TRACKLIST
1.1 Soft Opening Machine
1.2 Liquid Sound Waves
1.3 Limitations
1.4 M And A
1.5 Gummi Twist & Crawl (Die Koffer sind leer)
1.6 Sunglasses
1.7 Orion Stars
1.8 Back From The Primitive Galaxy
1.9 Cheapo Sounds
1.10 Afterhour


Stefan Schwander hat bereits eine unglaubliche Fülle an Musik geschaffen und ist ein fester Bestandteil auf der berüchtigten Achse um den Düsseldorfer Salon Des Amateurs. Mit seinem Projekt Harmonious Thelonious erforscht er seit mittlerweile 12 Jahren die Welten von panafrikanischen, südamerikanischen und nahöstlichen Rhythmen in Kombination mit einem minimalistischen Electronic-Sound, aus deren Zusammenspiel er mittlerweile seinen ganz eigenen Groove destilliert hat. Für sein neues Album mit dem herausfordernden Titel "Cheapo Sounds" wendet sich Schwander von bereits erprobten Rezepten ab. Eine musikalische Neuausrichtung, die zunächst in der Veränderung der Produktionsweise selbst begründet liegt: So ist die gesamte Platte unter Verwendung nur eines Instruments entstanden, der Monomaschine, die den Klang der 10 Stücke mit ihren sehr physischen Sounds erheblich prägt. Es stehen nicht mehr polyrhythmische Tracks im Vordergrund des Geschehens, sondern das Verweben von mehreren Melodien und Akkorden über einem Grundgerüst von spröden, simplifizierten Beat-Konstrukten und schroffen Basspulsen. Bei genauem Besehen ist dies mitunter eine neue Vision einer alten Herangehensweise: Standen in Schwanders Proberaum zwar auch alte Verstärker, die primitive Rhythmusbox, die programmierbare Drummachine oder Synthesizer wie MS-20, kamen diese jedoch auf "Cheapo Sounds" nicht zum Einsatz. Allerdings ist die Idee, mit der dieses Instrumentarium assoziiert wird, eng mit der DNA dieses Albums verwoben. Als der New Wave den Punk und die letzten Rockismen abgelöst hatte, entstand jener spezielle, neue Geist, den Stefan Schwander in den neuen Stücken einfangen wollte. Eine WavePlatte mit dem Verständnis von Techno. Und tatsächlich ist es ihm gelungen, damit auch den Bogen zu der grundlegenden Idee des Projekts Harmonious Thelonious selbst zu schlagen: Eine Art von Dance-Musik, die wie eine gute Clubnacht nicht nur zu einer schablonenhaften Formel verkümmert oder GenreErwartungen bedient, sondern das Publikum herausfordert und in sich sowohl Jazz, Krautrock, Industrial, Punk, Dub und Disco verhandelt.

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The new tunes, condensations of the 2016 album: the waist-deep sway Blinky - the title may be read as a tribute to the artist Blinky Palermo - and the pumping Shark Dance. Walkmen set too loud, ghetto-blaster too quiet, crosstalks in the bazaar, sun-bleached fabrics shimming in the Mediterranean wind. Tolouse Low Trax's Rivera Remix drags on a hoarse scratch, relentlessly spurring on in the rhythm of approach, into the distance, a sand fortress, where a yearning horn is calling, promising comfort. Wolf Mueller's remix of RFS (Vol. 3) does not detour, and takes no prisoners. Breaking straight into the aluminum can factory and shreds what he can find. Love actually, of course. A four-fold rattling and clanking, overdriven speakers, the groove is dirty. Dancers rub against each other and on the walls. The disco machine is a human.
Tracklist:
A1. Shark Dance
A2. Rivera (Tolouse Low Trax RMX)
B3. Blinky
B4. RFS (Vol. 3) (Wolf Müller_RMX)

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Harmonious Thelonious's ethnomusicologic journeys to the African continent continues with a burning package of 3 rhythmic tracks inspired by American minimalist music and African rhythm patterns. A primordial soup of polyrhythms and dense harmonics hypnotise the body into movement, transporting the origins of dance music to neoteric audiences.

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After releasing a brilliant and stomping three-tracker on Kontra-Musik White Label last year, ex-Durian Brother Harmonious Thelonious returns to the Kontra-Musik family with an absolute gem of a record. This is everything we want dance music to be: characterful, playful and impossibly funky. Harmonious Thelonious is a master of crafting organic sounding rhythms but arranging them in a manner that reminds one of a 1970's car factory. Primal pulses running through modern assembly lines, gears and pistons covered in green lianas. The result is a perfect symbiosis between living tissue and mechanical parts - dance music for primitive cyborgs.

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The world is spinning, and so is HARMONIOUS THELONIOUS, the latest project by Stefan Schwander (aka Antonelli). The Düsseldorfer's 2010 album "Talking" conquered new rhythmic worlds with Afro-Industrial music fueled by dizzying sequencer patterns, garnering much praise for its global mixture of sound.

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Auntie Flo returns to Highlife! Paying homage to a time well spent in Korea. Delicate and atmospheric sound design from the DMZ. With thanks to our pal Akimbo for granting permission to feature the chuggy remix of High Flight.

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Little did we know when we started Highlife back in 2010, that over in Quito, Ecuador a young Nicola Cruz was being drawn to the similar sounds and artists as us. Over time we've formed a mutual admiration and we couldn't think of a better example of a Highlife artist - so we're unbelievably excited to present his debut record on the label! The EP is inspired by walks around nature, cachoeiras, forests, simply all the beauty you find when visiting isolated, almost untouched spots of gorgeous nature.

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"Music is changing, the world is getting smaller.. Highlife brings you fresh new music from corners of the world you’d least expect." An early slogan we adopted in 2010.. On the eve of our 10th anniversary and as we question our relevancy, we close out the year with fresh new music by a brand new project.. and what a BEAUTIFUL case in point! Brought to you in collaboration between Skinnydeep from Masiphumelele - one of the largest townships in Cape Town - and Jesse Reiner of Brooklyn, NYC. The two producers bonded over a shared sensibility in electronic minimalism, Zulu rhythms, house and techno and began a year’s long international collaboration resulting in Unyuko - meaning 'going up' in isiXhosa, one of the Bantu languages of South Africa. It references ‘upllifting’ or ‘a rising’ after struggle and couldn't be a more appropriate title.

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Having spent the last few years impressing audiences around the world with his magical sound, we're very excited to announce that The Turk, Mehmet Aslan makes a welcome return to Highlife!

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This years' summer hits on Highlife comes courtesy of a new artist from Hamburg called Green Ink who's served up four uniquely brilliant global party smashers. Game on!

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CAIN is back with a BANG this summer! The smile inducing Eshu probably one of the biggest tracks he's made to date and one we've sat on for too long now.. As always, the other two tracks are equally as varied and great - Phoenix makes for a great opener and Hoji is a current Lena Willikens hit.

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Having been rinsed by the likes of Dixon over the summer, we're very happy to finally release Auntie Flo's remix of Oumou Sangare! It's complimented by a brand new original by the man himself on the flip, Desert Island.

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In the final chapter of the 'Theory of Flo' story, we've enlisted the services of the mighty DJ Sotofett to remix the closing track 'For Mihaly', and what a job he's done! Dark, weird and percussive - just how we like it. We also include brand new versions featuring occasional live drummer, Laurie Pitt and a reprise with Poppy Ackroyd.


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Next up in the series of remixes for Auntie Flo's acclaimed 'Theory of Flo' LP, we've employed the services of our buddies from Stockholm, London and Russia in the form of Kornél Kovács, Throwing Shade and Lipelis respectively. Each of them have done an amazing job turning each track into something very special, as we're sure you'll agree..

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Introducing the next release on Highlife - our secret weapons by the mysterious Tanzania Sound System. If you've caught us playing anywhere this year, you'll have heard at least one of these. Now it's time to share the goodness...

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Having been shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year? award, we follow up 'Theory of Flo' with some stellar remixes from friends and associates.. Next up in the series, we've employed the services of our Berlin buddies, Africaine 808 and a long time favourite producer of ours, Mark E; who have each delivered a blinder. Auntie Flo himself tops things off with a brand new version of the album opener primed for the dancefloor.

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Having been recently shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year award, we follow up 'Theory of Flo' with some stellar remixes from friends and associates. First up HIGHLIFE label mates, Mehmet Aslan and CAIN deliver the goods on Cape Malay Prayer and Hewal3 - as to be expected. What wasn't planned was this sublime rework by The Revenge. We felt so precious about Waiting For A (Woman) - convinced that the original was too good to be tampered with - until an unexpected turn of events brought our fellow Glaswegian (and SAY nominee) to the controls, resulting in a sophisticated rework for the dancefloor - who better really when you think about it?!
Released on vinyl courtesy of Highlife x H+P this summer. More remixes on the way..

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Following his NAGAN belter and fresh from his recent appearance on the Boiler Room, CAIN returns to India with two superb rhythmic releases on HIGHLIFE. Early support from Ben UFO, Optimo, Midland, Pearson Sound, Studio Barnhus, Honey Soundsystem, Cowboy Rhythmbox, etc.

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Following his NAGAN belter, CAIN returns to India with two superb rhythmic releases on HIGHLIFE. Early support from Ben UFO, Optimo, Midland, Pearson Sound, Studio Barnhus, Honey Soundsystem, Cowboy Rhythmbox, etc.

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Next up in the Highlife World Series, we take a trip to Kenya where our man Esa plays the role of producer for the first time; with super talented local musicians - Sarabi and Makadem (aka the Fela of Kenya). Instantly timeless on both sides, see for yourself..

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The Highlife World Series is a collaborative series of releases by UK-based Brian d’Souza aka Auntie Flo and Esa Williams. The first three parts are to be released in quick succession in early 2015, beginning with Cuba, followed by Kenya and finishing with Uganda. Each release features original songs produced in collaboration with local musicians. All proceeds from each release will be sent back to the respective countries in order to fund further musical production costs in years to come. We will also be seeking various ways to distribute the music in each country so the music is freely available for the musicians to use at home.

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Introducing previous HIGHLIFE guest, CAIN for his first vinyl release... We've been asked about NAGAN joyously infectious vocals all summer since its debut on our Rinse show and are excited to finally share it along with HIGHLIFE exclusive, VATULA.. Think Daphni via Delhi and you'll be in a similar ballpark. Nagan comes from CAIN's 'Savann EP' due to be released digitally via Fine Grains in the forthcoming months.

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We hope you will permit us the indulgence of deviating slightly from our globe trotting explorations on this release as we pay homage to the sun. 'HIGHLIFE on holiday', if you will. Stepping away from the edits, Auntie Flo delivers a new original track. Sun Ritual II takes things up a notch from its earlier counterpart (released on Kompakt), banging dare-we-say-it 'Berghain techno' gives way to warm synth-laden euphoria. On the flip, Miajica, one third of Alma Negra who you may recall from HIGHLIFE2. Here he serves up a delightfully familiar summer treat, the original being an end of the night, HIGHLIFE highlight, particularly at our annual 'Tribute to the Sun' event. We're sure you'll agree that both sides are rock solid and primed for the summer!

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