with a conveniently laid-back almost ambient piece of music called 'Azur,' before he relieves us with the spheric whispering last track 'Alma' out of this record.
SUPERPITCHER VS. THE CONGOSOUND- SAY I'M YOUR NUMBER ONE 12” (kompakt, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Congosound (Carles Congost) stems from one of the most vibrant nightlife cities in the world: Madrid. Mainly famous for his video works, with the musician Fibla he also ventures into the world of dance music, sporting a casual yet persuasive style of electronic post-disco that feels comfortable between Metro Area and the Balearic revival. Superpitcher's remix of "Say I'm Your Number One" is an 11-minute wildpitch-gone-crazy affair that is absolutely devastating on the floor.
TAMA SUMO & PROSUMER- PLAY UP/BROTHERS, SISTERS 12” (ostgut, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*What is house music? A question that keeps coming up for decades now. Our catalogue number 14 has been produced by Tama Sumo and Prosumer collaboratively. At the same time it marks the first release ever by Tama Sumo, whose DJ career started in 1993. When Tama claims 'bass makes you happy,' then this is not only true for her very funky Sunday afternoon sets as a resident at Berlin's Panorama Bar, but it also applies to both tracks born out of her friendship with Achim 'Prosumer' Brandenburg. 'Play Up' and 'Brothers, Sisters': Two tracks reminiscent of Trax. Kickdrums and basslines dig deep; funky, short guitar licks lead up to breaks after which arms fly to heaven and sweat drips from the ceiling. Prosumer just knows how to create those special moments by using only a few select, simple elements. A technique, Tama Sumo is, as it seems, familiar with as well. You can call it the everlasting laws of the old school!
MARTIN BUTTRICH- STONED AUTOPILOT 12” (planet e communications, usa)
9.98usd/5.04gbp/6.43eur/1026jpy (approx)
*'Stoned Autopilot' written & produced by Martin Buttrich. Mastered by Enrico Mercaldi @ Timetools Mastering. 'Cruise Control' was written & produced by Martin Buttrich. Mastered by Enrico Mercaldi @ Timetools Mastering. Both tracks are Detroit-influenced and masterful.
JOHN DAHLBÄCK- WINNERS & FOOLS 2LP (picadoll, germany)
19.98usd/10.08gbp/12.87eur/2055jpy (approx)
*Double LP version. This is the third full-length release from John Dahlbäck. Starting at the tender age of 16, this prolific producer and label owner has placed himself into international electronic music's top league. With more releases out than Bud Spencer had fist fights or Hugh Hefner had bunnies, John has grown into a mature musician over the years. Winners & Fools is definitely his most sophisticated work to date and a step forward. After mainly producing dance tracks in the last years, John is now putting all his effort into detailed and deep musical work. Winners & Fools is a well-balanced journey through multiple electronic music worlds -- insane club weapons stand proudly next to beautiful vocal tunes and big room anthems in the vein of Alan Braxe or Daft Punk -- and it is certain to draw a whole new bunch of listeners to his music. Other Swedish producers like Eric Prydz, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosse may have paved the way to pop, but John Dahlbäck has entered a totally new building filled with glistening synths, sharp, snappy beats, and robots in skinny ties.
AXEL BARTSCH & ALEX NIGGEMANN- TWOFER 12” (sportclub, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Right after moving to Berlin, Sportclub presents freshly traded Alex Niggemann who already caused a stir with his 'Darko' remix for Booka Shade. Niggemann debuts with a deep killer track featuring a permanently magnetizing melody line, aspiring to be the spring hit of the new year. After being abstinent for a couple of months, Axel getting back on the scene with the b-side 'Daccord.' Decent percussion, deep bassline, loopy. Trancy, dubby monotonously rising but still straight forward track design is the best practice. A true Bartsch.
LANGENBERG- SLOWDOWN 12” (sthlmaudio, switzerland)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Already hammered by Chaton, Ripperton and Lee Van Dowski, Langenberg is gifting us with a stunning two track ep. Pressed with full fat and all your nightly needed calories, the two 45 rpm tracks presented here are perfectly representing modern club culture. A true groove, a rare and personal sound-crafting and design skills represent very well the Langenberg talent. Get on with us and dance!
SIMON HAYDO- DIFFERENT SHADES OF WHITE 12” (stockholm ltd, germany)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*After the huge 'Score for Direction' success with label owner Pär Grindvik, Stockholm LTD presents a new Swedish talent for the world. Simon Haydo is a really close friend of Pär Grindvik and the Stockholm LTD family. For several years, Simon has been playing records among the high end clubs in his hometown of Stockholm, Sweden. A while ago he finally got himself some studio equipment and has been asking for production tips from time to time, but when we received his demo, we realized that he didn't really need them. Simon knocked us right out of our chairs! We rarely get demos this emotional and we didn't know that Simon would pass us one as we had not heard a bleep of his music until that day. Most of the demos you get are from people trying to sound like someone else, but Simon has a sound of his own. We are really proud to have Simon Haydo joining the label and his first record Different Shades of White will follow us forever!
AGARIC- THE DARK HOLDS THE SUN 12” (sunset diskos, sweden)
12.98usd/6.55gbp/8.36eur/1335jpy (approx)
*Sunset Diskos is back with another killer EP from Agaric, this time with a remix by no less than Camea. "Come Below" is a sneaky funk bomb, slowly building and building with a deep and punchy groove. "No One Knows" is like a rattlesnake on acid, twisting and twisting, with a massive and poisonous groove building up and up. Camea takes the track to more spooky territories, perfect for massive sound systems.
MIKAEL STAVOSTRAND & FRANCO CINELLI- MONDAY BLUE 12” (sunset diskos, sweden)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*restocked… Sunset Diskos is back with a huge EP by label boss Mikael Stavöstrand teamed up with Argentinian wiz kid Franco Cinelli. "Money Talk" starts with deep and funky basslines and builds up to a freaking percussion monster. "M Forever" is groovy and deep with lots of details and turns -- perfect for after hours.
LUCIO AQUILINA- SQUARED CIRCLE & DISCO BUS REMIXES 12” (trapez, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Italian DJ and producer Lucio Aquilina has already released two records with Trapez. In anticipation of his upcoming remix record, one track from each of his previous recordings are remixed here. "Squared Circle" was remixed by Red Robin & Jakob Hilden, and has a playful, quirky, massive bass line. On the flipside, Roland M. Dill remixes "Disco Bus." He has created a peak-time rocker, cutting up the vocal and other parts to make it a funky and mixable techno tool.
AIRBUS MODULAR- DESTINATIONS 12” (traum, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Greek duo Airbus Modular release this 3-tracker in anticipation of their debut full-length. "Destinations" is a brainy, melodic avalanche with sequences wandering up and down, randomly creating a Latin-like flavor. "Poise" is technical and energetic, with lots of different parameters and small details that develop into a dubby, relaxed, techno-house track. "Manoeuvres Time Seconds" is more experimental and occasionally hits with organ stabs and cool breaks.
ALECS MARTA- RAMPER + PATRICK ZIGON REMIX 12” (treibstoff, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*The Barcelona-Cologne-Express rides again: Alecs Marta is in charge this time, the bustling Catalan with the stinging glance. As one half of the Swat Squad he may prefer to wander about in the suburbs of ornamentation but on his own he always enters competition through the front door. He isn't the loitering kind of guy anyway, which shows quite clearly in 'Ramper': this track drives on rails, a well lubricated hybrid confronting light-hearted and bouncy friendliness with demanding clarity. It's casual and focused at the same time, just as we come to expect from the Catalans as the 'Spanish Germans.' Quite a coincidence then that the remix descends from the South of Germany, bearing the trademark sounds of its producer Patrick Zigon. The guy that made good tracks into great ones at Cocoon or Kling Klong condenses the airier original to some sort of nightly tour de force, procuring tightly shaved beats and one hell of a massive bassline blanking the sky like a solar eclipse. I do not wear my sunglasses at night anymore and here's the reason why.
JOHN STARLIGHT- ROAD RAGE 12” (ukw, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*John Starlight is ridin' dirty and kickin' up some dust with this one-sided bass-o-mator. Forward, reverse, bump, bump, reverse... "Road Rage" is a fine example of electronic music that isn't afraid of experimentation. That's the distinctive John Starlight sound which he defined in 2003 with the milestone Blood Angels: organic, bass-grinding and massive! That beer must be chilled, the engine must be thrilled, lame pling-plongs get out of the way.
GOWENTGONE/MARCEL DETTMANN & FENGLER- REMIXES 12” (vidab, germany)
11.98usd/6.05gbp/7.72eur/1232jpy (approx)
*Here we go with the next release on Vidab. Number 5.5 features two remixes by Berghain residents Marcel Fengler and Marcel Dettmann. Listen to their interpretation of two unreleased Gowentgone tracks. There is no need to describe the tracks point by point. Just give them your full attention and enjoy them.
GIFT CERTIFICATES
gift certificates are always available in any denomination and come in a envelope ready to be stocking stuffed, slipped into pockets or dispensed in any way you see fit. they can be paid for in cash, credit card (visa, master card or discover) or paypal in person, phoned in or via email. gift certificates not paid for in person can either be mailed to you, or we can keep it in shop if the recipient plans to use it for mail-order.
ADDRESS
tequila sunrise records
525 w. girard avenue
(btwn 5th and 6th streets)
philadelphia, pa 19122
SUBWAY: blue or orange line to girard ave TROLLY: 15 to 5th street BUS: 57 to girard/3rd-4th st; 47 to girard/7th-8th st.
MAP
t/us: 1215 965 9616
t/uk: 0203 004 8357*
e: ajv@tequilasunriserecords.com
u: www.tequilasunriserecords.com
m: www.myspace.com/tequilasunriserecords
b: www. tequilasunriserecordshop.blogspot.com
HOURS (US)
monday: closed
tuesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
Wednesday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
thursday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
friday: 12:00-7:00pm/est
saturday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
sunday: 12:00-6:00pm/est
HOURS (*UK)
monday: closed
tuesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
Wednesday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
thursday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
friday: 5:00-12:00pm/gmt
saturday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
sunday: 5:00-11:00pm/gmt
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