this collection documents the two-decades-plus recording career of r&b icon luther vandross. even before he started putting out records under his own name, he was a first-call session singer (hes the one who created and sang the chorus hook on david bowies -young americans,- for just one example). throughout the 80s and the 90s, he was (both commercially and aesthetically) one of the most consistently successful r&b singer/songwriter/producers. this healthy two-disc selection of highlights from the impressive vandross catalogue moves deftly from heartfelt ballads (-a house is not a home-) to percolating, poppy numbers (-never too much-), spotlighting the mans mellifluous voice and tasteful phrasing at each turn. this is quite clearly the definitive career summary for this deeply influential r&b titan.

deluxe edition - includes previously unreleased tracks...

dj andy smith Ð one of the worlds premier funk djs and the man who supplied portishead with their samples Ð joins forces with keith lawrence - renowned reggae collector and reggae dj from www.colourfulradio.com - to present the heaviest selection of funky reggae in the uk smiths comps have sold over 35.000 units inc. the acclaimed -document- series which included albums for greensleeves & trojanp>killer cover versions of stevie wonders you havent done nothing (sly dunbar), marlena shaws woman of the ghetto (hortense ellis) & william de vaughns be thankful for what you got (donovan carless) super rare cuts from bumps jackson, barry waite & sly dunbar tracks from impact, randys, demon, dynamic, hot shot, tent & various pama records offshoots various tracks from the pama catalogue which back-in-the-day was a contemporary of trojan inc tony scotts what am i to do now, pussy by kid longo, lloyd terrells i did it, ricos tribute to don drummond, d tony lees peyton place, lester sterling & stranger coles bangarang & children get ready by the versatiles.

this is the first part (of four) of the much anticipated reissue series of drexciya s early catalogue, marking 20 years since the release of their first ep deep sea dweller , and 10 years since their final album grava 4 . one of the most influential techno acts ever, and part of the heritage of detroits underground resistance, drexciya explored techno like no-one else before: raw and uncompromising music that reflected the harsh environment of the city where drexciya was conceived, with a mythical approach that only added to their cult appeal. drexciya arguably stands for the darker side of techno and electro, made not only for the club scene, but a further development of the music as an expression and extension of the mind. journey of the deep sea dweller is a near-complete collection of their early works, released in four parts, with all audio remastered from the original master tapes. since the original releases have such a strong character and stand on their own, these reissue can never recreate the magic of those originals. instead, clone have stirred up the catalogue, taking tracks out of their original context, giving the committed fan a fresh experience and the new listener a document that is the best possible introduction to the aquatic world of drexciya.

legendary bournemouth-based trio aquasky return with their 8th studio album raise the devil featuring 16 bass-heavy party tracks which include guest vocals and collaborations from lee mortimer, engine earz experiment, daddy freddy, ragga twins, tenor fly, mr. thing, pyramid, acafool, deja, roisin brophy, didjelirium and bex riley. this album sees the trio take it back to basics and return to what people expect when they hear the name aquasky! having been solid friends since the heady days of rave and acid house, the guys first hit the studio together during the jungle era and in 1995 aquasky was born, signing immediately to moving shadow before going onto release on some of the biggest and best labels including polydor, botchit & scarper, reinforced, good looking records, hospital, southern fried and mr. bongo. in 2001 they took the decision to launch their own imprint passenger as a place where they had free reign to unleash their full creativity and develop both their sound and the sounds of other acts.

this, the second album from crookers features savage skulls, hudson mohawke, his majesty andre, surkin, bobmo, lazy antz, style of eye, keith & supabeatz, wax motif and neoteric, on the boards and sidesteps the pop/rave collabs that clutter this planet.

the xxlerator concept has become the longest running hardstyle club night of europe. it is one of the most successful nights hosted by club matrixx, where many well-known hardstyle djs have taken their place behind the decks. this particular club has been at the top of the dutch club scene ever since the doors were swung open 10 years ago. it has understandably been voted as the number one club of the netherlands three times. club matrixx stands for quality and they will no doubt prove it to you once more with an incredible compilation cd. behind the scenes, club matrixx teamed up with one of the biggest hardstyle artists in the world today: ran-d. this man has a large amount of memorable sets at parties like defqon.1, decibel, intents festival, emporium and xxlerator. in addition, his discography displays a high rate of quality and quantity with regards to his productions. ran-d pulled out all the stops to put together this cd. the result is a brutal mix with a perfect combination of raw and euphoric tracks. pure hardstyle will project from your speakers with the sounds of italian hardstyle legend the rebelz, a records and gunz for hire colleague adaro and of course the hottest tunes from noisecontrollers. he also added tracks from other great producers such as: alpha, psyko punkz, coone and crypsis. this album puts every hardstyle lover in the party mood and is a must have for any collection.

2011 debut album from tropics aka british producer and multi-instrumentalist chris ward. since planet mu released his first single, -soft vision-, the synthpop of his early tracks has evolved into a more substantial and personal style. parodia flare features ward as a multi-instrumental auteur, weaving together vintage sounds, rhodes keyboard, banks of old synths, software and guitars, live drums and electric bass.

silent dust is the project of uk duo dan blishen (originally from manchester) and andy hobbs (hailing from kent), who produced drum & bass together for years under the respective monikers zyon base and hobzee. their self-titled debut,silent dust,brings their signature d&b sound into a different light, drawing from a wide range of influences - ambient, drum & bass, garage, dub, breakbeat and soundtracks. the result is a collection of deep, bass-laden productions that sound like absolutely nothing else, filled with lush arrangements, an array of found sounds (footsteps, vinyl crackle, sellotape stretching), cinematic vocal samples and glitchy, idiosyncratic drum programming. the album travels through a wide range of emotions and sounds - from the sublime intensity of the giant (equipped with floating operatic samples and tight drum programming) and the dark atmospheric grace of marlowe, to the weighted basslines of the club-suited zero nine zero and the sheer beauty of winter song lined with strings and a reggae-tinted vocal. though its driven by experimentation, this is a d&b record at heart: even the ambient tracks were written at 160-170 bpm. their debut album was originally signed to soul:r, but was pulled at the last minute: the duo bravely opted to start their own label, none60, to release their tour de force.silent dust is a downtempo, atmospheric album that will become an instant favourite for open minds, and for those who seek something new. one of the most unique records to come out of d&b this decade.

when david essex sang -gonna make you a star-, he knew what he was talking about because he d already been there. and -the best of david essex- showcases his star quality to perfection, delivering all of his smash hits from the seventies, including -hold me close-, -rolling stone- and the classic -rock on-. a superstar from a golden era of pop.

driver drive faster are a new band from manchester, but you wouldnt necessarily tell. this masterful debut album presents a rich, timeworn sound that exists somewhere between americana and spectral indie rock. its crafted song-writing at its best, hinging on stirring chord sequences and moments of fragile beauty. -a review described us as misfits,- says singer/ guitarist dylan giles. -we took it as a compliment.- named open house and recorded in the shared digs in which the entire band reside, the album was a labour of love begun in late 2009, poured over in 2010 and set for release in 2011. the result is a lush, layered record that slowly draws you into its world. think mercury revs deserters songs for a new generation.

mysteryland takes place saturday august 27th at the beautiful fields from floriade. with a total of 18 areas mysteryland can be considered as the largest dance festival in the netherlands. the mother of all dance festivals is still leading after more than seventeen years! this mixed double album gives a good reflection of the music and line-up of this year s edition. where cd1 contains the more popular dance styles, big name artists and club hits, cd2 takes you to the more underground and edgy side of the festival. so whatever your taste is , this mixed compilation gives you a little piece of mysteryland 2011 not to forget.

its been a long time comin.the inevitable paul white rap album! 4 years of carving out his own psychedelic (mainly instrumental) niche on the uks one handed music imprint, a lot of people have been asking when this was going to happen. loaded with shining appearances from the cream of current underground mcs: guilty simpson, marv won, danny brown, tranqill (ruling on one of paul whiteÕs rudest beats to date), homeboy sandman, moe pope and the crown prince of uk hip hop, jehst, folk talent, nancy elizabeth also makes an appearance. there are also plenty of whacked out instrumentals and skits to keep the beat-heds heady. tip!uk producer leads transatlantic talent on a freewheeling hip-hop adventure.

gits album -imagination- could be described as an experimental design with roots in underground hip hop. gits musical style may be hard to pin point. his love of drums set the foundation for his sound: driving, percussion heavy productions anchored in traditional hip hop, with an experimental streak. his sound has many flavours and is not to be boxed in one label. one of the goals of this album is to fill the void that pop music has left. -imagination- will remind us that talent and emotion can still be found in music today and one not always needs a million dollar budget to make good music. if you like music that is raw, pure and speaks from the heart then you will love this project.

gem club is an exclusive society: two people, a piano, and a cello. vocalist christopher barnes sings in a quivering whisper, and these minimal accompaniments assure that their sound never becomes louder than a hush. but the massachusetts duo s debut ep, acid and everything, showed just how much emotional intensity you could pack into compositions so spare, and how much could be suggested with so little. everything on breakers, their first full-length, sounds frozen over: icy, quiet, austere. you know that eerie feeling when you find yourself alone in a huge public place that s usually crowded-- maybe a shopping mall or a playing field- but at that moment is totally empty? this record sounds like a sustained version of that feeling. -i heard the party- juxtaposes echoing piano chords and a general sense of unease (-no one could have told you / your body would fail you-) with the refrain -i heard the partys here- floating across the track like the sound of dried up laughter. the word -party- feels so out of place in a song so pensive and lonely that there s something jarring about the experience. the feeling crops up repeatedly on breakers: a sense of slow-motion detachment, a suggestion that there were signs of life here once, but you ve arrived a couple of hours- or maybe a couple of weeks- too late.

one of the most referenced producers of the last year and one of the most influential producers on the scene: mk aka marc kinchen presents a sublime collection of his work, much of which has been previously unavailable digitally, on this latest volume in the house masters series. during the halcyon period of house music in the early 90s, marc kinchen became one of the genres most respected producers and in-demand remixers. starting out at an incredibly young age in detroit as a protŽgŽ of techno god kevin saunderson before later moving to new york, he fast became a prolific figure in the dance music community. here twenty of his most influential of recordings are collected and made available completely unedited, unmixed and dj friendly for the very first time. this package includes 9 tracks that have never been made available digitally.

seit ihrem debuet lungs, das 2009 rund um den globus die charts stuermte und millionenfach verkauft wurde, zaehlt die charismatische florence + the machine zu den begehrtesten newcomern. eine nominierung fuer einen grammy award, der darauf folgende, hoch gelobte auftritt bei der verleihung des wichtigsten internationalen musikpreises gemeinsam mit christina aguilera und jennifer hudson: ihr auftritt bei den oscars 2011: ein mehrseitiges feature in der vogue deutschland - interviewt wurde florence hierfuer von elton john, fotos machte karl lagerfeld. florence welch fasziniert die ganze welt und gilt bereits als neue britische ikone. ihre pop-elektro-mischung gepaart mit smarten texten und viel atmosphaere ueberzeugt, ihr glamouroeser stil fasziniert die groe§ten designhaeuser, wie u.a. yves saint laurent oder gucci, die die letzte tournee mit eigens fuer florence kreierten buehnenkostuemen ausgestattet haben. florence ist in aller munde. deluxe edition erscheint als doppel cd. die 2. cd beinhaltet zusaetzlich acht bonus songs darunter brandneue aufnahmen, unveroeffentlichte demos und akustik-versionen von -heartlines-, -shake it out- und -breaking down-.

mindtrick records proudly presents the new album by hollands favourite hardcore artist charly linch. after two previous releases on the label he is now ready to drop his full length. on filthy pleasures charly linch combines the fierce sound of uk-hardcore with the harder elements of drum n bass and gives it his truly unique spin. he doesnt shy away from using old-school rave samples and ridiculously filtered gabba-kicks, without it becoming comical or cliched. on this album he found the perfect balance between creating an album that is banging on the dance floor, yet intriguing enough to be listened to in the comfort of your own home. this releases offers a wide range of genres for those seeking out where harder music is going, ..it could do with some more cowbell!

dub trio is back with their fourth and most powerful album to date Ð iv Ð an overwhelming blend of sounds, styles and ideas that come out swinging, and hit harder than ever. can metal coexist with dubs bass heavy riddims? dub trios newest album proves that not only can such incongruities coexist, but that in the right hands they flourish! with iv the band succeeds dramatically at emphasizing the theories, emotions, sounds, and concepts of their current musical exploration. iv finds the members playing multiple instruments, tweaking, turning & torturing knobs, cutting and chopping the audio itself, and shaping the compositions to create their own unique interpretation of dub as an art form.

5 cd set includes the albums, chic (1977), c est chic (1978), risque (1979), real people (1980) and take it off (1981).

a few days ago james blake premiered a new track, a collaboration with bon iver called >fall creek boys choir<, and now its been announced that the track will be included in an upcoming ep from blake called enough thunder.
we now also know that the ep is due out october 10 on atlas and will feature blakes cover of joni mitchells >a case of you<, as well as four other new tracks from the electronic singer-songwriter wunderkind.

2011 release. their first new album in more than three years, hysterical marks a major milestone in the continuing evolution of clap your hands say yeah. born out of an intensely collaborative process in which songs were constructed, dismantled, and then rebuilt anew, the album finds the band their most confident and creative, expertly expanding upon its already distinctive sound. from the chrome-plated licks of maniac and the title track to the sheets of eddying synths and emotive motorik pulsebeats of into your alien arms and ketamine and ecstasy, the band delivers up sonically provocative pop music that is simultaneously jubilant, mesmeric, and altogether infectious. hysterical reveals clap your hands say yeah to be a wholly developed band in full command of their unique artistic gifts. this long play version pressed on 180 gram vinyl also includes a download card.

walls alessio natalizia and sam willis dont deal in perfect wholes. the kompakt duo return swiftly on the back of 2010 s critically lauded self titled debut, an album that picked up mojos coveted electronic album of the year, featured in nmes end-of-year lists, not to mention winning fans such as of jamie xx, caribou, james holden and impressing us trio battles so much that they have invited the pair on tour around the us this coming october. yet it isnt these admittedly impressive accolades that make the announcement of second lp >coracle< such an anticipated one, what makes walls so alluring is the fully immersive experience of their mellifluous electronica Ð reaching out far and wide to pull influences sonic, emotional and theoretical together into patterns of blissful phantasmagoria. taking their debut as the prototype, willis and natalizia have taken those initial early-sunrise evocations and pushed them to even more grandiose expanse

azuli return for their flagship compilation with three of the biggest house stars around at the moment. olav basoski, james talk and ridney will take the helm of this years offering, serving up a tough, peak-time mix of house music.

ex-harry pussy guitarist bill orcutt s 2009 side a new way to pay old debts was an instant classic for those attuned to his brand of stomach-scrapingly raw, hoary blues improvisation. few could have expected the album to be subsequently issued on cd by editions mego, but the more you thought about it the more it made sense - though all-acoustic, orcutt s music is every bit as extreme, violent and threshold-testing as that of, say, florian hecker, russell haswell or mika vainio. as if to prove it wasn t a token gesture towards eclecticism, mego boss peter rehberg has signed a brand new album from orcutt, and what an album it is. for the most part it s in that visceral, coruscating style that he s best known for, all finger-bleeding fretboard assaults that manage to sound at once virtuoso and completely out-of-control, reaching a psychotic climax on the visible bosom: but there are some more reflective passages too, hell, the title track might even be the most chilled thing he s ever recorded. the album was cut at d+m in berlin, which really teases every last drop of blood, sweat and tears out of the recording, which took place at orcutt s home studio in san francisco in spring of 2011. brutal, bludgeoning but incurably romantic, how the thing sings demands your steadfast attention. mind-blowing.

in keb darges own words: i ve done many a compilation in my day, mostly based around the tunes i played at my long running deep funk nights in madame jo jos. that night is no longer on the go, possibly due to a growing lack of interest on my part, (sorry). in the last few years the lost & found: nights at the club have been my real passion, and indeed little ediths and andy smiths passion too. what a marvelous era this is for good music. we may still have pure stuff like dub step: pulling in large numbers of sheep, but an equal number of youngsters are being attracted to retro, or at least retro sounding music. people tell me it is because the youth are fed up with computerized music, or men with drug problems angrily shouting at them over a dull repetitive beat, but i know lots of teenagers who have bypassed this muck all together. must be the internet that is helping kill off the demand for empty music. you no longer need to go to a retro club night, or indeed search out rare records to be exposed to good music, the internet is full of the stuff. my fifteen year old daughter is a marc bolan fan who while researching the poor fellows influences discovered chuck berry, sun records, etc, etc. i dont really know or understand why so many are at last getting into the good stuff, but they are, and it is wonderful for the likes of me.

being a product of the age it was written, slow clubs 2009 debut, yeah so, dealt with the all too familiar space between adolescence and the oncoming storm of adulthood. a boy-girl duo who played a flower-adorned chair live, they were the polar opposite of what was coming out of post-arctic monkeys sheffield. slow club were fun, cute, whimsical and all manner of other words just shy of twee - and they hate being called twee. paradise, however, is where the duo grows up. two years on, it stumbles out of a trivial, self-indulgent teenage malaise (where sexual adventure was priority for most) and carries itself with a sense of perspective that only adulthood can give - a darker, more thoughtful view of the world. for instance, on the poignant you, earth or ash, a song about rebecca taylor s granddad, her melancholic vocals (beautiful, as always) evoke an awareness of mortality for those around her: singing -and i know, soon you ll go,- her voice seemingly breaks under the weight of premature grief. whereas even love-wise (an inspiration every band draws from) slow club s lyrical output is glossed with a more mature and detached sense of sauce, with taylor crooning on where i m waking: -i can see you looking at me / you got the brains i ve got the body-.

rounding out the 12-part madlib medicine show series, madlib flips the format with raw medicine: madlib remixes - part mixtape, part beat tape, featuring a host of un-suspecting collaborators that run the gamut from thugs, street poets, star emcees and underdogs. we ain t naming names. the show runs 60 minute with 30+ tracks.

with the white isle summer coming to an end hed kandis saxophonist and vocalist laura fowles a.k.a the lovely laura and producer extraordinaire tyrrell come together to bring you their debut artist album straight from the sunsets of ibiza, hed kandi: balearica unplugged. they go back to basics, bringing the hed kandi fans a taste of their balearic musical roots. they disconnected the decks, ditched the electronic beats and unplugged the sound system stripping things back creating a medley of deliciously unplugged covers of their favourite dance songs. tyrrell picked up the six string, laid down some sensual acoustic guitar riffs and atmospheric chords, whilst laura added a splash of soft, husky, phenomenal vocals and sexy sax melodies. this all combined with additional production by the legendary steve miller a.ka. afterlife, brings you a wide, laid back collection all reworked with hed kandis own balearic acoustic treatment... always keeping a sunny disposition in mind. this one cd includes their favourite renditions of songs made famous by the likes of groove armada, calvin harris, deadmau5 & kaskade, friendly fires, empire of the sun and martin solvieg to name but a few. this essential eclectic collage of music is destined for ibizas renowned sunset strip for years to come, where legendary balearic hang out hotspots such as cafŽ del mar, savannahs or blue marlin celebrate the setting of the most talked about sunset, and balearica unplugged offers the perfect musical companion.

der erfolgreiche dance & electronic dj und produzent dj antoine, welcher in seiner heimat, der schweiz, sehr bekannt ist und mit ueber 1.1 millionen verkauften tontraegern zu den schwergewichten der dance-szene zaehlt, veroeffentlicht am 12. august 2011 sein neues album. -welcome to dj antoine- lautet der titel des neuen albums von dj antoine und lehnt sich dabei sehr stark an den titel seines aktuellen hits -welcome to st. tropez- an.

2011 debut from penguin prison aka chris glover. this effort is quite simply the most smoothed-out, hook-heavy, unabashed lovers disco around. from the miraculous slices of shiny, infectious contemporary pop of multi-millionaire and -golden train-, to the single -fair warning-, shimmering with spectral synths and breathless, honey vocals, to the mellow and mysterious album closer -someone got everything-, penguin prisons debut effort rolls you through a sleek, melodic world where all you need to worry about is whether youve got your sunglasses on and the right moves to keep up.

mighty clouds is a brand new project that finds thomas re-teaming with betty marie barnes, a talented singer who provided vocals for slgtms every night and fill up the room.the result is a collaboration of the sort that can only occur when two musicians connect on a level that goes beyond the songs they are performing. throughout mighty clouds self-titled debut, thomas and barness musical camaraderie generates a gentle electricity that exudes intimacy and beckons the listener to move in for a closer listen.

the biggest belgian dj of all times presents his vision on retro-house music in a new edition of retro arena mastermix. yves deruyter mixes 23 of the biggest anthems of all time in one splendid mix!

even the biggest secrets will come out eventuallyÉ! and so we are very excited to announce the next in the series of dessous >best kept secrets< - volume 3 no less!cd1 - compiled by steve bug, cd2 - mixed by phonique..

soundway records are proud to present the afro-jazz soundtrack to ola baloguns legendary movie from 1978. the film was written and directed by balogun (recognised as one of nigerias most renowned directors) but shot and cast in brazil. the soundtrack was composed by one of nigerias most successful and original musicians remi kabaka (who has played with steve winwood and ginger baker amongst others). the record was originally issued in both nigeria and brazil, but recorded in lagos, using four of the nigerian music scenes most innovative players: remi kabaka himself, alongside biddy wright, saxophonist dele okonkwo and mono mono frontman joni haastrup. the result is a truly unique and experimental afro-jazz recording that has been out of print for many years, until now.

wieder einmal taucht die englische plattenschmiede soul jazz records tief ab in die archive von studio one records, dem wohl beruehmtesten reggae-label. -studio one dub 2- vereint einige der schoensten dub-versionen von songs wie marcia griffiths -feel like jumping-, sound dimensions -real rock- und -declaration of rights- von den abyssinians. in den spaeten 1960er-jahren begann studio-one-labelbetreiber sir clement coxsone dodd die b-seiten seiner singles mit einer instrumentalversion fuer djs zu versehen, damit diese ueber die original-rhythms toasten konnten. versehen mit echo, hall und verstaerktem bass wurden diese dubs bald genauso beliebt wie ihre originale. bald darauf begann dodd mit seinem soundmixer sylvan morris eigene dub-alben mit innovativen dubs und mischtechniken zu veroeffentlichen. auf -studio one dub 2- finden sich jetzt stuecke dieser alben sowie einige klassische versionen der urspruenglichen singles.

hexenhouse: the next generation, 15 brandhei§e tracks im mix!

the sound of garuda: chapter 2 is the brand new mix album from the uks no.1 dj: gareth emery. after the hugely successful first -sound of garuda- gareth emery returns with the second part to the garuda mix compilation story. the concept behind the compilation is to produce a mix from only new exclusive material from garuda, gareths own record label. the 12 tracks on the compilation is a cross selection of electronic styles ranging from uplifting slamming house music, engaging progressive and uplifting trance tracks with many of the tracks being made specifically for the album. it includes 2 brand new gareth emery tracks, which are collaborations with emerging artists. you dont want to miss out on this pearl from one of the grand masters of dance music!

august darnells swaggering alter ego kid creole dons his famed fedora and gets back in stride with his first high profile studio album in over 10 years: i wake up screaming. darnell first came to prominence during the mid-70s in new york, forming dr. buzzards original savannah band with his brother stony browder before producing a slew of eccentric projects for ze records including cristina, don armandos seventh avenue rumba band and gichy dan, as well as sporting his trademark zoot suit and fedora for the first time for the debut recordings by kid creole & the coconuts. signing on to chris blackwells island records and seymour steins sire imprint, darnell would become one of the 80s most unique and recognisable figures, scoring a brace of unforgettable chart hits mixing heavyweight tropical grooves with plenty of lyrical bite: -stool pigeon-, -annie, im not your daddy-, -im a wonderful thing baby- and more. with cover artwork echoing his love of 1940s film noir, this album explores the vibrant mind of darnell with a variety of themes and styles. recorded at darnells own studio in sweden and mixed by brennan green (chinatown recordings), i wake up screaming is an essential return from one of the truly unique characters in the world of music.

this new reference on dilek records is something very particular and out of the ordinary. it was achieved after a long period of work in the studio, which lasted three years and was done with a lot of heart and passion. its the 10th vinyl release of this surprising swiss/argentinean label who is now presenting an extremely multicultural project. this release will be available on vinyl as well as in digital format including bonus tracks and later on also in cd, with even more unedited material! listen to these tracks and have the opportunity to discover something totally different with some of jorge drexlers uncut material. this new album was supported by amazing artists as well as magazines and radios stations that you can check bellow.

wretch 32, real name jermaine scott, is one of the uks most loved mcs - from the underground up. from his early years in londons flourishing grime scene back in the early 00s, the tottenham-raised lyricist has always stood out from the crowd. his conscious and reflective bars, along with an extremely relaxed flow, made him a firm favourite on the uk hip hop circuit. much like tinie tempah, wretch 32 has proved that british mcs can reach the mainstream without selling their soul to pop. the first fruits of this crossover success were tasted in january 2011, when his single traktor broke into the domestic top five following an appearance on the bbc sound ofÉ list. and his second official single, unorthodox, fared even better, peaking at number two in april. so its clear that much has changed since his debut lp of 2008, wretchrospective - but has public recognition come at the expense of what marked wretch 32 out as such a talent in the first place? not at all - on the opening title-track, the rapper lets the listener know that its the same old wretch at work. over a drum-heavy hip hop beat he sets up the rest of the album well, advising everyone to fasten their seatbelts as he prepares to take them on a ride that they wont forget in a hurry. never be me finds wretch delving into his past, opening up about making certain decisions in life that got him to where he is today. featuring rnb newcomer angel on the hook, the track has an inspirational feel to it - all over another impressive, but this time more grime-influenced, beat. a true standout is anniversary, with alex mills on singing duties - its a love song, minus any cheese. then the album lurches into the electro-infused sanes the new mad - a glimpse into wretchs party lifestyle, with ladies and alcohol at the forefront of his attentions. and closer dont go just might be one of the tracks of the year.

after two re-releases of conrad schnitzler classics, (zug & ballet statique) now m=minimal releases a completely new work from the pioneer of electronic music. conrad schnitzler is a sound explorer. for many years, he has been on expeditions, journeys through his collection of electronic synthesizers almost every day. sounds he liked has been conserved on tape and stored in his sound library. the result is a huge library of audio files, he calls them >solen<. >borngrŠber & struever< have got the chance to examine that library and started to con-struct new pieces out of the hidden gems. these are not remixes but new compositions. none of the sound combinations were thought or heard before. the 8 tracks form an album independent of any trend and therefore it becomes a real acoustic environment for everyone. the album was produced at studio.wannsee. to give the album more authenticity, the complete audio processing was done using analog equipment. they not only used many classics among the finest synthesizers and outboard equipment, but also custom built tube gear. the icing on the cake are the tubes used from the 60s, which bought christian borngrŠber on a trip through the atacama desert in a small radio repair business in the city of calama. thanks to the desert climate even the packaging of the tubes looked as new

2011 collection released to coincide with the popular green man festival. selected and produced by rough trade shops, the cd exclusively features artists playing at green man 2011, and serves to distil the sonic ethos of the event. includes tracks from fleet foxes, the low anthem, josh t. pearson, iron and wine, gruff rhys, explosions in the sky, holy fuck, squarepusher and many others.

dj diamond is 24 year old karlis griffin from the west side of chicago. he has been producing music since the age of 13 and djing since 20, heading the -flight muzik- clique of footwork producers. you might recall his two tracks from our -bangs & works vol.1- footwork compilation of last year. in addition hes also released several mix cds in chicago, but this, his first international album showcases his unique style of footwork music. dj diamond is a unique producer with his own distinct style and an unusual ear for unexpected sonic and rhythmic combinations within the footwork template. often he thoroughly edits samples into tiny trance-inducing, techno-like stabs. combining this with a penchant for neon synths and loose, broken drums (that are often more effect-laden and freeform than those of of his peers) and you have a sound which has an intriguing, deeper, dreamlike feel. the breadth and quality of his production is clear when you listen to this album. take opener -rep yo clique-s woozy drawling synths and tribal tom patterns next to -speakerz n tonguez- with it-s snapping snares, minimal, repetitive voice samples and martial, detailed drum work. then a track like -torture rack- which is like grime in outer space: a minimal bassline and some samples from a computer game, while a bass kick stumbles at half time, swarms of percussive detail giving it drama. its a brilliant exercise in wonky tension. the extraordinary -decoded- comes across like a kind of amalgam of trance and prog rock bombast at 160bpm while -wreckageÕs- high pitch saw noise is like a strange metallic bird-call, over light cymbals, gabba-like kicks and metallic claps. -digimons- harmonic microedits could even be an snd track transported to chicago. finally the albums closer -i choose you- rolls out over a heavily edited and processed soul sample, its drums rolling off at odd angles to almost seasick effect.

fŸr viele popfans sind die stereo mcs die band aus den frŸhen 90er jahren, als ihre dritte lp >connected< zwei brit awards gewann und millionen exemplare verkaufte. wie ihr neues album >emperors nightingale< nahe legt, ist die wahre geschichte hinter dieser band etwas kompliziert und vor allem sehr faszinierend. ihr erstes frisches material seit connected veršffentlichte das duo erst 1999 auf einem dj-mix-album (>dj kicks< auf !k7). das follow-up folgte 2001 mit >deep down & dirty< - uk album charts top 20, und einige fans finden bis heute, es ist das beste werk des duos aller zeiten! 2005 kehrten sie zurŸck mit dem album >paradise< und schlossen gut drei jahre spŠter mit dem elektronischeren >double bubble< an. auf >emperors nightingale< bekommen wir nun zu hšren, was hallam und birch schon seit langem tun wollten: nŠmlich hip hops philosophie dazu zu nutzen, musik zu schaffen, die keinen regeln folgt au§er ihren eigenen. siehaben zum ersten mal Ÿberhaupt mit anderen kŸnstlern komponiert: bruce woolley (trevor horn - er war co-autor von video killed the radio star und slave to the rhythm), nathan drake und greg fleming (deekline and wizard, the london punks). statt grooves auf sample-loops und beats aufzubauen haben sie sich nun auf old-school jam sessions gestŸtzt - mit bass, gitarre, drums und vocals.

tom vek ist wieder da. nach sechs jahren pause meldet sich der londoner multiinstrumentalist mit einem neuen album zurueck.leisure seizure ist das zweite album nach dem debuetwerk we have sound aus dem jahr 2005 in der diskografie veks. nach dem release seines erstlingswerks machte sich vek sehr rar, er verabschiedete sich temporaer vom musikbusiness, um den kopf frei zu kriegen und um neues material fuer sein naechstes album zu sammeln. das ergebnis liegt nun mit leisure seizure vor. aufgenommen in den eigenen pallet studios in london kommt es sowohl reifer als auch bestaendiger daher und besticht dennoch mit aehnlich rohem sound wie das debuetalbum we have sound.

larry chubby reynolds as he was originally called cut some 45 s for the tri-spin label when first starting out in detroit during the 60s. he recorded with groups the relations and chocolate syrup before ultimately, in 1973, replacing william howard as lead singer of the dramatics. here he recorded and performed before his solo album deal with capitol records in 1981 which gave us the l.j. reynolds (which included key to the world ) then travelin in 1982. ahead of this fantasy album came lovin man for mercury in 1984, then ultimately tell me you will which features a special guest appearance by the o jays. rare on cd, this album has been much sought after by soul fans in recent years.

-all profits made from this various artists compilation cd will be donated to the relief and support efforts for the affected families in japan. with your help, we can reach out to the victims of the earthquakes and the tsunami in east japan and start to

driver drive faster are a new band from manchester, but you wouldnt necessarily tell. this masterful debut album presents a rich, timeworn sound that exists somewhere between americana and spectral indie rock. its crafted song-writing at its best, hinging on stirring chord sequences and moments of fragile beauty. -a review described us as misfits,- says singer/ guitarist dylan giles. -we took it as a compliment.- named open house and recorded in the shared digs in which the entire band reside, the album was a labour of love begun in late 2009, poured over in 2010 and set for release in 2011. the result is a lush, layered record that slowly draws you into its world. think mercury revs deserters songs for a new generation.