Strictly lim. to 300 Copies / A3 Double Sided Poster!!

After his first two one-off singles "Black Pegasus" and "Day Without You" introduced DJ Swagger's massive songwriting abilities and love for recording instruments, his first album on Kommerz Records, "Chemistry Forever", showcases his background in UK-leaning elec- tronic music as well as new tendencies towards neo soul, indie pop and jazz. Welcome DJ Swagger to the Kommerz Records stage and prepare for the album to drop on March 22nd.
The 25-year-old from West Germany's Bielefeld is pretty much the archetype of a so-called Wunderkind. At his young age the producer, DJ, multi instrumentalist and songwriter released more than 40 vinyl records including two solo albums and endless rave tracks since turn- ing 16. As of most recently and even though coming from an electronic music background DJ Swagger's creative agenda ventured more and more into classic songwriting and taking over the role of lead vocalist of his one-man-band. His third solo album "Chemistry Forever" show- cases this transformation from UK-influenced electronica towards
neo soul and indie without losing its listeners at any point. His subtle melancholic vocal performance and the just as subtle, yet constant pop appeal make this equation solve itself magically. From electro, 2 step and breakbeat over hip-hop, indie and R&B to a final bebop (!) madness - "Chemistry Forever" is a trip for music lovers while each and every song has heavy potential to be listened to on repeat.
Besides his own vocal performances DJ Swagger also invited rappers TripSixVivo (London), Vitus04 (Bielefeld), Kaba (Paris) and poet Dainell Aiken (NYC) for mesmerizing guest perfomances. Additional production work came from Hamburg dance producer Speckman and jazz outfit Jonas Gersema Trio.
Aaaand since we called him a Wunderkind: Be aware that he's not only a next level musician, but studied graphic designer, illustrator and most likely many more things. Just an example: Most recently he sold self-made perfumed candles through his D.I.Y. label and fashion brand Goddess Music. He obviously designed everything around the album, directed the music videos and merch drops are to be expected.
For us, brothers Lukas and Jonathan, the love story goes way back though. In the midst of the long gone lo-fi house hysteria (2017-2018) we discovered the Bielefeld native's dance floor productions, which fused hip-hop braggadocio with pumping electronic music. We kept following up on his ever evolving musical journey into new genres and felt super honored when he reached out to release his upcoming projects via Kommerz.


1. Yo Swagger
2. Munchies
3. Off the Dime
4. Beep Me
5. But the World Won't Break Me (ft. TripSixVivo)
6. Yawn!!
7. Fat Ketchup (ft. Speckman)
8. Kein Problem (ft. Vitus04 & Kaba)
9. Bottom Line
10. The Techno DJ Superstar Conspiracy (Skit)
11. Poster Man
12. Continuity
13. Speith Keith (ft. Dainell Aiken & Jonas Gersema Trio)
14. Eyo Swagger
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Xades (pronounced shades) is the newest creation of the DJ and cu- rator known mostly under MSJY. Whilst MSJY's DJ sets are known for their heavy bass drip and bouncy rhythmic darkness, Xades is an ode to the sweet latina soul hidden underneath the tiny powerhouse boun- cing behind the booth. Whilst it is certainly new to hear the voice be- hind the sound, MSJY has been spreading her music all over the world for more than 8 years. By using it as a portal to connect to people and interact with her surroundings, she enjoys exploring its various sound- scapes with a sharp mind, sensitive ear and a dedicated heart. The Dekmantel affiliated selector as well as former resident at Amsterdam's De School, Groningen's OOST and Berlin's Griessmuehle is known for thought- and playful sets that dig into bass and breaks adding dashes of her passed influences of trip hop and IDM.
As Xades, Jenny explores her voice and songwriting, extending her tentacles into different genres, serving a vulnerable exploration that transitions smoothly from dub, downtempo electronica and contempo- rary R&B. Her multiplicitous musical and cultural roots (Brazilian mother, Argentinian father, Swiss passport) seep through all the versatile layers of her sound. A perfectionist at heart, it needed a gentle push by her partner (in crime, music, and life) to find the confidence to share an al- bum that proves that finesse for depth and layer her long time listeners have always admired her for.

Featuring Remixes by acclaimed Atrice (Illian Tape), Coffintexts (Club Q), LUZ1E (VOITAX), Maroki (Lobster Theremin)

Tracklist CD:

1 Holding Back
2 Me Duele
3 Eyes Cold
4 Modest
5 Locked In
6 Shaded
7 Holding Back (Premis Dub Mix)
8 Me Duele (LUZ1E & MSJY Remix)
9 Eyes Cold (Maroki Remix)
10 Modest (Iberic Penninsula VIP Mix)
11 Locked In (Atrice Remix)
12 Shaded (Coffintexts Remix)

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Ltd. Edition with Screen printed sleeve.

Glenn Astro and Hulk Hodn (to some known as mighty Hodini) release their new full-length record
“Ghosts” via Kommerz Records on August 26th.
Producers Astro & Hodn‘s first joint album “Turquoise Tortoise” in 2018 combined uptempo beats, hiphop
and spaced out lo-fi slow jams effortlessly. On “Ghosts” the duo develops their exploration of new
aesthetics even further through synthesized soundscapes and numerous collaborations with young
talent from all over the world. Artists such as Danish neo soul discovery AGGi, King Krule collaborator
Gal Go, Kamohelo from Studio Barnhus band Off The Meds, Berlin-based voice experimentalist Yosa
Peit and many more deep dived into the collaboration and transformed the album into a sonic
multiverse.
New Release Information
Glenn Astro and Hulk Hodn are connected through a long lasting musical friendship. With their Detroitinspired
house releases they gained wider recognition by critics and listeners alike. Nevertheless,
they’ve never been one dimensional artists. Berlin-based Glenn Astro‘s diversified approach to
production as showcased on labels such as Ninja Tune and Tartelet bridges the gaps between
ambient, hip-hop, techno and bass.
Meanwhile Cologne‘s Hulk Hodn gained the status of a German underground hip-hop legend. Through
his records and shows with rapper Retrogott he gathered a cult-like following besides dropping high
quality projects with other beat makers such as Hubert Daviz and Twit One and rappers such as
Eloquent. Most recently he dropped the instrumental LP “Sparklez” on Sichtexot sub Casual Low
Grind.

Tracklist LP:

1 That Day (feat. Kamohelo) 03:03
2 Deep (feat. AGGi) 04:03
3 Brappo 02:18
4 Inside (feat. AGGi) 02:30
5 Tell Me (feat. Yosa Peit) 02:30
6 Ghost 03:12
7 The Call (feat. Nora Lilith) 02:07
8 RX5 02:03
9 Ghostin‘ 01:44
10 Café Metropol (feat. Gal Go) 03:01
11 Snap Out (feat. Melody Blessing) 02:41
12 Sunshine (feat. Treasure Bloom) 04:15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUFgBetroio&ab_channel=KommerzRecords More

The Mental Traveller - A Soundtrack by Noa Erni

If music can take our mind to any imaginable place, on endless individual journeys, Noa Erni's "The Mental Traveller" is the infinite soundtrack. A soundtrack for mental wandering and soul searching, a blend of rap, jazz and hip-hop beats. "The Mental Traveller", an album assembled like a literary anthology, offers musical arrangements and unique narratives where epilogue and prologue of each track merge seamlessly. Far beyond the horizon of compiling single tracks, "The Mental Traveller" is a journey of sound and unity. Inspired by David Axelrod and William Blake, Ahmad Jamal and Flying Lotus - just to name a few - this work aims to be a tribute to these legends' legacies of past, present and future, detached from trends, norms and classical narrative structure.

Swiss-born producer and computer conductor Noa Erni has been crafting obscure jazz and hip-hop behind closed curtains (a.k.a. his flat in Berlin, Germany) for years - free from external pressure and as an adjunct to his day jobs as sommelier and co-owner of local fine wine store "Friedenauer Weinhandlung". On April 30th, 2021, Kommerz Records will release Noa Erni's debut album "The Mental Traveller" on 12" vinyl as well as on all digital platforms. The project features internationally renowned artists such as Count Bass D (alternative rap pioneer, who worked with Snoop Dogg, MF Doom (R.I.P.) and Retrogott), Miles Bonny (New Mexico-based singer and trumpeter), S. Fidelity (hip-hop producer signed to German tastemaker label Jakarta Records) and more. Erni's guests meld seamingly with this unapologetic and experimental album showcasing stand out performances on vocals, instruments and production.

While the album sounds like it was played by a jazz outfit with years of stage experience, the truth surprises and is even more exciting: Noa crafted the songs in countless hours of experimenting with a midi keyboard, various instrument plugins and perfected reverb settings. It was not one and the same band but one and the same person. Just a few tracks include actual live instruments: drums by Max von der Goltz on "The Mental Traveller Theme" and "Uncertainty", bass by Roman Klobe on "Longitude" and flugelhorn by Miles Bonny on "Train Ride".


Tracklist LP:

1 The Mental Traveller Takes Off 00:01:06
2 The Mental Traveller Theme (feat. Nardo Says) 00:05:05
3 Train Ride (feat. Miles Bonny) 00:03:21
4 Seeds Of Labor (feat. Shamir of WOLM) 00:03:14
5 Microsleep 00:03:09
6 Longitude (w/ S. Fidelity) 00:04:13
7 Calmility 00:02:41
8 Second Nature of the Beast (feat. Count Bass D) 00:01:54
9 Square (feat. Nardo Says) 00:02:07
10 Uncertainty 00:02:58
11 Shapes 00:02:33
12 Damn It's Sunny (feat. Robot Orchestra) 00:04:33
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It's 2020, it's virus season. For our first release on Kommerz Records we asked seven techno and house producers, we admire, to contribute six songs to listen to at home, rather than on the dance floor (as those are closed down up to this day). The result are six jazzy downtempo songs by DJ Piper of techno's most hyped live act Fjaak, Glenn Astro & Hodini, Cuthead, O-Wells aka Orson Wells, Manuel Fischer and Qnete. Holla @ our first compilation "Kommerz Season 1: Anti-Virus". "Kommerz Season" will be an ongoing compilation series, which we consider as one core of the label. We will use each season to showcase a new and unexpected take on beat making and instrumental music. "Kommerz Season" pays respect to the producers behind the music.

"Kommerz Season 1: Anti-Virus" was a spontaneous idea (as we didn't expect any of this Corona madness). Since we knew many techno and house producers share our love for instrumental hip-hop and downtempo music (while being stuck at home, too) we started to ask around friends and friends of friends. The tracks contributed by this deluxe cast speak for themselves. on our label's very first release.

Being aware this record features an all male and all white line-up we acknowledge our responsibility as a record label to work towards diversity in music. Our future discography can be held proof for that. Right now we're working on "Kommerz Season 2" featuring a diverse, 100% womxn line-up. Additionally, we're donating 10% of our benefits from "Season 1" to "No Shade", a Berlin-based collective running club nights and DJ training programs for female, non-binary and trans DJs with a strong focus on racial diversity.

A1 DJ Piper - Iluminay 02:48
A2 Glenn Astro & Hodini - Wiggum & Lloyd 03:55
A3 Cuthead - Che 01:35
B1 O-Wells - Krushed Brew 03:31
B2 Qnete - Fry 02:26
B3 Manuel Fischer - Suzuki Spliffy 02:20




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Metronomy release their third album, 'The English Riviera' on April 11th through Because Music. The follow up to 2008's critically acclaimed 'Nights Out', 'The English Riviera' is a sonic progression of epic proportions and affirms Metronomy front man and producer, Joseph Mount, as a rare British talent.
Since 'Nights Out', the band have swollen to a four piece with new members Anna Prior on drums, Gbenga Adelekan on bass, original member Oscar Cash on keys/sax, and Joe himself on vocals, keys and guitar. This expansion of personnel is reflective of a new record that is mapped by vast soundscapes, incredible depth and warmth, and big pop hooks
Part love letter to the area of Devon coast Mount grew up in and part concept album about his own semi-fictionalised vision of "The English Riviera", the tone for the album is set by the opening sounds of seagulls, distant waves and a Music Hall string quartet. However, any notion of whimsy is swiftly dispelled, as the seismic bass line of 'We Broke Free' shudders and ushers in waves of layered guitars and synths.
Having produced and remixed everyone from Roots Manuva to Kate Nash and the forthcoming album from Nicola Roberts, this is the first Metronomy album that Mount has taken out of his bedroom and recorded in a proper studio. The results are telling.
Characterised throughout with a sense of warmth and richness, 'The English Riviera' is in parts reminiscent of seminal 1970s West Coast studio albums from the likes of Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles, but due to Mount's studio wizardry, the record sounds vibrant and entirely of its time.
Few other albums released this year will so successfully transcend such a plethora of influences and ideas and form such a coherent body of work.

Tracklisting:
Side A:
The English Riviera
We Broke Free
Everything Goes my way
The Look
She Wants
Trouble
Side B:
The Bay
Loving Arm
Corinne
Some Written
Love Underlined
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WORLD EXCLUDING GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA (GSA)

Special remarks : CD - Digipack

Genre: Electronica/Dance


Tracklist CD:
01. Sky is the Limit feat. the Beloved
02. Amazing feat. Steve Van Velvet
03. Wasteland feat. Inga Humpe
04. C´est la Vie feat. Richard Judge
05. Du Schneidest mir mein Herz auf feat. Ben Becker
06. We Could Be You feat. Yasha
07. Job of Dying Young feat. Marian Gold
08. White Boy (Percy Tech Remix) feat. After Life 3000
09. Time Marches On feat. Henning Wehland
10. Goldelse Is Burning ( Album Dub Mix)
11. No Melody fest. Dieter Meier
12. No Crap feat. Beccy Boo


Short Info:


On his new album "Famous Last Songs Vol. 1" Westbam presents himself as a brilliant curator of his own music. With unerring instinct, the legendary techno DJ and producer succeeds together with guests such as Dieter Meier (Yello), Inga Humpe (2raumwohnnung) and Jon Marsh (The Beloved) in paying homage to the spirit of the Eighties and making the ultimate statement about the current time: music for the club in your head.
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NO VINYLE OF ANY MANU CHAO ALBUM HAS BEEN AVAILABLE ON SALE FOR AGES. ALL STUDIO & LIVE ALBUMS ARE BACK ON DOUBLE VINYL GATEFOLD FEAT. THE CD
TRACKLIST
A1. INTRO - A2. BIENVENIDA A TIJUANA - A3. MACHINE GUN - A4. POR DONDE SALDRA EL SOL? - A5. PELIGRO - A6. WELCOME TO TIJUANA - A7. EL VIENTO - A8. CASA BABYLON - B1. POR EL SUELO - B2. BLOOD AND FIRE - B3. EZLN… PARA TOD@S TODO… - B4. MR BOBBY - B5. BONGO BONG - B6. RADIO BEMBA - B7. QUE PASO QUE PASO - B8. PINOCCHIO (VAGGIO IN GROPPA AL TONNO) - B9. CAHI EN LA TRAMPA - C1. CLANDESTINO - C2. RUMBA DE BARCELONA - C3. LA DESPEDIDA - C4. MALA VIDA - C5. RADIO BEMBA 2 - C6. QUE PASO QUE PASO 2 - C7. PINOCCHIO 2 (VAGGIO IN GROPPA AL TONNO) - D1. LA PRIMAVERA - D2. THE MONKEY - D3. KING KONG FIVE - D4. MINHA GALERA - D5. PROMISCUITY More

GENRE/S:
Progressive House, Techno, Trance, Breaks

TRACKLISTS:
A. Café Del Mar (Orbital Remix)
B. Café Del Mar (Michael Mayer Remix)

SHORT INFO:
Energy 52's Café Del Mar is one of the most iconic tracks in dance music. Over the years, Café Del Mar has achieved legendary status, regularly featuring in lists of the greatest dance tracks of all time. To put it simply, Café Del Mar is a cultural phenomenon, encapsulating the spirit of an era and influencing generations of artists and fans alike.
Now this iconic track is being remixed by two of the most revered acts in electronic music, Orbital and Michael Mayer. Orbital, the pioneering British electronic dance duo consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, have continued to shape the electronic music scene since their emergence in 1989. Their remix is an ode to the golden age of rave, with clattering breakbeats and an ethereal synth line pulsing through its early stages before the iconic lead warps into view. A key figure in Cologne's electronic scene, Michael Mayer co-founded the influential Kompakt label, contributing significantly to its direction and success. For his interpretation, Mayer leans into head spinning, hypnotic rhythms, with tribal drums and the patiently evolving lead line building towards a climax that is more subtle but no less effective.




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Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Format: LP
Format Notes: 140g vinyl

Track List:

A1 : Mighty Mouse (5:20)
A2 : Summer Breeze (5:39)
A3 : Sweet Children (5:47)

B1 : Funk It Down (5.03)
B2 : Living For The City (6.21)
B3 : Walking On the Wild Side (5.04)

Release Notes:

Funky soul-jazz organist Caesar Frazier crafted superior Hammond funk. 75, his second LP, is a rare gem. It’s comfortably his greatest artistic statement.

The follow-up to Hail Ceasar!, it’s a taut, grooving set that expands his sound and, put simply, it’s got better songs. The key elements of his debut album are all there – production from maestro Bob Porter, accompaniment from hip players (Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Cornell Dupree, John Tropea) and arrangement from Horace Ott - but the overall sound is elevated. The tightly jamming, expressive jazz-funk makes for a richer, fuller, more satisfying experience.

75 is a mixture of hard-driving originals, deeply beautiful slower numbers to vary the tempo and a couple of classy covers. The crazy bombastic “Mighty Mouse” - a riot of horns, organ and in the pocket drums - became an acid jazz classic at Dingwalls and it’s easy to see (hear?) how. A blissed out, lushly instrumental take on Seals and Crofts’s “Summer Breeze” follows, perfect for those sunshine sets.

Side A closes with the heavenly “Sweet Children”. A loping, funky jazz masterpiece famously sampled by Kanye West for Common’s “Real People” from Be. It opens beautifully, with soaring sax and a funky horn section combining with weightless keyboard tones atop snapping drums. Unsurprisingly, the excellence endures right through to the end.

The B side opens with perhaps the album’s most famous track. "Funk It Down” contains the familiar “I can feel the funk” vocal refrain throughout. But it’s the gorgeous, insouciant bridge that you should all know and love, having been used as the hook for Gang Starr’s “Ex-Girl To Next Girl”. A great cover of Stevie Wonder's “Living for the City” comes next, with an unforgettable bass-line which anchors the entire heavy rhythm section workout. Dizzying organ, triumphant horns and sun-dappled guitar grooves combine to create “Walking On The Side”, rounding out a pretty smoking set.

This is one of those rare 70s funk-soul-jazz LPs on which a bad track cannot be found. It’s all essential. So of course finding original copies on vinyl at affordable prices has been tough for years.

Mastered brilliantly by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and with painstakingly reproduced artwork by the Be With team, this fresh Be With reissue ensures this legendary LP now sounds, looks and feels as sensational as it should.
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2018 Reissue of the Classic, Now in HQ Gatefold Sleeve! Original Cover Art, Carefully remastered 3LP from Original Tapes + Bonus Download

Tracklist
A1. Plays I Play feat. Gry
A2. Pensum
B1. Living Lips
B2. Lostfound feat. Gry
C1. Of the Field
C2. McLeod
D1. Pharoah In the Morning feat. Gry
D2. Whether It Was
E. Picture Us
F1. Close Air
F2. Leland

Francis Harris is one of the most interesting figures on the american electronic music cicruit and beyond. His output has gone from tightly wound tech house cuts as Adultnapper in the early days, sublime deep house as Frank & Tony, intricate and expressive musical journeys as evident in his two solo-albums 'Leland' and 'Minutes Of Sleep', and ambient shoegaze with two Aris Kindt albums, co-produced with Gabe Hedrick. Most recently Harris branched out with a new label - Kingdoms - a home for his love of a more adventurous sound.
Up until now his most notable milestones remain the two solo-albums Leland (2012) and Minutes Of Sleep (2014) who became essential albums of the genre. Both albums have been out of print for a long time and due to public demand we are happy to present new vinyl editions of both albums. Carefully restored from original masters and artwork the albums now appear in gatefold-sleeves while Leland spans over three vinyl discs and Minutes Of Sleep over two, just like the sold out originals.

‚Leland' features Danish vocalist Gry on three tracks including "lostfound," the first single and video which was remixed by Mathew Herbert and debuted on Pitchfork. Also featured throughout are Emil Abramyan, whose poignant performance on cello evokes comparison to Arthur Russell, and Greg Paulus (No Regular Play/Matthew Dear Band), whose improvisational free jazz inspired trumpet accents converse thoughtfully with Harris' own tonal melodies performed on piano and guitar. Determined to produce electronic music with warmth and true dynamic range, Harris recorded and mixed "Leland" with Jordan Lieb on an analog SSL and then enlisted legendary engineer Joe Lambert to master the project.

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World excluding FR, UK,US,Belgium & Netherlands

Packaging: 1 x 140 grs Black Vinyl, 3mm spine sleeve with UV Gloss finish, Printed Inner Sleeeve,, marketing front sticker

SHORT BIOG

Following 2022' acclaimed 'Topical Dancer' album with Charlotte Adigéry, here comes 'Letter To Yu', the debut solo album by Bolis Pupul : produced by fellow Belgians Soulwax & released on DEEWEE/Because Music. Exploring many themes including loss, grief, ancestry, culture, belonging/not belonging and identity. It's no coincidence that Bolis Pupul's music sounds the way it does. Born in Belgium to a Chinese mother and Belgian father and raised in the super-cool creative city of Ghent, Bolis' music is a joyous cross-cultural assemblage. Mixing widescreen electronica with the warm-hearted and wonky naivete of Belgian New Beat, Bolis' singular sonics are at once playful, emotive, unrelenting and tender. The real key to unlocking Bolis' musical secret, however, is that conversation he has between his Eastern and Western roots. The creation of the album is built around Bolis' trip to Hong Kong earlier this year, made to reconnect with his late mother's roots.

TRACKLISTING VINYL:
A1. Letter To Yu
A2. Completely Half
A3. Goodnight Mr Yi
A4. Doctor Says
A5. Spicy Crab
B1. Ma Tau Wai Road
B2. Causeway Bae
B3. Cantonese
B4. Kowloon
B5. Cosmic Rendez-Vous












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Territories: Worldwide no restrictions

Format Notes: 2022 re-issue, 140g double vinyl, includes the CD bonus track “Tanqueray”, reproduction of the original stickered sleeve


Track List:

1 A1 : Street Level Entrance (1:52)
2 A2 : Get At Me (4:08)
3 A3 : Diggin’ U Out (4:48)
4 A4 : Safe + Sound (4:49)

5 B1 : Somethin’ 4 Tha Mood (5:55)
6 B2 : Don’t You Eat It! (1:08)
7 B3 : Can I Eat It? (4:59)
8 B4 : It’z Your Fantasy (4:23)

9 C1 : Tha Ho In You (4:45)
10 C2 : Dollaz + Sense (5:53)
11 C3 : Let You Havit (3:40)
12 C4 : Summer Breeze (4:34)

13 D1 : Quik’s Groove III (2:37)
14 D2 : Sucka Free (2:11)
15 D3 : Keep Tha “P” In It (5:25)
16 D4 : Hooray 4 Tha Funk (2:11)
17 D5 : Tanqueray (4:19)

Release Notes:

DJ Quik is a giant of West Coast hip-hop. With 1995’s Safe + Sound, he scaled new levels of musical magnificence with his signature new age P-Funk/laconic G-Funk. A quintessential, sun-scorched LA album, this is pretty much essential. Typical for mid-90s albums the original vinyl copies are now rare so here’s the Be With re-issue, complete with “Tanqueray”, the hidden track from the original CD release.

A preternaturally gifted producer/rapper, DJ Quik has produced scores of LA gangsta rap classics. He’s released platinum and gold records of his own, as well as helped craft them for the likes of Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr Dre. Quik has always been quirkier and more interesting than his gangsta rap peers, both musically and lyrically. An old-school funk producer at heart, he’s also incredibly nice on the mic. His raps often deal in boasts, jokes and good times but also cover his beefs, his trials and his trauma. Partying and pain, all mixed up. DJing and producing hype beat tapes from age 14, Quik’s tracks blended the languid funk and rubbery synths of Zapp and George Clinton with a gangsta aesthetic, creating a more danceable foil to Compton’s more typical nihilistic hedonism. Ultimately, his records sound custom engineered to drift out over sun-soaked barbecues.

By the time of his third album DJ Quik was a household name on the West Coast - California’s premier rapper/producer not named Andre Young. Released on Profile in 1995, Safe + Sound was certified gold. Less reliant on samples and more focused on live instruments, it elevated him from producer to fully-fledged composer. This sound — the quick, winding basslines, tinny high hats, smooth instrumental solos, soulful pipes, and Roger Troutman’s talkbox — defined him. This is an album of full-blown masterpieces. Rich soundscapes and masterfully arranged orchestrations with dense layers of sounds, intricate rhythms, and well-balanced songwriting.

The first track proper, “Get At Me” samples Cameo whilst Quik takes aim at the Judases in his life, the horn-laced chorus providing a triumphant feel. On the horizontal “Diggin’ U Out”, the soulful electric piano of Warryn Campbell lays a relaxed groove for Quik to talk over about one of his favourite topics: sex. Title track “Safe + Sound” chronicles Quik’s formative years over a slick instrumental. The moody bass locks a laidback infectious groove, the hook is catchy and Quik’s delivery is in fine form. On the uber-chilled “Somethin’ 4 Tha Mood”, Quik cooks up a breezy, feel good track of sparkly keyboards, syncopated claps, shuffling hi-hats, woozy synths and a floating two-minute flute solo courtesy of Robert “Fonksta” Bacon. Analysing the highs and lows of an average day in the hood, it echoes Cube’s “It Was a Good Day”.

“It’z Your Fantasy” is a silky smooth soundtrack to Quik’s detailed retelling of a sexcapade with a young lady and whilst “Tha Ho In You” is musically perfect for that midsummer family BBQ, its lyrical content is unsurprisingly decidedly less family-friendly. A real highlight, the infamous “Dollaz + Sense” is one of the most ruthless diss tracks of all time. The brutal lyrics ride a laidback West Coast beat, flipping a sample from Young & Company’s “I Like (What You’re Doing To Me)” as Quik fires lyrical shots at his arch Compton nemesis, MC Eiht. On the loping, hazy “Let You Havit”, Quik is again in gangsta mode, with more bars of barbs aimed at Eiht, rhyming over sun-kissed synthy-rollerskate funk.

Some of the finest tracks on Safe + Sound are those designed to de-stress. The evocative “Summer Breeze” is a classic warm-weather jam, anchored by a twangy funk guitar, breezy string arrangement, and a soulful hook delivered by Dionne Knighton. Quik’s nostalgic lyrics are not far from DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime”, reminiscing over barbecues at the park, young love, and the brevity of halcyon youth. The relaxed and jazzy “Quik’s Groove III” is another highlight, as bass, guitar, piano and flute combine to create a smooth, soulful instrumental.

The swaggering “Shack Up”-sampling “Sucka Free” features a cameo from Playa Hamm, all funky braggadocio and over much too quikly (pun thoroughly intended). The jazz-flavoured “Keep Tha ‘P’ In It”, again featuring Playa Hamm but this time extending the cameo invitations to Hi-C, 2nd II None and Kam, is pure laidback P-Funk. The deep bass and industrial drums make sure the groove hits hard.

“Tanqueray” was originally a hidden track on the CD version of the album, but it’s too good to hide. This wild party samples Brass Construction’s gigantic “Get Up To Get Down” and soars in its drunk-ebullience. An apt way to close this party-driven set.

This 2022 Be With double LP re-issue has been mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis, cut by Pete Norman and pressed at Record Industry. Unusual for the time, Safe + Sound was originally pressed as a double, so all that was missing was the CD’s hidden bonus track “Tanqueray”, so we’ve fixed that. The original vinyl release never got a picture sleeve, so we’ve recreated the original’s promo-style silver-sticker and plain black jacket. A subtle cover for a wonderfully unsubtle record.
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2x 12” colored vinyl with full cover print

TRACKLIST:

A1 Sound Stream – Love Jam (Hardspace Mix)

B1 Kenny Larkin x Alex Reece – Loop 2 (Hardspace Mix)
B2 Andrei Morant – Simple Addition (Hardspace Mix)

C1 Russian Roulette – I Believe (Hardspace Mix)

D1 DJ Rush – Don’t You Love Me (Hardspace Mix)
D2 Damon Wild – Gearbox (Hardspace Mix)


INFO:

Len Faki returns as Hardspace for part three of his new remix-series, giving his favorite tunes a new life on the dancefloor.

An unusual pairing at first glance, Hardspace takes up Soundstream’s anthem Love Jam from 2006, the kind of Detroit-tinged disco edit to drop in the peak moment of techno set.

Then it’s rewind time to another decade, when DnB-Veteran Alex Reece was remixing Motorcity icon Kenny Larkin. Hardspace’s mix of Loop 2 retains the playful jazzy notes and growling bassline of the original and turns its oldschool breakbeats into a snappy 4x4-groove.

The deadly effective tool that is Andrei Morant’s Simple Addition makes for a perfect base to build upon for Faki’s signature editing style, emphasizing the plastic shuffle of grooving percussive elements while adding some booming low-end.

DJ Rush features with two vocal-heavy cuts on this release: first up the Russian Roulette-hymn I Believe, which sounds even trippier in the stripped-back Hardspace version; then a creepy while sexy mix of Don’t You Love Me that steadily builds tension for minutes before slowly giving way to a seductive beat.

Closing out with a bang, Damon Wild’s Gearbox from 1995 gets a rework: the full power acid-riff is still working its magic but now sounding much more punchy and to the point in this tidied up Hardspace edit.



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2022 Repress

The ongoing importance of this album is indisputable, essential both to techno and to Tresor. It is a history intertwined. This work elevates its maker as master, and remain a cherished moment in the Tresor story, sharing an irrefutable singular magic, sounding as present and indispensable as when first created. To understand this work fully is to stand back and celebrate its impact. Originally released in 1994, 'Internal Empire' marks a point of transition for Robert Hood moving on from his previous collaborations within Underground Resistance. Robert Hood advanced uncovering the power of true minimalism. Deep soul through a simplicity that showed how much could be done with so little. The devastating rhythms of this album forge the unmatched spirit of this sound, influencing generations to come.
Tresor.27 is re-mastered and re-cut, releasing February 1st, 2019, on CD and 180g. 2LP vinyl. More

2x 12” colored vinyl with full cover print, transparent turquoise

TRACKLIST:

A1 Phuture - Your Only Friend - (Hardspace Mix)

B1 UK Gold - Agent Wood (Hardspace Mix)
B2 A-STS - Base (Hardspace Mix)

C1 Justin Berkovi - Drum Crazy (Hardspace Mix)
D1 Test - Overdub (Hardspace Mix)

D2 Wax - Her Majesty 909 (Hardspace Mix)


INFO:

On the second installment for Len Faki’s newly founded platform Hardspace, the veteran producer goes back to vaults of his collection in order to unearth more hidden gems, turning them into tracks that can not only keep up with modern dancefloor standards, but even bring new life and audience to these personal favorite classics.

Phuture’s Your Only Friend with its iconic lyrics was an absolute anthem back in the day and had a big impact on the young Len Faki. Being able to remix it himself was a very special experience, resulting in an equally strong and emotional Hardspace Mix.

A standout of the early 2000s, Agent Wood by UK Gold still stands as a prime example of tribal techno. This remix builds on the original’s wild drumming sequence and gripping vocals, but manages to pack even more drive and the necessary extra oomph for today’s sound systems.

The only more recent outing on Hardspace Vol. 2 is Base by young German producer A-STS. An extremely simple techno tool that had enough room for Hardspace to add many additional elements like more drums, a new breakdown and even a dubby synthline to completely transform the track towards the end.

Drum Crazy holds up to its name — a DJAX-UP classic that got remixed into a distinctly more „techno“ version with booming low end and more emphasis on the synth lines, while still keeping the crazy onslaught of all things drums going.

A certified banger in 1992 already, Overdub by Belgium outfit Test stood out with its insane main synth motif, which gets dialed back here into something more simple yet even more powerful with some added layers of groove.

Stemming from the same group of early 90’s producers, Her Majesty 909 is a time-honored example of expert use of this seminal drum machine. The Hardspace mix brings the rework up to latest production levels but also keeps the stripped-back charme of the original intact, while making the already reverb-laden track feel even bigger.

Hardspace Vol. 2 is a compilation varied enough to come out in many different sets and settings and at the same time gives us a deeper understanding of the path the DJ and producer Len Faki aka Hardspace is on.


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Territories: WW-FR

LP

Tracklist :

A1. Bicha
A2. Fourmis
A3. Calor
A4. Dropi Dropa

B1. Double Rainbow
B2. Renata
B3. Moto
B4. Beijo
B5. Coucou Pascal

Release Info:

Blending British techno and hyperpop with the Baile Funk and samba of singer Paula's native Brazil, PPJ are considered by British magazine NME to be one of the most innovative bands of the moment.

The double EP "Bloco Vol.1 & Vol.2" tells the story of the band's journey to Rio de Janeiro, far from the postcards we know of Brazil.

"One of the most innovative new names around" NME

"A fascinating and exhilarating blend of neoperreo, techno and electroclash from a group to watch" RESIDENT ADVISOR

"Kaleidoscopic techno-pop" DJ MAG

"A real anti-depression remedy"LINE OF BEST FIT

"Their main goal? To make everybody dance" METAL MAGAZINE

‘It’s hard to find an act as distinctive as PPJ » MIXMAG

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