blurt are perhaps the act who have played live at optimo more than any other. active for close to 40 years they are one of the uk’s all time great acts, phenomenal live and on record and supremely underrated. blurt mainman ted milton is a living legend. now in his 70s but more vibrant on stage than most artists 50 years his junior, he is a man of many talents, artist, poet, musician, performer…. in 1984 he released a solo 12”, “love is like a viol&#275,nce”, a no doubt accidental dancefloor gem completely out of kilter with any other music of the era that now makes total sense in 2017. dubbed-out stabs, programmed rhythm, trademark sax squeals and a more subdued than normal vocal that is strangely reminiscent of vincent price. thee definition of a cult classic and much in demand, side a of this 12” presents the a and b side (the equally outre “it’s only recently that stalins have begun to roost”) of this mighty 12” on one side of vinyl.

optical s whats the difference finally sees the light of day on wax. one of his most revered tracks, some 20+ years on it still sounds like the future. masterful! and if that wasn t enough, the matrix remix of medicine is thrown in for good measure on the flip.

deluxe edition mit 21 tracks auf 180 gramm doppel-vinyl im klappcover, downloadcode inklusive.

die stereo hörtest-edition vol. iii präsentiert dem musikliebhaber wie dem klang-gourmet exzellente aufnahmen aus dem programm von chesky records auf unterschiedlichen tonträgern:
- 180 gramm lp, direct metal mastering
- hybrid-sacd
- dvd-rom mit hochbit-dateien in 24bit/192khz, 24bit/96khz & 16bit/44.1khz plus mp3 in 320kbit
- blu-ray audiodisc zur direktwiedergabe plus files in unterschiedlichen auflösungen

four track vinyl with deep groovin house as we like it

mother of mars is the latest evolution of vito & druzzi, two new yorkers who have provided the 21st century with some of its most innovative dance music. the duo first came to fame as the rhythmic backbone of the rapture, nyc pioneers who found global fame with their angular post-punk and howling disco. since then vito & druzzi have had a prolific career as remixers and producers, producing leftfield disco killers for a range of labels including warp and throne of blood. seed 2 sky their first release as mother of mars sees the duo fuse live krautrock drums with pulsating synth loops, creating two epics of space and rhythm that owe a debt to 70s kosmische pioneers like tangerine dream.

first ever vinyl remastered reissue of this sought-after synth-pop /cosmic disco / funk / boogie album from 1983! lots of vocoder, analogue synths & keyboards, heavy drum machines, spacey vocals, bossa / brazilian touches, cosmic effects. the rah band was the brainchild of legendary english producer & arranger richard hewson. they debuted in 1977 with the cosmic glam hit the crunch, on which richard, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, played all the instruments himself. in 1983, he released going up the second rah band album, where he also played most of the instruments himself, helped by several drummers, a brass section and the sweet vocals of his wife liz hewson. including massive club classics like messages from the stars, perfumed garden and more.

complex melodic motifs grow and cover your brain like kudzu as swarms of insects gather to witness. the music was composed entirely on banas personal make noise system, which is a modular synthesizer. pressed to 12inch clear (140gm) vinyl and inserted into a black inner dust sleeve and matte jacket w/ photography by bana haffar and layout by sean curtis patrick.

deep dreamy and melancholic techno tracks by tserg, 25-year-old producer from, singapore. written over a period of 4 months, forgotten times is about the dreams we once had and forgot, the present moments that we forget to cherish and the ideals we used to believe and fight for but no longer do so. the intro is a hopeful track for the time when we started to dream. by the time we reach the outro, these memories have become fragmented and we struggle to even remember them. thankfully, time travel has always been possible in our minds when we think about the past or future. this transmat like production by tserg brings us from the future to the past in forgotten times but the listener is free to travel in whichever direction they want. limited to 150 copies.

nigerian disco-boogie lp from 1979

balance recording is happy to introduce you to the presencs ok kiko navvaro. this album cut out ep that has been getting great play by the like of kerri chandler and chez damier. i can show you the way, is a very strong track and .a floor filler, while tracks like -black is black- is also getting strong dance floor feed back, while the track -everything happens for a reason, is becoming a house and techno anthem at some festival this past summer. this project is surely for those who like great music and want to keep their house music collection alive.

red laser ceo il bosco selects four manctalo nukes that rock the label s manchester party on a regular basis. the manchester dj and producer carefully edits these rare or ignored tracks with the help of the another well-known local who only wishes to be known as the bat. play that song is like the smiths decided to have a go at boogie and creates an amazing mix of indie electro funk that shouldn t work but does. a little happiness has had the big italo collectors around europe searching frantically for the original of this lost gem since the track was aired on red laser s soundcloud. who will find it first? pac manc is an amazing dreamy slice of electro boogie ripe for the dancefloor and finishing the ep in style is the heavy drum led afro funk of shotgun rules again, with a synth bassline so big you could see it from mars. this one will live in dj bags for some time. limited to 150. hand stamped in textured grey card sleeves.

we have encountered ice dog during one sunny belgrade afternoon while he was chasing what he was calling fish (actually slavic seniors transformed into dolphins and dolphin is not a fish). he might or might not told us the fore-coming story: a man complains of being hungry. all the time. dogs it seems are never hungry. so the man decides to become a dog. to be a dog one must walk on all fours. the hero decides to wear shoes on his hands only to discover that there is no hand left to tie the laces on the fourth shoe. what does a shoe-shod dog tie laces with? its mouth. organ by organ the man becomes a dog. one lace at a time his record transformed us into a new type of misunderstood creatures. most of the tracks are surprisingly fast and playable yet broken while others are groovy however noisy. i am pretty sure you havent heard anything like it before. but what do i know i’m a fish.
ice dog is an alias of 33.10.3402.
cover by martyna bolanowska / kaja kukul, a mastered by tim xavier at manmade mastering.

nyc disco and house legend danny krivit has 45 years in the dj game under his belt and having played endless gigs all over the world during that time it s safe to say the original mr.k knows exactly what he s doing when it comes to this dj thing! pair danny with his long time collaborators and family king street sounds and you re having a party! this is exactly what happened in 2001 when the label asked him to contribute to their legendary mix the vibe series where top flight selectors like danny get to dig deep and produce a fresh dj mix for the label. now, you know the quality control is going to be sky-high on a project like this and this limited dj sampler featuring tracks from the compilation proves just that! all featured tracks have been fully licensed from king street, remastered and reissued with %100 involvement from the label. essential house music for the seasoned heads and neophytes alike!

grammy winning nyc disco and house legend louie vega has decades upon decades in the recording studio and dj game under his belt and having played endless gigs all over the world during that time its safe to say the original he knows exactly what hes doing when it comes to this music thing! pair louie with the legendary king street sounds label and youre having a party! this is exactly what happened in 2007 when the label asked him to contribute to their legendary mix the vibe series where top flight selectors like louie get to dig deep and produce a fresh dj mix for the label. now, you know the quality control is going to be sky-high on a project like this and this limited dj sampler featuring tracks from the compilation proves just that! featuring tracks and exclusive mixes from the likes of 95 north, basil, mood ii swing and more this ep more than deserves a place on your record shelf or in your dj bag! all featured tracks have been fully licensed from king street, remastered and reissued with %100 involvement from the label. essential house music for the seasoned heads and neophytes alike!

just in time to warm up your winter, hell yeah revisit the peerless recent tsuki album from ambient and balearic masters tempelhof & gigi masin. two tracks from the album are included on this new package, as well as a remix from jex opolis. trancendental and dreamy drums characterise the new age corner song, which is the sound of laying back on a boat and bobbing up and down on gentle seas at sunrise. its organic and soothing to the max. the other original is flying man, a suspensory film that feels like floating amongst the clouds on a humid afternoon. wordless vocals add a heavenly feel to the lush and all encompassing chords and pads and nothing sounds sweeter than being lost in this one. it is corner song that gets remixed by good timin and running back man jex opolis. famous for his disco infused synth pop sound he is a master of his own musical world. his version is eight minutes of laid-back tropicalia. slowly churning drums and knotted funk-bass prop it up as an eco-system of pops, clicks and hits add to the steamy and sensuous groove. it s grown up disco for cocktails on the terrace and will have you hugging anyone in earshot. support by calm, lexx, leo mas, apiento, zambon, max essa, kito jempere, buena onda djs, balearic gabba sound system.

in this winter transit records kyoto announces the 7th title (tr-006) ryoma sasaki-the phase at midnight ep including the finest deep house remix by reynold (trenton records) to vinyl music lovers and djs. the kyoto-based label transit records kyoto has been releasing high quality tech house, deep tech & house works since 2011. in this winter, we announce the 7th title (tr-006) ryoma sasaki-the phase at midnight ep including reynold (trenton records) remix to vinyl music lovers and djs. a1: the phase at midnight has the strong house groove with heavy bass line and striking synth-phrase, will fit the midnight dance-floors as its song title. a2: momentary existence (reynold remix) is fabricated by reynold s great imaginations and musical abilities. he produces the finest and beautiful deep house remix by composing the original parts and his parts with refinement in the tracks structure. b1: momentary existence (original) is a dramatic tech house track with impressive melodic synth line and beautiful female voices, which evokes something like lyrical landscapes. definitely all tracks will cover a full night up in the club.

all the greatest hits of the alan parsons project in a superb symphonic rock show. recorded in parque pies descalzos, medellin, colombia, 2013. triple vinyl release, joused in a gatefold sleeve.

luciano lamanna debuts on concrete records with his new ep -atto di dolore-. grimy and sinister like an horror movie soundtrack melting with dark and deep techno, -atto di dolore- leads you straight into the darkest side of the dancefloor. slow, gentle and obsessive, comes with a long remix by positive centre on b side.

following the release of synkro aka joe mcbride collection of his formative early works earlier this year, apollo recordings is proud to present a brand new ep that draws on the rich heritage of library music. despite having come up during the dubstep era mcbrides music has always resisted easy classification - hand in hand sees him shift his musical focus in a yet more cinematic direction. mcbride explains: the record was inspired and influenced by my love of electronic 80s uk library records like the chappell av series, bruton, soundstage & de wolfe music library. theres a lot of synth work that carries on from my album using my trusted juno-6 / sh101 / jx8p combo with the addition of drum samples via an old akai s2800 i purchased recently. most sounds ive made from scratch on hardware based on sounds used in the library records i mentioned above along with a few cheeky samples.- synkro s signature expansive atmospherics are still very much present, but now they have been burnished by soaring synth pads and pulsing drum tracks that call to mind the haunted melancholy of john carpenter or contemporary such as legowelt or andy stott. rhythmically hand in hand sees mcbride moving somewhat away from his usual off kilter programming inspired by 2-step and garage, embracing the steady pulse of 4:4 which turns out to be an effortless fit.

taking the labels emotional sound into a deeper realm we welcome zone + to all day i dream. four tracks for more far out moments. these tracks might not rock your dance floor but they might just rock your soul. cuddle up with your lover and enjoy... bien. beautiful and gentle house music that loves you right back. baia. this is a gentle track with a subtle emotional vibe feeling like you are far away from land floating on an ocean with no land in sight. all you want to do is drift, lay back and watch the clouds roll by. sia - a subtle piano and male vocal transport you to a blissful place floating above the delicate landscape of beats. apocalypto - there s a mysterious feeling this track creates. a haunting vocal exists somewhere in the background and hypnotizes the listener.

special sales pack for all you athletikk lovers out there - contains three classic releases
athletikk001: kerosene - like a ghost
athletikk003: jussi-pekka - uraputki express
athletikk004: kerosene - little mosquito (lars sommerfeld remix)

the industrial project of oliver ho and tommy gillard at its most subversive and evocative, with two preoccupations threaded throughout: middle-eastern percussion, most vivid in the chimes of casting and the driving doumbek rhythms of burning and the sands and the structural iteration of chaos, underlying a collage of wild left-turns, scornful of repetitive hooks and other musical routines. early birds bag a 7inch by hos desert burials, evoking classic punk/funk hybrids like cabaret voltaire.

limited and numbered multi-coloured 180 gram audiophile vinyl edition of ramin djawadi’s original score for season 7 of the hbo series “game of thrones”. housed in a gatefold sleeve with download code included.

joran van pol is back on minus with edge, a fantastic four track ep that is his first on the label since 2013. in the years since, the amsterdam based artist has set up his own fade label and has continued to evolve his cinematic techno sound. previously, van pol has also released on labels like rejected, sci+tec and ideal audio, and has the support of all the big techno players who often reach for his tunes in their sets. as a dj he is just as in demand, with headline slots everywhere from space ibiza to time warp all behind him. having recently set up a new studio, he is still coming on strong with fresh inspiration and ever more essential grooves. ‘illos opens things with seven spooky minutes of icy techno. rolling rubbery drums pump away below, and the details up top make for an evocative soundscape with distant industrial sounds, groaning bass and razor sharp hi hats all filling your mind with imagery. next comes title track ‘edge, another brilliant sonic landscape with tense chords repeating over ticking percussion. its a track that builds tension throughout, and keeps you looking over your shoulder into the eerie blackness. the perfectly high pressure ‘return is one that locks you in and never lets up, with warped synths snaking above traintrack like drums and hits. a dark, rumbling bassline and the sounds of pistons releasing air all add to the intensity of this brainmelting bit of futuristic techno. last but not least, ‘frostbite is then the most spacious and spooky offering of the lot. it has freaky alien sound designs scattered around the track with supple kicks driving the whole thing forwards. its an absorbing cut that hurries along and takes you for a thrilling ride. these are four more inventive techno tracks from one of the contemporary scenes brightest stars.

key selling points the chorus: that moment where everyone connects and participates in unity. a moment anyone whos shared a dancefloor can recognise whether its a festival arena, subterranean dark room or an illegal rave in a field, warehouse or any abandoned canvas between… like the ones colognes julian stetter has come from. inspired by subversive communities, all pulling together for a greater cause, his background in underground parties can be felt in everything hes done so far: his work with the ancient future now label, his vast imaginative techno constructions and now his work with jennifer cardinis long-standing community correspondant with the widescreen odyssey that is ‘chorus six slices of evocative narrative-rich electronic soul inspired by his on-going international experiences on the road, loaded with poignant introspection, thunderous rumbles and playful theatrics, the ep is bookended by two versions of ‘chorus, a vision of scorching hope and lift that can seize a full floors attention in seconds and full live up to the tracks title, message and meaning. by far julians most significant solo ep to date, this is a moment for us all to connect and participate. join in if you know the chorus

finally here we are with the fourth release on last drop records, signed by the london-based stavrogin. collectors takes a more subdued approach from his debut on australian label 3bs, focusing on ampdriven ambient textures and digital experimentation. sixty acres is a juddering mass of static textures and penetrative low end, forcing itself to a crumbled close. title track collectors is something like the afterglow. weary and destitute, the track stumbles through heatwave soaked atmospheres, fragmented voices stuttering like a malfunctioning android. are these actual miles? is perhaps the most direct, with its tremors of noise punctuated by a rhythmic pulse. this is a feature italian duo ichinen have capitalised on in their closing remix, reducing the track to a warbling, dead-eyed drum workout.

we are extremely happy to welcome malouane to our roster for this third release. the atmosphere of malouane is unique: raw, melodic and full of details with charm. -long way for the homies- will recall artists like mcde or rick wade, quite in the same vein: jazzy, soul and house. the second, -keep yo mama clean- very catchy too: drums, beautiful basses and small samples interact with each other. these elements work perfectly, because malouane has a real sense of musical arrangement, a real mastery of sampling. -this is supposed to be an outro- is the last track of the original tracks: it is a little slower than the others but a great wealth: a real charm and a true personality emerges from this piece. the multitude of details and, again, the mastery of the sample make it a piece as much club as listening. cody currie has proposed his own vision. the young english producer made a great remix by putting his style and clement’s together. finally, times are ruff also offers their reinterpretation of keep yo mama clean: softer and quite faithful to the atmosphere of this ep, with a small taste of chaos in the cbd, the dutch have done a remarkable job.

uk producer laurence guy delivers his debut for mule musiq: three house not house grooves en-larged with a deep musicality. so far the boy from london got one album and six eps on such labels like church, rose or cin cin under his wings. all his three tunes for mule feature a piano that spreads deeply haunting melodies. combined with house rhythms and a warm oscillating atmosphere, he managed to arrange an ep that reminds equally on the musical art of producers like andres or portable. deep house beyond the clichés, charged with bewitching melodies and a heartiness that has the power to stay for good.

here it is! the new installment of our vinyl series. this time signed by texan artist blixaboy delivering four classical electro tracks. timeless music as we like in fanzine.

shir khan welcomes zoo brazil to his infamous black jukebox disco house series. lately, the swedish producer released tracks on hot since 82 s knee deep in sound, nic fanciullis saved records and with more music to come on sasha s last night on earth and joris voorn s green label. for black jukebox john went all disco - think something like soundstream on ecstasy - hyperactive loops & grooves. pure locked in dancefloor moments !

second album from this dope new boogie group - straight out of melbourne, australia.. tip!

this is volume 2 out of 2 of hip hop gone wrong from john daly’s west 2 west project.
following up last years well received the smoke clears, john daly returns to the label under another alias - west 2 west which was debuted on jheri tracks vol 1. equally as atmospheric as the ethereal smoke clears, this project is the result of his ongoing hip hop obsession. mpc workouts inspired by current listening, the result isn’t quite hip hop, but sits nicely in the all city beat discography. there’s an after hours headphone feel to the set - spanning twenty four tracks split evenly over two 12 inches - volume 2.

(2017 repress/remastered) one of the more delicate recordings of sun ra s 28-strong arkestra, sleeping beauty drifts in on a cloud of cosmic dust, sounding unlike anything before or after. with drummer luqman ali keeping the narcotic funk, but with dreamy solos from other key arkestra players like john gilmore, michael ray, and marshall allen, no sun ra collection is complete without this lp. inspired space-age lullaby music. tip!

very limited repress! the mind is the subject in which ideas inhere. inhere is a collective of like-minded artists based in bucharest, romania. vinyl only.

cape town duo christian tiger school provide the 3rd part of the lissoms series. both graduates of the red bull music academy and part of the sónar line-up this summer - they’ve previously posted an lp for the mighty tommy boy & remixes for subpop, and had their work remixed by luminaries like mndsgn.
“if you want to” embodies their sound and the fervent cape town beats scene aptly - esoteric uk influences sit amongst ambient soundscapes and a cracked breakbeat, pinned on a looped bassline - growing in intensity but using the most subtle of touches.
gacha bakradze’s version posits the track somewhere between slow-burning disco and krautrock, framing the character of the original with loose jams on his array of studio gear.
finally, edmondson’s version is a minimal, 2-steppy take honed by the berlin sounds which have pricked his ears for the last couple of years.

design default makes a contemplative debut lp blending ambient soundscapes with electronica & jazz hints. entitled dawn chorus, the record sounds like a reflexion on awakening to new feelings and ideas as well as reminiscing and looking at those that came in the past. the lp opens in a playful and harmonious way with bells play, bringing forward the idea of awakening. the rest of the record designs a world in which slow unfurling soundscapes with heavy bass like the forest or two mirrors consistently stand alongside glitchy atmospheres like the distorted ecce or the celestial escale. tracks like peaks and notes or wood caving put the accent on harmonic and textural content. overall, the record is rooted in a cosmic almost new age ambient tradition, but focuses more on the idea of renewal than vagrancy and languishing. if ecstasy and euphory do not describe the feeling here, darkness doesnt either. the result is a balanced, mature and diverse lp, bringing many beautiful sonic atmospheres to life, and telling a journey of wonder of openness.

get physical is proud to announce the release of the first ever album from chicago house luminary dj pierre. entitled wild pitch: the story, it collects originals and remixes old and new, and stands as a testament to the unique skill of one of dance musics most important figures. famously, dj pierre as good as invented the squelch of acid house when playing with his roland tr-303 drum machine as part of phuture back in the late eighties. from there he went on to clock up more than 200 credits under aliases like doomsday, prime one, raving lunatics, ac!d face, dj pierres afro acid project and many more. he also became famous for the wild pitch mixes and alias that lend this album its name: they were characterised by long intros, layer upon layer of strings, repetitive vocal samples, and filtered hypnotic sounds on hard beats. working with labels like strictly rhythm, trax, king street, nite grooves, international deejay gigolo and more recently get physical, pierre has contributed hugely to the global evolution of house music for thirty years plus. this is a timely reminder of that and one that is jam packed with essential tunes that, old or new, still sound impossibly fresh. included is a cover version of donna summers classic and pioneering disco cut ‘i feel love. it is a 9 minute masterpiece of loose drums, wild acid lines and synthesised squelches that build and build before the vocal arrives and carries you away to the stars

contemporary producer e. myers has self released four limited edition white label 12?s since 2015, whilst managing to remain low profile. whoever they are, we guess they?re huge fans of late 1980s chicago house, shep pettibone, colourbox and most of our reissues. so much that they asked us to re-release their second 12? ?hate / love? from 2016 backed with new remix of ?hate? made for dark entries. ?love? kicks off the a-side ?beats out a wood-cut tattoo of tuff drums rubbed with balloon-squeak synths to sound like gesloten cirkel meets helena hauff,? said boomkat. ?hate? is a dreamy house number that ultilzes a roland tr-707 drum machine with a rounded bassline, horns and strings that lift it into the stratosphere. for the new remix of ?hate? myers subtly shifts the pace and deepens the groove, stretching out the song to over 7 minutes of dubbed out new beat phantasia. all songs have been remastered for vinyl by george horn at fantasy studios in berkeley. the 12? is housed in a die cut disco jacket that features an original design by eloise leigh.

the art of freedom doesn’t know any limits when it comes to people like petar milicevic. this very unusual issue, this particular release should earnestly be considered as a mega bomb! vinyl only... complatt.

ltd 50 % deal - nyc disco and house legend danny krivit has 45 years in the dj game under his belt and having played endless gigs all over the world during that time it s safe to say the original mr.k knows exactly what he s doing when it comes to this dj thing! pair danny with his long time collaborators and family king street sounds and you re having a party! this is exactly what happened in 2001 when the label asked him to contribute to their legendary mix the vibe series where top flight selectors like danny get to dig deep and produce a fresh dj mix for the label. now, you know the quality control is going to be sky-high on a project like this and this limited dj sampler featuring tracks from the compilation proves just that! featuring tracks and exclusive mixes from the likes of kerri chandler, blaze, chez damier and ron trent this ep more than deserves a place on your record shelf or in your dj bag! all featured tracks have been fully licensed from king street, remastered and reissued with %100 involvement from the label. essential house music for the seasoned heads and neophytes alike!

the superb forbidden planet is a shiny early electro cut with a great funk bass line, a real instrumental groove and fantastic melodies that shimmer like a hot sun. it s filled with joy and sounds as fresh today as ever, the way it ducks and dives and offers real warmth. the francisco remix keeps the funk vibe but changes the groove to be a more chicago house style cut. as such it has a rasping bassline, big drums and coarse percussion that make you want to jack. the masterful ali renault—a go-to disco and synth specialist who runs cyber dance records, human shield record company and most recently his own vivod imprint—then turns out a hypnotic version that is more driven and direct for the dance floor, with robotic bass and epic reflective synth lines. it s a cinematic track with great analogue textures that goes back to the future. the last original is the excellent stay with me , a cosmic love song with breezy trumpets and dreamy disco vibes as well as soulful vocals. italo melodies and infectious percussion finish it off and make it an instant crowd pleaser.

the greatest hits plus two new tracks from bryan adams on double vinyl, housed in a gatefold sleeve.

the killers’ 2013 album back on double vinyl. incl mr. brightside

amazing grace how sweet the sound! traditional gospel flavors the background as the singer reaches for the heavens with songs like what can i do for you, covenant woman, solid rock, and saving grace.

eat more house welcomes sagat & madi grein! the italian duo already release on great imprints like housewax, hardmoon, noho & crime city disco.

180g brazilian polysom re-issue of the polydor original.
the second set of madness from the legendary os mutantes – and like the first, an album done in close collaboration with arranger/producer rogerio duprat, whose talents add a new level of genius to the record! the album’s got a compelling mix of styles that strikes out on the very first tune – a playful pastiche that’s partly postmodern, partly psychedelic, and still tremendously powerful decades later – even if you can’t understand most of the lyrics! styles are just about impossible to pin down, but that’s what makes the record so unique and essential – and if you ever needed one album to convince you of the mindblowing energy taking place during the tropicalia years, this one may well be it! a few tracks are written by tom ze, and titles include -dom quixote-, -dia 36-, -magica-, -rita lee-, -algo mais-, -qualquer bobagem-, and -fuga no ii-.

a legendary album! this previously unreleased album by os mutantes was supposed to be their breakthrough album to an english speaking market – but for years it’s only been talked about in hushed whispers, and has only been heard by a lucky few! the record was recorded in paris in 1970 – and it’s all in english! (not that we’re biased against portuguese, mind you – but since we’re english speakers, it’s kind of a nice thing to have a record that we can understand!) the record features a number of tunes from the mutantes first two albums – redone here with translated lyrics, and in a compressed pop style that’s a bit smoother than the original albums, but still very nice! in fact, the record’s a sophisticated pop statement that would have stood well in the company of many of the best of 1970s rock elite – had the boneheads at philips actually decided to release the record! no use crying over spilled milk, though – because the album’s out now, and it’s filled with loads of nice tracks like -panis et circensis-, -batmacumba-, -tecnicolor-, -el justiciero-, -i’m sorry baby-, -saravah-, and a sublime reading of -baby-, a track that was virtually the manifesto for tropicalia!

• special deal
• 2xgatefold lp from les graciés
• silkscreened artwork by al white & house of traps
les graciés is a collaboration in the truest sense between paris-based sound artist gaël segalen and deepblak co-founder afrikan sciences. segalen’s experiments in electroacoustic sound met the wider world this year via a debut lp for erratum, an arresting work that showcases her ability to merge hypnotic murk ala angus maclise with the hard concréte of parmegiani & reibel. segalen’s ihearu imprint / organisation is a platform for her various doings, including psychogeographical audio works and multi-media collaborations, as well as servicing as a reference point for other contemporary female artists working across various mediums. eric douglas porter aka african sciences has been deconstructing and re-building forms of contemporary black music since the mid-2000’s, through releases on deepblak (the label he co-runs with aybee) and pan. his musical universe is one of warping cadences and celestial melody, referencing the bold work of percussionists like milford graves & art jenkins, the dissonant chords of motor city techno and stripped back essence of early chicago house matched with broken hard bop sentiments: all tied together with an aesthetic that sits somewhere between sun ra’s omniverse, jean giraud mœbius and dogon cosmology. together as le graciés, segalen and porter make a wholly unclassifiable strain of music that, while containing recognisable elements of each individual s work, also creates a third entity in the process, which can be heard to stunning effect on their forthcoming debut lp ‘low doses’ for firecracker recordings.