Visioneers - DEF RADIO

Marc Mac's Visioneers project returns after a long anticipated wait with a summary of everything we've loved about the project and more. The classic Hip Hop joints reimagined, BBOY bombs and the super-fly Jazz n’ funky lounge originals have all become Visioneers trademarks. The record has you sitting back chilling and head nodding for one song and wanting to jump up and bust a move on another. The addition of guest musicians from all parts of the globe brings another dimension to the grooves and compositions. A very dope welcomed return for the Visioneers.

Available in 2 x 12" 180g Heavy Weight Vinyl, CD (with bonus tracks) and Cassette tape. Global distribution through Kudos.

Tracklist:
1. Eyes Don't Lie
2. The Look of Love
3. Today
4. Raid
5. Layin' Low, Gettin' High
6. What It Mean
7. Hurt so Bad
8. Heather
9. Ital Jazz
10. Still Making Memories
11. Red Cactus (Album Version)
12. Cuban Candy Sticks

Thee Heart Tones - Forever & Ever (Instrumentals)

Big Crown Records is proud to present the instrumental version Forever & Ever, the debut album from Thee Heart Tones.

Hailing from Hawthorne, California, Thee Heart Tones are both carrying on a tradition and pushing the boundaries with their music. Lead singer Jazmine Alvarado is just 19 years old and the oldest member of the group, Jorge Rodriguez is 21, but one listen to their record and it becomes blatantly apparent they are a talent well beyond their years.

Thee Heart Tones are Jazmine on vocals, Ricky Cerezo on keys and organ, Jorge on drums, Jeffrey Romero on bass, Peter Chagolla on lead guitar, and Walter Morales on rhythm guitar. As the story goes, “one day I got a DM from Ricky Cerezo asking if I wanted to write a song for his new (then unnamed) band,” Jazmine says. “I knew his drummer and the other boys from middle school, so they were familiar faces. They sent me an mp3 of an instrumental they’d written and told me they wanted lyrics, so I wrote some and sent it to them.” That song ended up being “Don’t Take Me as a Fool,” a downbeat, minor key ballad on which Jazmine's sultry, pitch-perfect vocals soar, and which is now destined for their debut album. Ricky went home to play “Don’t Take Me As a Fool”, recorded as a voice note on his phone, to his dad. “I was hesitant. Dad knew this music better than anyone; he grew up with it. But he grabbed my phone and held it to his ear. His approval meant a lot to me. But he had the same reaction Jorge and I did when we first heard Jazmine sing. ‘This is going to be a hit,’ he told me. ‘You guys have something really special here’.” It was that same recording that caught the ears of Leon Michels and Danny Akalepse of Big Crown Records, who both heard the potential in the group immediately. After they signed to the label, Leon flew out to Los Angeles to record their debut album with Tommy Brenneck at Tommy’s Diamond West studio. They knocked out 14 songs in five days, capturing the charm of teenage soul and mixing it with their seasoned production prowess and the result is a modern classic Soul album.

Album opener and title track “Forever & Ever” is an infectious two-stepper that instantly lifts your mood while heavy duty B side ballads like “Should I Call You Tonight”, “Cry My Tears Away”, and “It’s Time” hold court with the genre’s classics. They pick up the pace and fill the dancefloor with “Need Something More” as Jazmine matter of factly sets the record straight on a Northern Soul styled track. They cover the Álvaro Carrillo penned classic “Sabor A Mi” to great effect, doing it justice and putting their version right up there with the best of them. Another standout is their version of The Vanguards classic “Somebody Please” which they change the tone of and take to a different level. The punching drums of “No Longer Mine” juxtapose Jazmine’s honeyed vocals and wind up with the gritty energy of a mid 90s hip hop sample.

Forever & Ever is both a testament to their unmistakable musical chemistry and talent. Their intentions as a band are testament to their collective character. Choosing to cover “Sabor A Mi” “allows us to let our audience know we go back to our roots,” Jazmine says. “Growing up in LA, you get influenced by the city, the artwork, the music,” Ricky says. “Dad didn’t own a lowrider car, but other members of our family did. Impalas. El Caminos. We were influenced by the culture, particularly Chicano culture. And oldies and soul music played a big part.” The style. The culture. The nod to the past. “That’s what we’re going for. We want to connect young Chicanos with their heritage. And we want to unite people — old and young.”

Tracklist:
1. Forever & Ever (Instrumental)
2. Don't Take Me As A Fool (Instrumental)
3. Somebody Please (Instrumental)
4. No Longer Mine (Instrumental)
5. Sabor A Mi (Instrumental)
6. Should I Call You Tonight (Instrumental)
7. Cry My Tears Away (Instrumental)
8. Need Something More (Instrumental)
9. When I Met You (Instrumental)
10. Highway Of Love (Instrumental)
11. Holding On (Instrumental)
12. It's Time (Instrumental)

Nightmares On Wax - Carboot Jazz

It is no exaggeration to say that Nightmares on Wax’s work is synonymous with a place in time. It is a place individual to those who have savoured his popular b...rand of sun-drenched dubbed out soul, where fragments of hazy memories, halcyon days and past snapshots encapsulate a generation’s sofa sojourning.

Tracklist:
1. Les Nuits (Carboot Jazz Edit)
2. Ease Jimi (Carboot Jazz Version)
3. Fire In The Middle (Carboot Jazz Version)
4. Les Nuits (Carboot Jazz Full Length)

VA - Tru Thoughts 2024

“I gotta large up Tru Thoughts as well because it’s so important for labels to really invest in new talent and to hold them up alongside some of their mainstays and some of their more heritage artists, but also to leave room to introduce us to other artists as well” JAMZ SUPERNOVA (BBC 6MUSIC)

“A brilliant record label from Brighton” GILLES PETERSON

“Big up the Tru Thoughts massive!” SIR SPYRO (BBC 1XTRA)

“Tru Thoughts, an incredible label” JULIE ADENUGA (BEATS 1)

“The brilliant Tru Thoughts label, one of our favourites” LAUREN LAVERNE (BBC 6MUSIC)

‘Tru Thoughts 2024’ is the latest instalment of our annual compilation series, featuring 22 tracks from the past year, carefully curated by label head, co-founder and DJ, Robert Luis. This eclectic collection - that coincides with our 25th Anniversary - highlights our diverse and international roster, showcasing genres that span neo-soul, jazz, and contemporary classical to grime, broken beat, and electronica.

"Curating these compilations provides an opportunity to pause, reflect, and revisit our recent releases. I’m proud that we continue to champion fresh talent like Tara Lily, Footshooter, Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra, and Catpack, who are just beginning their journeys with Tru Thoughts and receiving fantastic support. We’re also collaborating with artists who have previously released music elsewhere, helping them progress further, such as Sandunes, Bruk Rogers, and The Sindecut & Ijeoma, alongside longtime favourites like Alice Russell and Hot 8 Brass Band. While we release a wide range of genres, I feel there’s a common thread that ties it all together. In a time when we're constantly flooded with new music, this compilation is a reminder to take a moment to explore the incredible artists we work with—you’re bound to discover something new, or reconnect with a favourite track or artist." Robert Luis

Taken from her debut album ‘Speak In The Dark’ - praised by Dazed, Mixmag, The Face, and Wonderland - the compilation opens with Tara Lily’s haunting "6 Feet Down," featuring GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter Theo Croker, melding jazz, soul, and trip-hop. Continuing the label's tradition of supporting the flourishing UK jazz scene, Bryony Jarman-Pinto’s soulful track "Deep" emerges as a heartfelt nocturne. Catpack's dreamy funk jam "Midnight," sees Phil Beaudreau, Jacob Mann, and Amber Navran (of Grammy-nominated Moonchild) effortlessly work alternative R&B into their nocturnal jazz soundscape. Sly5thAve’s vibrant album title track “Liberation” embodies fearless musical creativity, seamlessly melding orchestral jazz with hip-hop, while Nikitch and Alexis Moutzouris deliver "Sans Titres" with its contemporary jazzy twist, weaving hypnotic clarinet riffs with deep, trap-inspired basslines. Jazz disruptors Ebi Soda team up with Turkish-Sri Lankan artist BODUR on "Kim K," a thoughtful commentary on fame, and Sefi Zisling's rendition of Mal Waldron’s "All Alone" blends psychedelic funk with spiritual jazz, honouring the influence of a musical giant.

This year two of our legacy acts made a notable comeback; Hot 8 Brass Band paid tribute to their late co-founder Bennie Pete with the release of "Big Tuba," their first new music since 2019, encapsulating the vibrant spirit of New Orleans' Second Line tradition. While the beloved British soul singer Alice Russell unveiled her new album 'I Am' - it has received widespread attention, including support from Clash, Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music), Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2), and named Jazz FM's Album of the Week.

Representing the dance side of the label are explorations in broken beat, UK bass, and house. Taking influence from underground sounds is Bruk Rogers, with his UK-bruk take on Latin breaks meets New York rap, with flows from JSWISS on "Feel Alright" featuring pianist Onj. XL Regular’s club-oriented rework of Kuna Maze’s "I Told U" featuring Steve Spacek made a splash with the new generation of broken beat listeners, and dubstep pioneer Zed Bias gave Sandunes' "Signs" featuring Ramya Pothuri the four-on-the-floor, UKG-treatment.

'Tru Thoughts 2024' also presents a trio of tracks that capture the label's house influences. London singer-songwriter Steven Bamidele delivered "Throw It All Away! (Jamie 3:26 & Danou P Remix)," a reimagining that blends deep house and disco, pushing his artistic boundaries into a new space. South London producer and DJ Footshooter made his label debut with "Here To Learn," featuring André Espeut’s timeless vocals, skillfully combining classic house sounds with his signature garage and broken beat influences. Following suit, "Bruk Renaissance" torchbearer WheelUP switches it up with Sio on the soulful-house track "Magnetic," which features deep basslines and sweeping synths that promote healing and self-love.

Our roster spans a myriad of genres, with a focus on our mantra that “good music is good music.” This year saw the hard-hitting EastEnders-themed grime release from COMPLEX UK’s artist to watch for 2024, Crafty 893, released just over a month apart from the classical "Artemis", taken from the debut Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra album 'Terra Coda' - a project that saw Benji Bower unite Bristol's most acclaimed musicians into a 60-piece ensemble.

In the spirit of keeping our ears to the ground, we re-released a fan-favourite from Sharky’s back catalogue, "Hawaii," and released new music from pioneering British Hip-Hop crew The Sindecut and New York-based Geordie singer-songwriter Ijeoma - their track "Cool Your Heart" from the 'Early' EP is included here. Among our recent new signees are SHYGUY, Home Frango, and Call Sender, who received a remix from the legendary American musician, producer, award-winning video game composer, and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lee.

Tracklist:
1. Tara Lily & Theo Croker – 6 Feet Down
2. Bryony Jarman-Pinto – Deep
3. Catpack – Midnight
4. Alice Russell – Gravity
5. Bruk Rogers – Feel Alright (feat. JSWISS & Onj)
6. Kuna Maze & Steve Spacek – I Told U (XL Regular Remix)
7. Sly5thAve – Liberation
8. Steven Bamidele – Throw It All Away! (Jamie 3:26 & Danou P Remix)
9. Footshooter & Andre Espeut – Here To Learn
10. WheelUP & Sio – Magnetic
11. Sandunes, Ramya Pothuri & Zed Bias – Signs (Zed Bias Remix)
12. Nikitch & Alexis Moutzouris – Sans Titres
13. Hot 8 Brass Band – Big Tuba (Radio Edit)
14. Ebi Soda – Kim K (feat. BODUR)
15. Crafty 893 – Nothing Left (Radio Edit)
16. Call Sender – Palm Forest (Shawn Lee Remix)
17. Home Frango – Come Again
18. The Sindecut & Ijeoma – Cool Your Head
19. Sefi Zisling – All Alone
20. SHYGUY – Here She Comes (Instrumental)
21. Sharky – Hawaii
22. Benji Bower & The Terra Collective Orchestra – Artemis

VA - Nigeria Special Volume 3: Electronic Innovation Meets Culture And Tradition 1978​-​93

Soundway Records presents a collection of Nigerian music chronicling a time when drum machines, synthesisers, imported pop, reggae, disco and soul collided with highlife, juju and cultural music.

The late 70s saw a period of political turbulence and prompted change across the country. Following suit, musicians and producers entered a period of experimentation, adaptation, modification and innovation, using new technology to renew and refresh cultural traditions. Nigerians formed their own unique approach to the limitless creativity these new instruments offered, to reveal a distinct sound which would dominate local airwaves for the decade to come. Nigeria Special Volume 3 celebrates the rich diversity of culture and musical styles of the nation, showcasing eighteen tracks across various genres which laid foundations for the innovation of Afrobeats artists of today.

Triple Vinyl gatefold LP compiled by Miles Cleret and Jeremy Spellacey, includes a large 8 page booklet with detailed liner notes, record scans and never-seen-before photos.

Tracklist:
1. Ozzobia - Ndi Oma
2. Sammy Obot - Edue Ukot Akpa Itong
3. Eppi Fanio - Farofa Dancer
4. Etiene T. Boy - Jealousy
5. Pal Sagie - Esan
6. Ayo Manuel - Do Good
7. Chimex G. Udensity And His Afrikan Band - Okpoko Na Azo Eze
8. I.S.C.A.C. Band - Igbo Nwe Egwu
9. Jeje - Jeje
10. Dizzy K - Omoge
11. Blackman Akeeb Kareem - Oya A (Eje Kajo)
12. Mannix Okonkwo - Ka Anyi Gbaa Egwu
13. Jimi Solanke - Owo Orisa - Ancestral Respects
14. Feladey - Experience
15. Soki Ohale - Wumaya Awuma
16. Jap Band & Feladey - Japadodo
17. Sonny Okosun - Highlife
18. B.G.;Fibre - (G#) Thanks and Praises
19. Wura Fadaka Band - Eyo

Peshay - Re·View (Edit)

Peshay – Re·View Part One – a brand new 14-track collection USB album for 2024!
*Exclusive USB Edition Available only at Peshay.com*

Tracklist:
1. Supernova (Edit)
2. Breakin (Edit)
3. Sugarhill (Edit)
4. Stealth (Edit)
5. Hitchhiker (Edit)
6. Elysian (Edit) (feat. Steppa)
7. Jazz Club (Edit)
8. Let It Go (Edit) (feat. VSY)
9. Good Vibrations (Edit) (feat. Abbie Adi)
10. I Got The Feeling (Edit) (feat. Krazeman)
11. Superfly (Edit)
12. Red Sun (Edit) (feat. Steppa)
13. Funk You Up (Edit)
14. Universalis (Edit) (feat. VSY)

Bibio - PHANTOM BRICKWORKS (LP II)

Originally released in 2017, PHANTOM BRICKWORKS is an ongoing ambient/drone project by Stephen James Wilkinson a.k.a. Bibio. The work explores the human echoes still present in various sites around Britain. Wilkinson has visited these locations, observed their gradual decline, and responded with improvised and composed music. New in 2024, a sequel titled PHANTOM BRICKWORKS (LP II) is a 10-track LP, mastered by Guy Davie and vinyl cut by Hendrik Pauler. The new record draws attention to new sites - some are intriguing, vast scars on the natural landscape, others survive only in local memories, historic clips and photographs. A few remain submerged from ordinary sights, while some exist purely as legends and stories.

Tracklist:
1. DINORWIC
2. DOROTHEA’S BED
3. PHANTOM BRICKWORKS VI
4. SURAM
5. LLYN PERIS
6. PHANTOM BRICKWORKS VII
7. TEGID’S COURT
8. BROGRAVE
9. SPIDER BRIDGE
10. SYCHDER MCMLXXXIX

Work Money Death - People of the Fast Flowing River

ATA Records are proud to announce the new album People of the Fast Flowing River from Work Money Death, following previous album successes Work Money Death "This album can only be a future classic" – Jazzman Gerald, and Thought Action Interaction Reaction "Sounds sublime" – Gilles Peterson. 2024 began with a European outing for Work Money Death to the Brussels Jazz Festival, and the group returned to Leeds inspired, with new tracks ready to put down.

Pianist Richard Ormrod, bassist Neil Innes, and drummer Sam Hobbs provide a trio backing for tenor saxophonist Tony Burkill on this heartfelt and charged excursion into the further realms of spiritual jazz: the four extended-play tracks range in influence from India to Central Africa to the Baptist church, and from the meditative blues sound of Alice Coltrane [The River Becomes The Stream] to the soulful swagger of Galt MacDermot [We Are The People].

Throughout, the quartet is supported by the horns of Ormrod, Johnny Enright (tbn, tuba), and Olivia Cuthill & Tom Sharp (tpts), the percussion of Danny Templeman.

Whether it's the harmonium on Headwaters Of The Soul, the congas and driving shekere on The Fast Flowing River, the trilling flute behind the sax on We Are The People & The River Becomes The Stream, or Burkill's impassioned and perfectly-paced tenor explorations throughout the whole, this album is full of nuanced details that speak of a love of the genre, and a deep commitment to the Work Money Death philosophy of making high-quality improvised recordings that tap into the roots of spiritual jazz.

"Created in the spirit of Impulse! and Strata-East's late 60s/early 70s output, these Leeds-based torch-bearers for spiritual jazz waste no time hitting their groove on album three. Masters of hypnotic slow builds, On The Fast Flowing River's galvanising pulse and We Are The People's jaunty piano refrain give tenor saxophonist Tony Burkill ample space to reprove his way with a lingering hook." - Andy Cowan (MOJO)

Tracklist:
1. The Fast Flowing River
2. Headwaters of the Soul
3. We Are the People
4. The River Becomes the Stream

Djrum - Meaning's Edge

Djrum's first release since 2019, the Meaning’s Edge EP is an introduction to a whole new world. For the artist also known as Felix Manuel, it was created in the final stretches of six rather traumatic years work. Having carefully honed his techniques and aesthetics, and learned some hard-won emotional lessons over this time, finally he began to work in a quicker, lighter fashion – and to cleanse his palate a little by bringing in a fresh ingredient: his own flute playing. For listeners, though, it will serve as an appetiser, a way into the delights and complexities of this new phase of his creativity.

It’s a serious work in its own right, mind. The use of flutes – including Bansuri, Shakuhatchi, Western Classical, and synthesised all blending and blurring into one another – gives it a coherence and a sense of airiness that unites the five tracks over half an hour, however divergent their beats get. And as in all his music, Felix’s whole life is in here. Ethnomusicology studies, untold hours of DJing everywhere from the gnarliest squat raves to the most rarefied deep house clubs, explorations of his own neurological and emotional makeup, and the technical finesse of someone who is never not creating music or art, all roll into an experience that’s dazzling, delightful and keeps on giving.

Just the opening track ‘Codex’ alone touches on OG dubstep, Aphex Twin-like braindance, post-classical exploration, movie themes and more. The gentle tones and melodies that rise up out of it perfectly conjure Felix’s running theme of a protective bubble that provides a sense of safety and tranquillity even as the beats and acid gurgles and spurts all around it conjure up the slings and arrows of life’s difficulties.

The tone set, the EP moves through ultra-rarefied glass-like percussion in an almost ambient setting, hints of grime’s counterintuitive patterns, and even more hectic patterns influenced by Tanzania’s hyperspeed singeli style of dance music – but always with that perfect balance of chaos and control, unpredictability and protection. It rewards playing and replaying endlessly, it’s a profound and often joyous experience… and it’s only just the beginning. This is the return of a master craftsperson more focused than ever on his vision and vocation and ready to blow your mind all over again. 

Tracklist:
1. Codex
2. Codex, Pt. 2
3. Crawl
4. Frekm, Pt. 1
5. Frekm, Pt. 2

André 3000 - Moving Day

"André 3000 is a kind, gentle, creative soul, that’s been marred by our collective capitalist greed. Let this man play his bass clarinet across America in peace" - Rolling Stone

Tracklist:
1. Moving Day
2. Day Moving
3. Tunnels of Egypt (Previously Unreleased New Blue Sun Track)

Damu the Fudgemunk - Peace of Action

Peace of Action is the latest release from artist Earl “Damu the Fudgemunk” Davis, and also, the newest installment of Def Pressé’s series of projects made in partnership with KPM (and associated music libraries).

With several titles in the series with notable names like Blockhead and Stro Elliot since its inception in 2021, Def Pressé Editions x KPM returned the artist that launched the line: Washington D.C.’s Damu the Fudgemunk marked the beginning of the Def Pressé Editions x KPM Crate Diggers legacy with his critically acclaimed (as featured on NPR) Conversation Peace in late summer of 2021. Three years later all original parties have teamed up to present album 2, Peace of Action.

“It’s a pleasure to present Peace of Action. So much excitement went into the initial venture to collaborate with KPM and become part of their history. When I listen to the final album, I hear all the excitement and passion I had for the music. Discovering things in their archive helped me discover and rediscover things about myself that I usually restrict in previous work. It was fun to break some rules and still maintain some limitations especially after 20 plus years of creating music. Being very pleased with the artistic and commercial success of my first Def Pressé x KPM album in 2021, I’m proud to expand the storyline with this particular energy and themes in 2024.” Earl Davis (Damu the Fudgemunk)

Damu alluded to a part 2 in the liner notes of Conversation Peace and has kept his word. Like it’s predecessor, Peace of Action features nine all new tracks, however this album contains no guests or vocals and is fully instrumental. With dozens of titles under his belt over the past two decades highlighting his musicality and a reputation built on beats, it may be of a surprise to many that this will be the Fudgemunk’s first official instrumental project in over seven years. Yes, seven years is quite some time, but don’t confuse the decision to prioritize making music with vocals to any inactivity on his part.

Check the catalog and you’ll see productions for MC’s like Raw Poetic and Blu account for lost time. During the particular hiatus from making solely Hip Hop records in the conventional form, Damu has composed, produced and performed on some really exciting Jazz projects. His work with Archie Shepp has met with great success and the album they made together, Ocean Bridges is often talked about years after release and heralded by people like Gilles Peterson.

With Peace of Action there was a ton of room for new ideas and fresh experimentation which can be heard all over this Damu LP. The signature is present where longtime listeners will easily pick out the fingerprints of his work. On the other hand, the creative process that included traveling to London and digging through KPM’s archive in real time spawned the freedom to break away from what many may define as a “calling card” and musically show a different dimension in an alternate universe. Artists at their core historically have created their best work under adventurous circumstances and that will be very evident in the listening experience of Damu the Fudgemunk’s “Peace of Action”.

Expect the unexpected. The vast diversity of KPM’s library provided limitless range for the ears and mind of a seasoned veteran like Damu who considers storytelling a vital component of art. On part one, Conversation Peace, it was a short film centered around engaging dialogue with a supporting score, and now part two, Peace of Action, is a silent film built around movements of the music where the director took great excitement in revealing a different side of the main character. Each song represents a scene that paints a unique world of its own. Even though the artist prefers to have the audience listen in full, a conscious decision was made to arrange music that didn’t have to rely on its counterparts to gain context. In a market driven by singles and singular impressions, any entry point into this body of work provides access for immersion.

Peace of Action makes a real statement from Damu. This is a Jazz record, made with Hip Hop production techniques. The source material is a love of the records that came before it. Literally, digging into the Jazz catalogue at KPM, taking inspiration from the material, absorbing the imagination and talent of previous composers, and re-imaging it through a multifaceted lens.

“It certainly reflects the accelerated changes we’ve all experienced since we entered the 2020’s. I hope the music is able to take people’s imagination to different places. I won’t give away too much detail into my personal messaging in each track because I prefer to leave that to the audience. But, I will say that there’s a common theme of transformation throughout. I’m sure there are a few people out there that’ll pick up on exactly where I’m going. And that’s the beauty of being able to share art with the world.” Earl Davis (Damu the Fudgemunk)

Tracklist:
1. Matriarch
2. Sparks
3. Stone Carving
4. Le Grand
5. Between Black & Green
6. The Education
7. Dot Matrix
8. Heir Born
9. Isaac's Divine Image of Joy

Nicola Conte - Love & Revolution

The acclaimed 2011 Nicola Conte album, originally released on Impulse Records only on CD, is finally reissued for the first time on vinyl, in a 2-LP set with gatefold sleeve and a different artwork!

“Love & Revolution” is a massive work of art that took more than a year to be completed, between 2010 and 2011, when Nicola helmed a vessel full of guests, both Italian and international, a rich collective invited by the Apulian artist to enter his long-time friend Tommy Cavalieri’s studios and participate in a diverse and modern jazz album.

Alongside Nicola’s usual recording bandmates, a wide series of talented singers graces the perfectly crafted soulful notes of this record, starting with Gregory Porter, now a world famous jazz vocalist but still a young rising star back in 2011, when his first album was released; he is here joined on vocal duties by José James, Melanie Charles, Bridgette Amofah, Alice Ricciardi, Veronika Harcsa, Nailah Porter and Ghalia Benali. All the album tracks also enjoy Magnus Lindgren’s excellent arrangements.

In other words, “Love & Revolution” finally shines again thanks to this brand new vinyl edition. Not to be missed!

Traclist:
1. Do You Feel Like I Feel (feat. Gregory Porter)
2. Love & Revolution (feat. Melanie Charles)
3. Here (feat. Jose James)
4. I'm The Air (feat. Veronica Harcsa)
5. Scarbourough Fair (feat. Alice Ricciardi)
6. Shiva (feat. Melanie Charles)
7. Quiet Dawn (feat. Melanie Charles)
8. Ra In Egypt (feat. Ghalia Banali)
9. Freedom Day (feat. Nailah Porter)
10. Ghana (feat. Gregory Porter)
11. Temple Of Far East (feat. Jose James)
12. All Praises To Allah (feat. Nailah Porter)
13. The Happiness Tree (feat. Veronika Harcsa)
14. Love From The Sun (feat. Jose James)
15. Black Spirits (feat. Nailah Porter)
16. The Black Apostles
17. Forest Flower

The Offline - Les cigales

Prolific Hamburg-based composer The Offline returns, inviting listeners to join the cast of his ever-growing Mediterranean Cinematic Universe with new single ‘Fumée’ - the single is the first taster of his forthcoming ‘Les Cigales’ EP, which builds upon the library-nodding, instrumental hip-hop blend explored on his acclaimed 2023 debut ‘La couleur de la mer’.

‘Fumée’ introduces part one of the narrative of ‘Les Cigales’, an EP that reflects upon life on the Mediterranean during the summer months. Balanced around alternating light and dark sections, and a captivating Rhodes theme that sits in a different time signature to the rolling drum groove, this purposeful instrumental begins to tell the story of two people on the search for each other, situating the listener on the streets of Marseilles. Felix shares:

"As some may know, Hamburg is not known for the best weather, especially the winters, with little daylight, cold winds and rain lashing down on your face. Maybe that's why this longing for light, warmth and the sea is always a big part of my music - by composing the songs, I can be in these places."

‘Les Cigales’ takes its’ sonic cues from the structure of film and TV music from the 1960s and 70s, channelling the influence of film composers such as Francois de Roubaix and David Axelrod, whilst also sitting somewhere between the washed-out, sun-soaked sonics of Surprise Chef and Robohands. As the EP unwinds, its narrative reflects a love story, full of longing, melancholy and drama, connecting with the story of Gyptis and Protis – the founding myth of Marseilles – whose love broke convention and welcomed the arrival of foreign people on French soil.

The project follows The Offline’s debut album ‘La couleur de la mer’, released in November 2023, which saw him create his own soundtrack to a film yet to be made. Inducing images of manorial, fog- swept villas at the seas edge, silhouetted sailing boats and cigar-chomping villains attempting to thwart the mission of an imaginary hero, the record is a masterfully composed sonic journey. ‘Les Cigales’ sees him continue to build upon a distinctive sound that moves from dramatic cues to fragile romanticism, incorporating psychedelic spaciness, retro soul and hip-hop sensibilities informed by his extensive record collection.

The Offline came to life when composer and photographer Felix Müller travelled the Atlantic coastline in the south of France with his analogue camera, capturing beach life on film. After returning to his native Hamburg, he started writing songs as the sonic counterpart to the analogue visuals. Debut EP ‘En Clair-Obscur’ captured the essence of his journey, and the feeling of a cool summer soundtrack. His music has seen support from Huey Morgan and Deb Grant (BBCR6), plus Somewhere Soul, Rinse FM, Radio FIP, Jazz FM and more, amassing millions of streams and selling hundreds of records. 

Tracklist:
1. Générique
2. Les amis
3. Un long été chaud
4. Parmi les pins
5. Fumée
6. Les cigales
7. Le long de la rive
8. Chambre d´amour

Fred P - Above The City

Tracklist:
1. Modern Metaphors
2. Another World
3. Visions Of Wonders
4. More To Be Done
5. A Place For Us
6. Repetitive Lush
7. Love Trust
8. Journey On
9. Brother's Searching
10. Make It Last Forever

VA - Super Disco Pirata: De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965​-​1980 (Analog Africa No​.​39)

I am facing a dilemma: how does the founder of an independent music label justify creating a project highlighting, even praising piracy, the very plague that has brought many labels to the brink of bankruptcy?

I first became aware of “pirata” LPs in 2020 while hunting for records in Mexico City: their weird-looking DIY covers – and the edited, tweaked, EQ-manipulated and pitched-down music they contained – got me hooked. There was no denying it: the more I became immersed in the world of these illicit productions the more I became intrigued; and before long it became crystal clear that I would one day release my own compilation compiled out of pirated compilations. But beyond my own fascination with that parallel world, it was undeniable that the “pirata” movement had played a significant role in shaping the musical scene of Mexico. So how did it all start?

During the 1980s, a group of music dealers and record collectors from Mexico City joined forces to create a series of illegally manufactured vinyl records containing rare and highly-sought hits from Perú, Ecuador, Colombia and beyond. At the time, Mexico City’s dance-party scene was ruled by the sonideros, a highly developed network of mobile soundsystem operators. The popularity of the sonideros led to a growing demand for tropical music, as their fan base became increasingly hungry for the “exclusive” hits associated with particular sonidos. Additionally record dealers were getting frustrated with the music industry constantly “feeding” them streams of mediocre records and from this frustration came the idea of compiling and manufacturing LPs on which every song was a hit: “no matter where the needle dropped, it had to be a song capable of igniting the party.” 

These bootleg compilations – known as “pirata” – were pressed during graveyard shift on recycled vinyl in editions of no more than 500; they were cheaply produced and sold just as cheaply to people who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford them. They were played extensively in every corner of Mexico’s heavily-populated barrios where, in addition to educating the ears of the youngsters, they also promoted some of the best tropical music recorded in Latin America.

According to various first-hand accounts these “piratas” began to appear mysteriously in the early 1980s at various market stalls in Tepito, Mexico City’s infamous barrio, a place where one can attend daytime Salsa parties, get any drug imaginable, buy any kind of weapon and, of course, purchase pirated music in all formats. It seems that the manufacturers of pirata LPs worked on the principle that “what happens in Tepito stays in Tepito” and getting information about their bootlegging operations was difficult, not to mention dangerous. My partner in crime – Carlos “Tropicaza” Icaza, who had agreed to write the notes to this project – was quick to point out that: “We won’t be able to disclose any names. We’ll have to be careful how we tell the story!”

At first the pirata LPs came in a simple generic covers, had made-up company names such as Discos Music-Hall, Carioca, Garden, or Miami, and contained popular street-dance songs in nearly every tropical genre. As these unlikely compilations became successful and new ones started being produced at a rate of one per month, the pirates began designing and printing interesting looking covers which often featured the logos of some of the most popular sonidos such as Rolas, Pancho, La Changa, Arco-Iris, Casablanca. The pioneer of this design style was Jaime Ruelas, who had started out as a DJ for the legendary mobile discoteque Polymarchs before using his illustration skills to design their flyers, posters and logos. Taking direct inspiration from science fiction movies and heavy metal covers, the graphics he created became a key element of sonidero culture.

The anonymous manufacturers may not have realised it at the time but, in daring to create pirata LPs, they were helping to consolidate and expand a love for tropical music and dance among the population of Mexico City and beyond. The records themselves are a key element of the sonidero culture that was recently declared as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mexico City for the impact that it has had on multiple generations who identified with the communal experience of the street party, and for whom music and dance became an essential part of daily life.

This double-LP contains 23 tropical floor-fillers sourced from the finest and strangest pirata LPs produced during the golden age of Mexico City’s mobile soundsystems. It also includes a large booklet containing extensive notes and photos and It is dedicated to all the sonideros for their ground-breaking roles as ambassadors of tropical music within mexican society. 

Tracklist:
1. Lucho Burbano - Afro Oriental
2. Cumbia Machuca - Cumbia De Los Bee Gees
3. Lucho Gavilanes - El Tequilazo/Canelazo
4. Carlos Haayen Y Su Piano Candeloso - Palenque
5. Enrique Lynch - La Quinta Sinfonia de Beethoven
6. Los Pakines - Venus
7. La Protesta de Colombia - Lamento de Cumbia
8. Sonora Tropical - Ritmo de Cumbia
9. Eduardo Zurita - La 3A De Los Toquecitos
10. Leon Cardona y Los Internacionales - La Noche
11. El Combo Cienaguero - El Compae Nuñez
12. Gabriel Meza Y Su Organo Chévere - La Luna Y El Pescador
13. Los Destellos - Tanto Tienes, Tanto Vales
14. Los Diablos Rojos - A Bailar El Son Satanico
15. Anibal Angel - Cumbia Tropical
16. Camaco y Cano - Hagan Rueda
17. Orquesta "Rafalo" - Eso Es Con Vela
18. Alex Acosta Y Su Orquesta - Cumbia Del Amor
19. Ramon Ropain - Malinga
20. Afrosound - Platico Chino
21. Los Destellos - La China María
22. Los Orientales de Paramonga - Te Gusta Como Azucar
23. Francisco Zapata - Cumbia Candelosa

Fat Freddy's Drop - SLO MO

Fat Freddy’s Drop hit the ground running with new studio album Slo Mo, a bass-heavy blast of redemption and resolution. Described by Fitchie as 'afro rhythmic soul music, an exploration of Black music from Polynesia’, this heady mix creates the undefinable Freddy’s sound. Renowned worldwide for euphoric live shows, the Aotearoa band stepped inside their BAYS studio in Wellington, sunup to sundown, to craft a sixth studio album. Slo Mo is the strongest studio representation yet of a Freddy’s live show’, says Chopper Reeds. 'Usually we take the stage to the studio and this time, we're excited about taking our studio creation on to the stage.'

Emerging with nine tunes, Slo Mo will drop first on double vinyl, opening the door for the full length album to be experienced as a body of work curated as Freddys intended. Chopper Reeds continues, 'Towards the latter part of the record, Joe Dukie’s vocal presence becomes quite spectral allowing listeners to inject themselves into the music. The evocative cover art is by Dan Tippett, Aotearoa New Zealand Artist, who describes the image as ‘an ancient ngahere forest in a Jurassic Aotearoa dreamtime.’

Tracklist:
1. Avengers
2. SLO MO
3. Next Stop
4. Stand Straight
5. Oldemos
6. Out To Sea
7. Roland
8. Getting Late
9. I Don't Want To See You

Lack of Afro - From The Volt, One

Released at the start of November, From The Volt, One features 11 tracks that have slipped through the net over the last 18 years of Lack of Afro’s (AKA Adam Gibbons) illustrious musical career.

“In 18 years of releasing music and being an artist, I realised that there were a fair few tracks that had kind of slipped through the net. I guess this is inevitable given how many albums and projects I've been a part of over the years. Either the tracks in question haven't been released, or they didn't get the proper release that they deserved at the time.”

One of those tracks is ‘Summer Nights’, a blissed-out instrumental with trademark, cinematic swirls and tight grooves that wouldn’t sound out of place on a beach in Ibiza with the sun setting overhead. Originally written around the time of his critically acclaimed debut album ‘Press On’ in 2007, the track came about shortly after Lack of Afro (aka Adam Gibbons) had burst onto the scene with the ferocious cut & paste funk of ‘Wait A Minute’, his debut single that was one of the hottest 12” singles on the UK funk scene at the time.

Since then, he has gone onto release eight albums as Lack of Afro, expanding on his early influences to incorporate jazz, hip hop, rock, disco and beyond, as well collaborating with musicians like Joss Stone, Wax & Herbal T, Mica Miller, DJ Yoda, Too Many T’s and many more.

A repeat collaborator Elliott Cole appears on this collection on the track ‘Lost in a Friend’s Eye’. Originally released in 2015, the track went on to feature in the BBC Drama Doctor Foster, but has been unavailable online since then.

“With a beautiful, almost wistful vocal by Elliott Cole (aka Leigh Coleman), it also features what I believe is one of George Cooper’s best Hammond solos on a Lack of Afro track. The fact that the Hammond L100 in question blew up shortly after this track was recorded is probably just as well as I don’t think it could’ve been bettered!”

Another previously unreleased track on this collection is Lack of Afro’s gorgeous, instrumental take on The Kinks’ classic, ‘Waterloo Sunset’. A rare cover by Lack of Afro, the track was recorded in 2015 for an exhibition for the artist Alex Echo.

“The Kinks are one of my favourite ever bands, with Ray Davies right up there in my top 10 songwriters of all time. So many classic songs came from him, and none more so than this. Instantly recognisable, it was a real challenge to come up with something listenable that did justice to the genius of the original.”

Last year saw Lack of Afro return triumphantly with his eighth album ‘Square One’, with the lead single, ‘Loving Arms’, finding it’s place on the BBC Radio 6 Music playlist. Off the back of that success, Lack of Afro is set to return to the stage, with his first UK tour in five years kicking off this November. 

Tracklist:
1. The Outsider, Pt. 2
2. Lost in a Friend's Eye
3. Summer Nights
4. The Love You Gave
5. Waterloo Sunset
6. On My Way
7. Fugazi
8. Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances
9. Broken Samba
10. Dance of the Scorpions
11. Passive Aggressive

Fulton Street - Hard Truths

In a lot of ways, ‘Hard Truths’ was the album that almost never was. Production started at the beginning of 2020 but before it could gain momentum, Melbourne was thrown into one of the world’s longest lockdowns, leaving the band to adapt and record horns and strings remotely in Tasmania. Post lockdowns, with the local music scene in ruins, the band slowly rebuilt and finally felt ready to revisit the record.

The turmoil of the world seemed to reflect the inner turmoil of songwriter and front woman Shannen Wick who used the record as a way to process “heartbreak and the declining state of the world” and take a wholly “unfiltered approach” to songwriting – an approach evident from the first note of this dynamic and spectacularly honest album.

Listening to ‘Hard Truths’ Fulton Street fans can expect to find grooving bass and guitar riffs, warm melodic organ, bright horn arrangements, soaring strings and – of course – powerhouse vocal performances.

The tone of the record is immediately set with the opening track ‘A Woman Scorned’, an instrumental that encapsulates the scoring of iconic Blaxploitation films. From there ‘Hard Truths’ explores the often misunderstood lens of female rage, with its premier single ‘Disappointment’ where Wick growls, “If I wanted a disappointment, I would’ve stayed with my last man.”

‘Hard Truths’ isn’t one note, however, with songs like ‘Weight of the World’ and ‘Mama’s Eyes’ that embody Fulton Street’s signature storytelling, as the record explores themes of family, migration and finding home. The album manages to be both musically playful and achingly real. 

Tracklist:
1. A Woman Scorned
2. Disappointment
3. Another Girl's Man
4. Sister Strut
5. Kill 'em with Kindness
6. Weight of the World
7. Square Eyes
8. Heartbreaker
9. Money
10. Doubts
11. Mama's Eyes

Future Bubblers - Future Bubblers 8.0

Brownswood Recordings announces “Future Bubblers 8.0”, the eighth edition of their annual compilation, released 15th November.

A part of Gilles Peterson’s expanded network, Future Bubblers is backed by Arts Council England, which continues to focus on uncovering unsigned talent and growing the audience for innovative, experimental music. The professional recordings, manufacturing and physical release of “Future Bubblers 8.0” is made possible with additional support from PRS Foundation, as Talent Development Partners. Unlike other music initiatives, this compilation acts as a launchpad for emerging artists, utilizing a cooperative model that shares revenue directly with the artist, helping them generate a sustainable income. Previous Future Bubblers artists include Yazmin Lacey KinKai, Lynda Dawn, MC Snowy, Forest Law, Victoria Jane, NeOne The Wonderer and Kayla Painter, , and more.

Across six tracks, "Future Bubblers 8.0" eclectically fuses the worlds of R&B, soul, funk, rap, and electronic music in their many forms. The lead single, "Damn," comes from Leicester-based psychedelic Space-Soul band Shadeemus, released 15th October. Bristolian vocalist and producer t l k creates ethereal soundscapes on her track “Legs” , while O.K Asanda, who made Manchester his home, has crafted a unique Alt R&B and soul sound. Songstress JOIISOL blends R&B, Neo-Soul, and Electronic-Jazz with vintage samples.

Tracklist:
1. Good Intentions - Joiisol
2. Damn - Shadeemus
3. Easy Loving - O.K Asanda
4. Legs - T L K
5. Like Glue - Shadeemus, Joiisol, O.K Asanda, Clodagh
6. Primrose Hill - Joiisol, Shadeemus, O.K Asanda

Greg Foat - The Rituals of Infinity

London-based keyboardist and composer Greg Foat is back with his new album, 'The Rituals of Infinity'. Greg's first memory with the piano goes all the way back to his Aunt's house at aged 3 - where he fell off the piano stool. Since then, his relationship with the piano has evolved into a fulfilling, and successful career. He began taking an interest in composing at the age of 11, and truly ignited his love for Jazz after attending a workshop with Jeff Clyne, Olaf Vas, Trevor Tomkins and Nick Weldon at the age of 15. He then studied jazz at Middlesex University, followed by 6 months in Sweden on an Erasmus grant which lead to his first professional studio session there at 21. Greg has worked as a professional musician ever since, and has moulded a wonderfully multifaceted career within the Jazz music genre. Greg is planning a debut performance of 'The Rituals of Infinity' at Worthy Earth Festival in late September, in Hampshire.

'The Rituals of Infinity' album is inspired by many things. Some titles are named after iconic science fiction books such as The Rituals Of Infinity, A Private Cosmos, The Dark Labyrinth and The World of the Red Sun. Minerva's Owl, on the other hand, is about the Ancient Greek Legend. "The owl of Minerva takes flight only at dusk." so wrote G. W. F. Hegel, the nineteenth century's major philosopher of history. By that, he meant that any given phase of history can be understood only in retrospect — after it's over. A beautifully fitting closing of the album. The album features the legendary Art Themen on Soprano and Tenor Saxophones, and Trevor Walker on Trumpet and Flugel Horn in a fine supportive role harmonising with Katherine Farnden on Cor Anglais. Natcyet Wakili has such a fluid approach to the drums which really makes the album special, alongside Jasper Osbourne on Bass Guitar. Shawn Lee also stopped by the studio with his horror movie classic waterphone - adding some eery atmospheric finishing touches to the album. 

Tracklist:
1. The Ticking Clock
2. A Private Cosmos
3. Sun Hat
4. The World of the Red Sun
5. The Rituals of Infinity
6. The Dark Labyrinth
7. Minerva's Owl

Mulatu Astatke - Tension

Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke joins the Hoodna Orchestra, Tel Aviv’s number one Afro funk collective, melding his enchanting vibraphone playing with their brass heavy force across seven original compositions that play tribute to the classic Mulatu sound while forging fresh paths. Produced by and featuring Dap-King Neal Sugarman, the results are gritty, yet majestic, soulful and uplifting.

Mulatu Astatke requires little introduction at this point. Born in Jimma, Ethiopia, Mulatu went on to live and study in London, Boston and New York. Initially drawn to and trained in jazz and Latin music, he developed the sound he called “Ethio-jazz” over a series of seminal albums combining jazz, Latin, funk and soul, with traditional Ethiopian scales and rhythms.

Long a cornerstone of the Ethiopian recording industry, his albums and even guest appearances were long sought after by record collectors and music enthusiasts around the globe. However the release of an acclaimed ‘Éthiopiques’ compilation dedicated to his instrumental recordings in 1998, followed by the 2005 release of Jim Jarmush’s acclaimed ‘Broken Flowers’ film, which heavily featured Astatke’s irresistible music, introduced him to a much wider international audience. Mulatu would go on to be sampled by the likes of Nas, Kanye West, Cut Chemist and Madlib, whilst touring to large audiences across the globe, and collaborating with London-based psych jazz collective, the Heliocentrics.

Formed in 2012 on the south side of Tel Aviv, the 12 member Hoodna Orchestra is a collective of musicians and composers who initially bonded over a shared love of Afrobeat. They have gone on to incorporate psychedelic rock, hard funk and soul, jazz, and East African music into their sought after releases, winning praise and airplay from the likes of Iggy Pop and Huey Morgan on BBC Radio 6 Music. The collective draws together a huge array of musical talents such as guitarist Ilan Smilan and organist Eitan Drabkin of Sababa 5 fame, Shalosh trio drummer Matan Assayag, and percussionist Rani Birenbaum of The Faithful Brothers, many of whom also contribute compositions to the orchestra, ensuring its collaborative environment.

Over time, members of the orchestra came to find they shared a growing interest in Ethiopian music, particularly the Ethio-jazz of Mulatu Astatke. Since releasing a recording with Ethiopian singer Tesfaye Negatu, Hoodna Orchestra had been looking to find ways to collaborate with Astatke himself and in early 2023 the opportunity arose to invite Astatke to Tel Aviv, record an album and perform it live for their home audience. Stars aligned as Neal Sugarman, multi-instrumentalist member of the Dap-Kings and co-founder of Daptone Records, joined and produced the session with Smilan.

The album commences with title track “Tension”, leading Mulatu’s signature sound in a new, rhythmically intense direction, hence the name, providing fresh creative ground for the collaborators. Astatke’s vibraphone sets the scene, before drummer Matan Assayag attacks the beat and Nadav Bracha’s marching bassline and Rani’s percussion propel the track forward, and Hoodna’s brass section delivers a classic Ethio motif. Mulatu’s enchanting vibraphone solo is followed by a blistering tenor sax solo by Eylon Tushiner. This is Ethio-jazz on turbochargers.

Recorded towards the end of their session, “Major” provides a whole new dimension, joyously and effortlessly swinging out of the speakers after “Tension”. You can sense how comfortable the band feels together at this point. The track features a superb organ solo by Drabkin. The Smilan composed “Hatula” embodies the sound of a cat prowling outside on a hot summer’s night with poise and finesse, before building into a great crescendo that belies the feline creature’s unpredictable behavior and wilder instincts. “Yashan” on the other hand is classic smoke-filled- lounge Ethio-jazz with an undercurrent of tension you can cut with a knife, with the Elad Gellert baritone sax solo lulling you into a false sense of security.

The Latin-jazz tinged grooves of “Delilah” play homage to the early roots of Mulatu’s sound. Leading the song’s key motif, Tushiner’s seductive flute is well balanced by Smilan’s guitar, proceeding beautifully into an enchanting solo by Astatke himself. Tushiner takes an extended turn himself, soloing like Hungarian guitar legend Gábor Szabó, if only he’d moved to Cairo instead of San Francisco. Joined by Sugarman on saxophones, the brass section plays a subtle but important role on his occasion, gently accompanying in the background.

The album closes fittingly with “Dung Gate”. A Birenbaum composition, the track features slow, heavy, melodic motif led by the brass section, counterbalanced by a tidal wave of percussion and hand-clapping. One can imagine the band slowly marching out of the venue through the crowd at the end of their show, the audience clapping in time with the orchestra’s brass and percussion, recalling another legend, the late great Sun Ra.

On one hand, ‘Tension’ is clearly a deeply personal tribute by the Hoodna Orchestra to iconic Mulatu Astatke, but at the same time the recordings emit a remarkable amount of chemistry, and together they have created an essential addition to Mulatu’s rich discography that charts new directions in his Ethio-jazz trajectory and provides the Hoodna Orchestra with their strongest album to date. 

Tracklist:
1. Tension
2. Major
3. Hatula
4. Yashan
5. Delilah
6. Dung Gate

Adrian Younge - Adrian Younge Presents Linear Labs: São Paulo

Linear Labs: São Paulo sparks a new golden era of musical genius defined by the maestro Adrian Younge, encapsulating what he’s learned in building the first era of Linear Labs and its successor label Jazz Is Dead.

Linear Labs: São Paulo marks the evolution of this journey.

Step into an extraordinary psychedelic and soulful experience with Adrian Younge presents Linear Labs: Sao Paulo: a compilation of new songs showcasing the musical brilliance of Adrian Younge with artists from around the world. Essentially, the album features one unreleased song from an array of forthcoming albums Younge has produced for Linear Labs, including Something About April III, the tertiary installment of Younge's masterwork trilogy, and a new blaxploitation adventure from hip hop legend Snoop Dogg, entitled Don’t Cry For the Devil.

Also included on this preview is Brazilian actress/ singer Samantha Schmütz, Middle-Eastern singer Liraz, London-based jazz vocalist ALA.NI, afro-futuristic soul singer Bilal and a bonus song with Stereolab’s Lætitia Sadier.

“For the last 30 years, I’ve studied rare and obscure records in an attempt to become the most unique producer in the world. A world where I create music with no expiration date…a vortex where the composers of yesterday and today sonically meet to discuss the way that hip hop has informed modern ears…essentially, my music is for the heads. This is São Paulo!” ⁃ Adrian Younge

It’s a new era for Adrian Younge’s recording outfit, Linear Labs. Since the start of 2020, Adrian Younge has been at the helm of production of 30 albums for his Jazz Is Dead label alongside his partner Ali Shaheed Muhammad. These albums include collaborations with iconic artists such as Roy Ayers, Ebo Taylor, Marcos Valle, Gary Bartz, Doug and Jean Carn, Dom Salvador, Carlos Dafé and countless others, helping reshape and refocus their careers. For the last 12 months, Younge has refocused his energies into his own music and the outcome has been what he describes as "the pinnacle of his career.” In these new offerings, he takes everything he has learned in his illustrious career and reaches new heights to be heard on Linear Labs: São Paulo.

The first single to be released is “Esperando por Você,” a dark and psychedelic glimpse into the world of Something About April III, the third installment to Younge’s fabled and most sampled works. Fans of Younge will immediately recognize his signature Something About April sound, but with a twist: the entire album is in Portuguese!

“Rules of the Game” offers the first glimpse into Snoop Dogg and Adrian Younge’s blaxploitation adventure, Don’t Cry for the Devil. The album features Snoop Dogg’s embodiment of the fictional ‘70s pimp, Silky Slim, rappin’ about life in the game. Younge’s production echoes the tone of Snoop’s debut album, Doggystyle, as if it was produced by Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield and Johnny Pate circa ‘76.

“Fire in the Disco” is a standout track from Younge’s upbeat and dance heavy Afrobeat project, Afrodisco Makossa. The six-track album is the follow-up to Younge’s collaborations with Afrobeat pioneers Tony Allen and Ebo Taylor, released on the Jazz Is Dead label. Featuring an ensemble of Ghanian and Black American vocalists, this song embodies the rich heritage of African music with a vibrant mix of Afrobeat-inspired disco tracks.

Hear Younge’s foray into the world of middle eastern psych and funk on “Farrar Konam,” a song created with Middle-Eastern singer, Liraz. Renowned for her outspoken activism through music, Liraz champions women's freedom worldwide. Sung in her family’s native Farsi language, her powerful message resonates universally. Her forthcoming album with Younge is entitled, Azadi, which means “Freedom.”

“Nossa Cor” is a classic love samba composed by Younge and Brazilian actress/singer Samantha Schumütz. This song is a preview into their majestic album, Samantha e Adrian. The partnership between Schmutz and Younge is heavily inspired by the revolutionary Brazilian music created during the MPB and tropicalia era of the ‘60s and ‘70s. While many know Schmütz for as an actress and comedian, few are aware of her singing prowess.

The song “Human Absence” comes from YOUNGE, the eponymously named instrumental album, a first of its kind. Created with a live 30-piece orchestra, the fuzz guitars, cinematic arrangements and funky percussion showcase Younge’s mastery as a conductor from a bygone era.

On Proud, Adrian Younge showcases the Parisian jazz singer ALA.NI. With her unique blend of vocal harmonies and unparalleled emotion, ALA.NI establishes herself as one of the most distinctive and enchanting Black voices emanating from Paris.

In 2015, Bilal and Adrian Younge released In Another Life, an album crafted by Younge to highlight the soul singer’s impressive vocal range and distinctive style, featuring guest appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T. and more. In Another Life: Redux is a re-release of the acclaimed album, remastered with three unreleased songs as it was always intended by Younge to be released.
Note to editors:

Adrian Younge is an Emmy Award winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from Los Angeles, CA. Renowned for his analog sound, Younge has been sampled by artists like Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Common, DJ Premier and counteless others. He’s also produced for icons including Roy Ayers, Cee Lo, Rakim, Tony Allen, Ebo Taylor, Marcos Valle, Céu, Dom Salvador, Azymuth, Wu Tang Clan and many more. He’s also known for his work as a film and television composer (Marvel’s Luke Cage, Black Dynamite, etc.) Younge is the owner and brainchild of the record label Linear Labs; he also is the co-owner of the record label and events company Jazz Is Dead.

Tracklist:
1. Esperando por Voce
2. Rules of the Game
3. Fire in the Disco
4. کنم - Farrar Konam
5. Nossa Cor
6. Human Absence
7. Run
8. Spiraling
9. Purification

Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People... Lazers Do (15th Anniversary Edition)

Major Lazer celebrates 15 years of their dub-dancehall meets festival mainstage fanfare debut Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do with a new anniversary reissue. Pairing then-rising star Diplo’s production and his Lazer partner Switch’s deft hand for alternative pop gold with a slew of Jamaican heavies and fresher faces alike, the album quickly became a centrepiece for a dance music subset straddling the line between the aggro dynamics of the era’s dubstep and the headier roots of the sound in touchstones like Kingston’s soundsystem culture. At a time when big room dance music was starting to border on the nihilistic, Guns Don’t Kill People… Lazers Do’s blend of lush psychedelia, head rush rhythms, and interconnectivity offered a welcomed respite.

Tracklist:
1. Hold The Line
2. When You Hear The Bassline
3. Can't Stop Now
4. Lazer Theme
5. Anything Goes
6. Cash Flow
7. Mary Jane
8. Bruk Out
9. What U Like
10. Keep It Goin' Louder
11. Pon De Floor
12. Baby
13. Jump Up
14. Zumbie
15. Pon De Streets
16. Where’s The Daddy?
17. Nobody Move

wun two - forest folks

Tracklist:
1. Lactarius
2. Tricholoma
3. Pfifferling
4. Ustilago
5. Tintling
6. Lepiota
7. Calocybe
8. Samthaube
9. Portobello
10. Tramete
11. Scioides
12. Armillaria
13. Parasol
14. Badhamia
15. Truffe
16. Hallimasch

Thee Marloes - Perak Instrumentals

Big Crown Records is proud to present the instrumental version of Perak, the debut album from Thee Marloes.

When you first hear Thee Marloes, their particular soul sound may seem familiar enough. There are the weighty drums, a crooning guitar, and a beautiful voice singing about unrequited love and the complications inherent in affairs of the heart. But then there is something undeniably different about Thee Marloes and their music, something new and distinct. And while you may be acquainted with soul music, you've probably never heard it from Surabaya, Indonesia—the place they call home.

Thee Marloes are Natassya Sianturi singing and playing keys, Tommy Satwick on drums, and Sinatrya ("Raka") Dharaka on guitar and handling production. Their sound has the universal appeal of soul, jazz, and pop, but with a distinct approach attributable to their local culture and global influence. The world's introduction to Thee Marloes' debut album Perak, started with “Midnight Hotline” the scorching A side to their debut 7” on Big Crown. A punchy dancefloor number with an infectious chorus, vibey piano, and jazzy guitar licks. Contrasting that energy in the classic plug and ballad pairing dynamic, the B side “Beri Cinta Waktu” has all the makings of a beloved soul ballad but the lyrics are in Indonesian. Regardless of any language barrier, the sentiment in their music is palpable, helping to make their songs relatable and heartfelt. The rest of Perak fits perfectly in between those bookends of both energy and language, “I Know” is a mid-tempo burner that talks about pulling the veil of lies off a love affair founded on falsehood. “Not Today” is right up there with the grooviest feel good songs you could ever play on a Sunday morning with Natassya reminding us to make space for ourselves no matter what life throws our way. “Mungkin Saja” brings the tempo back up with another dance floor smoker while “True Love” finds Thee Marloes dipping into the soulful side of jazz with a beat ballad that could soundtrack a Tarantino dance scene. “Over” starts out with a heavy drum break and evolves into an epic arrangement drenched in layers of gorgeous melodies capturing the havoc of a love affair that ends abruptly perfectly.

Perak is a journey from the heart of Surabaya into the spirit of the soul sound. It's about creating a space where none existed, and doing it because you love it. You can tell that Thee Marloes enjoy making their music, from the process of writing and recording, to performing in front of crowds. "We want to share what we live," Natassya tells us. No matter what language you speak or culture you come from, Thee Marloes music and energy is so charming that we will all be keeping it close to the turntable for years to come. 

Tracklist:
1 I Know (Instrumental)
2 Logika (Instrumental)
3 Summer (Instrumental)
4 Midnight Hotline (Instrumental)
5 Beri Cinta Waktu (Instrumental)
6 True Love (Instrumental)
7 Mungkin Saja (Instrumental)
8 Not Today (Instrumental)
9 Over (Instrumental)
10 No One Else (Instrumental)
11 Nona (Instrumental)
12 Thank You (Instrumental)