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Forest Drive West makes a welcome return to Echocord this February with the ‘Recursion’ EP, featuring one solo cut and two collaborations with DB1 and Localhost. London’s Forest Drive West has been steadily releasing his left of centre take on techno over the past five years on the likes of Livity Sound, Hidden Hawaii, Delsin, AD93 fka Whities and of course Echocord where here returns here following the ‘Parallel Space’ EP back in 2019.

Leading the release is the murky, tense atmospherics of ‘100m’, produced alongside regular collaborator DB1 the eight minute composition journeys through unfurling, expansive pads, subtly nuanced bass warbles and gritty off-kilter percussion.

Next up, Forest Drive West joins forces with Localhost for title-cut ‘Recursion’, embracing a 4/4 approach rhythmically this time and bringing hazy, ethereal pads, earth shattering subs and circling stab sequences into the limelight. Forest Drive West’s solo cut ‘Anchor’ then rounds out the release, taking things deeper into dub territory via tumbling percussive echoes, billowing chords and heavy doses of low-end drive. More

The fourth release on Neighbourhood is Forest Drive West's first straight techno release, going in with a four tracker. Driving, yet stripped back tracks which keep you on a cliff hanger in their own individual way. UN is a straight up groove, Wait, a heavy hitter, Reshape, a percussive delight, and Functional, a bleepy dream. More

Stone cold killers from London's elusive Forest Drive West More

Stunning debut from London based artist Forest Drive West for Livity Sound. 'System' revolves around an irresistible deep and tripping pneumatic broken drum groove, propelling the track through ten tense minutes of foggy atmospherics. Show Them is similarly immersive but this time with nods to the densely smoked out UK dancefloors of 2004, austere and hypnotic.
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Following his 2021 debut on the reverse label with Retreat Ites EP and a spot on the Molten Mirrors compilation, Jurango is back on Livity Sound with another four tracks of low-slung soundsystem pressure.

On An Amorphous Mass EP Jurango presents a particularly focused sound which draws on halftime D&B, dancehall and broken techno all filtered through the meditative pulse of low tempo club music. The measured pace of the tracks doesn't detract from their weight, whether it manifests in the heavy roll of murky opener 'Big Saver', 'Inner Seam's mutant dembow rhythm or the heady breakbeat chops of the title track. The stripped-back subs and fractured percussion of 'Muni Ce Boa' close the record in potent yet understated style, proving minimal music doesn't have to compromise on impact for the dance.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Matching his signature melodic futurism with enduring club music structures, Pev brings the Pulse series to a natural conclusion with the Pulse Phase EP. On this third release he underlines the broader approach to tempos and styles he's taken across this latest period of his output, soon to be coalesced into a new live set.

If there's been a nostalgic streak detectable amongst the crisp modernism of the Pulse series, it comes through clearer than ever in the looped-up house jack and starry-eyed techno synth hooks of 'Pulse IX'. 'Pulse TEN' pares back for a lean soundsystem workout driven by a strafing arp and fractured drums while 'Pulse XI' revisits 90s bleep techno with a deep, dubby intention. 'Pulse XII' completes the picture capturing the skeletal pressure of 2-step at its most slender and deadly.

There's never a sense of over-familiarity - the exacting angles of the drums and alien hue of the synths maintain Pev's distinctive sound first and foremost. But this series has also been an opportunity to hear some of his musical DNA more explicitly than before, cast in universal rave motifs propelled by the unrelenting pursuit of new forms for the dance.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Following his 2021 debut on the reverse label with Retreat Ites EP and a spot on the Molten Mirrors compilation, Jurango is back on Livity Sound with another four tracks of low-slung soundsystem pressure.

On An Amorphous Mass EP Jurango presents a particularly focused sound which draws on halftime D&B, dancehall and broken techno all filtered through the meditative pulse of low tempo club music. The measured pace of the tracks doesn't detract from their weight, whether it manifests in the heavy roll of murky opener 'Big Saver', 'Inner Seam's mutant dembow rhythm or the heady breakbeat chops of the title track. The stripped-back subs and fractured percussion of 'Muni Ce Boa' close the record in potent yet understated style, proving minimal music doesn't have to compromise on impact for the dance.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Pev swiftly follows up the Pulse EP with another four tracks of sprightly club gear that continue to shape out his current areas of exploration in the studio. As ever, there are no fixed concepts or approaches - just an instinct for energising, inventive tracks taking in a range of tempos and rhythms.

The first half of Pulse Modulation EP is marked out by linear rhythms which showcase the most techno aspects of Pev's sound. 'Pulse V' is charged with the kind of alien synth lines which could only come from his studio, but also draw a line to the hi-tech soul of foundational Detroit techno. 'Pulse VI' has a starker, bleep-led sound pitched towards tougher dancefloors.

'Pulse VII' strips things back in comparison, leaning in on a blanket of bass and keeping the drums sparse and to the point - a study in soundsystem pressure. Widening the spectrum of the record, 'Pulse VIII' sees Pev make a rare push up into 160+ territory - something normally reserved for his DJ sets. Swerving obvious break edits, his take on jungle is lean and crisp, delivering a fresh slant on the sound while maintaining the sharp focus of his current output.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Kouslin returns to Livity Sound with a second collection of slippery club tracks after the 2020 Vision E.P. With an emphasis on head-twisting sound design and a detailed line in percussive programming, the London-based producer continues to reach into intriguing new areas without forsaking soundsystem-ready physicality.

The tracks which make up the Patterns E.P. stemmed from a period of personal experimentation, where Kouslin returned to making music for its therapeutic benefits rather than a fixed purpose. The loops and sketches he returned to and expanded upon for this EP bristle with originality at every turn.

There is a continued exploration of dancehall rhythms on 'King', while 'Five Four' toys with time signatures for a jagged, fast-paced abstraction of techno. 'Why Don't You Don't' is harder to pin down thanks to its knotty beat and mutant synthesis, and 'Michael' flips the script further with an unexpected swerve into pearlescent melodic lead lines - the perfect demonstration of the honest and instinctive approach Kouslin took when making these tracks.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Five years since his last solo outing, Pev makes a very welcome return on his own label for Livity Sound's 60th release.
Having focused on expanding the innovative scope of Livity through a prolific release schedule, frequent label nights and the 10th anniversary Molten Mirrors compilation, on the 'Pulse E.P.', Pev delivers on his reputation for inventive, sharply-focused club music with four lean, focused club tracks across the tempo range.

From the crooked formation and pointillist bleeps of 'Pulse I' through the light-footed percussion and airy melodies of 'Pulse II' to 'Pulse III's strafing techno synths and 'Pulse IV's surefooted, bass-loaded house jack, it's an EP of variation and consistency in equal measure. From the infectious, alien melodic lines to the elegant angles of the drums, not to mention the weighty subs, it's all strikingly fresh and unmistakably Pev.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Two years since his Going For It EP, Livity Sound is pleased to welcome back Sydney's DJ Plead for a second round of versatile, psychedelic club variations. Since debuting around 2018 Plead has forged a distinctive sound which focuses on inventive use of percussion and elegant melodic hooks that draw lines between global dance music cultures without adhering to any fixed formula.

From the carnival futurism of lead track 'Come Quick' to the infectious reggaeton lilt and understated trance synths of 'El Es', Plead presents a sound as playful as it is serious, predominantly exploring the 100 bpm tempo range. Shaped out by acutely angled rhythms, shifting time signatures and bold licks, Quick EP further establishes him as a vital, individual talent with the kind of flexible club tracks that bend between scenes and inject vibrant energy into the dance.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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The latest release on Livity Sound features an extensive insight into the work of Seb Uncles, aka Eusebeia. Uncles has been releasing his work prolifically over the past six years, from self-released tapes on Rebellion Electronics through to reams of 12"s and LPs for labels like Earthtrax, Western Lore, Rupture London and re:st. While his sound has often tilted towards drum & bass and jungle, he places atmosphere and composition ahead of genre boundaries and tempo restrictions. Cosmos EP finds Uncles stretching out over eight varied tracks for a broader experience compared to the usual Livity EP. Glacial ambience and richly layered synthesis guides the record overall, at times leaving drums behind altogether, but even at its mellowest you can sense the overbearing bias towards soundsystem music. The melancholic electronica of 'Becoming' gets underpinned by dread bass, and 'Solace' places a haunting steppas-esque refrain in the midst of heavily dubbed downtempo. When he does turn to full-tilt drumfunk edits on the likes of 'Hopes & Dreams' and 'Love + Light', he approaches them with subtlety and finesse, matching rhythmic flair with melodic progressions which lend themselves to introspective listening as much as full dancefloor immersion.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Following a debut appearance on the reverse label in 2020, Bristol-based artist Ido Plumes is back on Livity Sound with four tracks of experimental dance music for soundsystems. Plumes established his sound with pointillist drums and echo chamber atmospherics the first time around, and now he builds on that premise with a more dense and dramatic approach.
Plumes' layered tracks follow non-linear narratives, switching lanes and exploring unusual, evocative landscapes while retaining a fundamental physicality. Longer form tracks like 'Afloat' cover a lot of ground across their run time, while the likes of 'Been Here' revel in audacious plot twists to create strikingly confident and original variations on the UK dance music tradition.
Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Toma Kami returns to Livity Sound for a third EP of provocative, experimental club gear. At the helm of his own Man Band label the French producer continues to explore a hybridised style which favours fractured beats, playful samples and occasional psychedelic flourishes.

Compared to the busier sound of previous releases, minimalism informs Toma's approach on LIVITY053 as he sits his crunchy drums and weighty low-end in a tangibly spacious mix on 'Amapicante'. Even within a stripped-down context, his unique approach shines through as 'Later To The Bone' progressively ramps up in scratched and scuffed sonic interference and 'Mzecal' trips over its own fragmented found-sound drum formations.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Continuing the theme of community collaboration sparked by Hodge and Simo Cell's recent 12", Livity Sound presents the first joint works by Azu Tiwaline and Al Wootton. While they come from distinct settings (Azu in the Tunisian desert, Al in London's urban sprawl), their music shares a similar affinity for intricate percussion and dub-informed space.
The four tracks on LIVITY052 deal in a variety of rhythms and tempos, veering from the propulsive intensity of 'Blue Dub' to the sparse, skipping 2-step framework of 'Light Transmission'. Azu and Al's refined, detailed approach blurs the lines between electronic sound design and earthy sonics, resulting in dynamic drum tracks loaded with weighty atmospherics and unrelenting tension.
Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Limited 4 x 12" Hardcase Boxset
One of Bristol's foremost electronic labels toasts 10 years with a 19-strong family gathering of adventurous, contemporary club music.

Livity Sound has evolved considerably since 2011. Originally it was established as a vessel for new tracks from Peverelist, Kowton and Asusu - three Bristol-based artists who found common ground between their distinct styles in pursuit of a reduced, heavyweight strain of soundsystem techno. A run of hand-stamped 12"s and a three-way live show followed, while the Reverse sister label provided a conduit for emergent artists to enter the fray. Early breakthroughs from Hodge, Batu, Bruce and Simo Cell pointed to the broader horizons Livity was heading towards - an expanding community of like-minded artists creating dancefloor misfits that somehow fit together.

First appearing with a compilation of remixes in 2014, Tess Redburn's iconic artwork heralded a fresh new impetus for the label, and the music seemed to become more colourful in kind. While the founding principles of space, bass and fractured rhythms have largely abounded up to the present day, there's been a progressively broader palette of sound employed. Technoid melodic shimmers, earthen percussion and found sounds have become as prominent as sub frequencies and cavernous dub echoes, delivered by a vivid and varied ensemble of producers.

Molten Mirrors captures the dynamic energy of Livity Sound at 10, with 19 artists from the label's roster coming together to present an honest document of where the label is at in the present moment. No over-arching concepts, no hackneyed themes - true to Livity's open-ended mode since 2011, it's as much a declaration of community as a cross-section of experimental dance music in 2021. Trying to pin down the sonic styles is something of a fools errand - from the older guard to recent signings, what binds together this international, inter-generational span of artists is their lack of convention.

A case in point: Azu Tiwaline's submerged and subdued rhythmic incantations sit between Bakongo (aka Roska)'s raw and angular drum pressure and Al Wootton's needlepoint, swinging dub tech variations. Nothing is totally placeable, and yet everything meets that ill-defined Livity Sound ethos, which stretches back to the earliest 12"s.

Club music continues to mutate and break new ground with each passing year, and as a faithful document of one microcosm within an ever-expanding music culture, Molten Mirrors reflects the multifaceted, technicolour energy of the here and now while celebrating the possibilities of an open, unpredictable future.

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The next drop on Livity Sound is the first collaboration from long-time label mainstays Hodge and Simo Cell. True to the styles the artists have individually marked out since first appearing on Livity Sound circa 2014-15, LIVITY050 presents fiercely imaginative, upfront club music across a spectrum of tempos.

The supple, fluid approach to electronic music the two producers are separately known for feeds into a cohesive partnership, whether they're turning their hand to dancehall-inspired, sub-100BPM heavy hitters or jagged, technicolour half-step tapestries.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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Livity Sound is proud to present a 12" of lean, refined club tracks from UK stalwart Beneath. The Mistry and No Symbols boss has spent the past 10 years exploring a sound which nods to the legacy of bleep techno, dubstep and UK funky while leaning forwards into its own distinctive space.

His stripped-back blend of crisp drums, sprightly hooks and sub bass are instantly identifiable, but across four new tracks Beneath displays the versatility within his reach. Stomping four to-the-floor rollers on the A side face-off with minimalist dub and weighty, synth-rich expressions on the flip that move beyond the demands of the dancefloor.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
More

One of Bristol's foremost electronic labels toasts 10 years with a 19-strong family gathering of adventurous, contemporary club music.

Livity Sound has evolved considerably since 2011. Originally it was established as a vessel for new tracks from Peverelist, Kowton and Asusu - three Bristol-based artists who found common ground between their distinct styles in pursuit of a reduced, heavyweight strain of soundsystem techno. A run of hand-stamped 12"s and a three-way live show followed, while the Reverse sister label provided a conduit for emergent artists to enter the fray. Early breakthroughs from Hodge, Batu, Bruce and Simo Cell pointed to the broader horizons Livity was heading towards - an expanding community of like-minded artists creating dancefloor misfits that somehow fit together.

First appearing with a compilation of remixes in 2014, Tess Redburn's iconic artwork heralded a fresh new impetus for the label, and the music seemed to become more colourful in kind. While the founding principles of space, bass and fractured rhythms have largely abounded up to the present day, there's been a progressively broader palette of sound employed. Technoid melodic shimmers, earthen percussion and found sounds have become as prominent as sub frequencies and cavernous dub echoes, delivered by a vivid and varied ensemble of producers.

Molten Mirrors captures the dynamic energy of Livity Sound at 10, with 19 artists from the label's roster coming together to present an honest document of where the label is at in the present moment. No over-arching concepts, no hackneyed themes - true to Livity's open-ended mode since 2011, it's as much a declaration of community as a cross-section of experimental dance music in 2021. Trying to pin down the sonic styles is something of a fools errand - from the older guard to recent signings, what binds together this international, inter-generational span of artists is their lack of convention.

A case in point: Azu Tiwaline's submerged and subdued rhythmic incantations sit between Bakongo (aka Roska)'s raw and angular drum pressure and Al Wootton's needlepoint, swinging dub tech variations. Nothing is totally placeable, and yet everything meets that ill-defined Livity Sound ethos, which stretches back to the earliest 12"s.

Club music continues to mutate and break new ground with each passing year, and as a faithful document of one microcosm within an ever-expanding music culture, Molten Mirrors reflects the multifaceted, technicolour energy of the here and now while celebrating the possibilities of an open, unpredictable future.

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Following on from the success of 2020's 'Inside' EP on Livity Sound and previous releases on UK labels Cong Burn and Blank Mind, Manchester's Lack returns to Livity Sound with a brand new EP of hybridised and dubbed techno cuts.
"I wanted to try and create a sense of space or calm within the tracks, even if only subtle. I suppose it was a reflection on the crazy state of the world and needing to find space within myself to stay grounded and get through it"
From the deep bass and irresistible skank of Grapefruit to the rapid yet ice cool propulsion of Microshift and the spacious yet energised rhythms of Make It Circular and Constant, this new record further explores Lack's fractured techno aesthetic, skilfully joining the dots between broken dub techno and vintage dubstep.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.

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Continuing a long history of musical dialogue between the two cities, London's dance scene veterans Tribal Brothers join forces with Bristol's own UK Funky doyen DJ Polo for the 'Link Up' EP on Livity Sound. Sharing interests in the legacy of London's homegrown scenes, and the melting pot of global percussive club music infiltrating the UK, this new EP showcases and encapsulates the energy of a contemporary rhythm centred, outward looking UK club sound.

A longstanding collaboration of artists LR Groove and Razzlerman, Tribal Brothers' trajectories through London's rich history of soundsystem inspired dance music reads like a classic tale, from early productions on Playstation's Music 2000 software to regular pirate radio sets, through Jungle, Garage and UK Funky eras. LR started Djing in the mid-nineties mixing Jungle, making his debut at the legendary Edmonton Roller Express venue. As the garage scene exploded he became a regular on the burgeoning pirate radio circuit playing on Deja Vu FM and securing sets at the Garage Nation club nights. In 2007 as the UK Funky scene emerged, LR felt revitalised by the music's irresistible energy and started producing and dj-ing once again, making links with MA1 and Marcus Nasty. Around the same time, also inspired by Marcus Nasty, Supa D and Footloose, Razzlerman started producing percussion focussed tracks and dj-ing on pirates stations such as Nasty FM and Deja Vu, where they were eventually crossed paths and began to swap tracks, going on to collaborate on what became the original 'Tribal Brothers' EP.

Recently reunited, 2018 saw the release of a Tribal Brothers EP on TSVI and Wallwork's Nervous Horizon label having been inspired once again by a fresh influx of international dance rhythms into the capital, particularly the Gqom OH! Club night and label. Reinvigorated, the pair launched their own imprint, Renk Groove Recordings to showcase their productions influenced by the UK Funky legacy combined with South African House sounds and the wild rhythmatics of footwork and cutting-edge global percussion hybrids.

Whilst cutting his teeth in early Dubstep, the arrival of UK Funky was the catalyst for DJ Polo to refocus his efforts and productions in this new direction. First finding the percussive club sound via crossover releases on labels such as Night Slugs and Numbers in the early 2010's, Polo dived headlong into the underground sound. He co-launched an annual 'UK Funky party' in Bristol under club brand 'Sprung' inviting the biggest names in the scene and became a champion for the sound in the city where it's popularity never seems to have waned. Hosting regular shows on Rinse and SWU FM, alongside releases on labels such as Roska's legendary Kicks and Snares, More Time Records and Super Kitchen, he's established himself as a leading light in Bristol representing a sound influenced by Gqom, Kuduro, Afrobeat and Funky.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.

Tracklist;
a1: 12HRS a2: Three Tribes b1: Bullet Rice b2: The Problem
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Following on from the huge success of 2019's 'Access' EP on Livity Sound, Two Shell return to Livity Sound with the 'SoulCity' EP.

This new EP expands their sonic utopia, injecting early dubstep and grime influences with their signature optimistic digital futurism for maximum dancefloor effect.

Livity Sound is a label set up by Peverelist in 2011 as a vehicle for a raw and exploratory strain of UK techno, rooted in the heritage of UK dance music and sound system culture. It has since become one of the UK's foremost protagonists for cutting edge underground electronic music.
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HOTMIX RECORDS re-issues Bluemoon Productions aka Gene Hughes "Track Show (Volume One)"
formerly released on Code Blue Records in 1990!!
Re-mastered vinyl edition Don't feed the Discogs Sharks! More