As with most things, this project started with a conversation in the pub between me and Martin.

As we discussed what J-Walk and BiD could do next we chatted about our mutual love of DIY, Post Punk, Reggae, Digital & Dub, how about using that feel as an initial jump off on the next thing and see how you get on? I suggested.
As is his way Martin considered the suggestion, then promptly disappeared, 6 weeks later something landed in my inbox, it was titled Broken Beauty and the music contained embraced all those symbiotic ideals and culture.
Nailed it!

Recorded entirely in Stockport using a mixed kit bag of cheap forgotten keyboards, guitar, bass and effects pedals, this LP takes the J-Walk aesthetic and applies the wider palette of these influences to create something unique, those past and present influences forged together to bring you something truly DIY - instructions below.
How To Make Such A Thing...

Deactivate social media. Ignore the internet, don't answer text messages, avoid other music, the telly and other people. This is a process where it's only you in the room with whatever's in your mind. You will be there for some time and the loneliness can hurt a little.

Forget any predetermined ideas. Forget everything you've ever done before. This is an opportunity to start from scratch, but with years of accumulated knowledge and craftsmanship. Trust yourself.
Be scared. Be excited about not knowing what will happen and what will result.

Don't use midi sequencing, virtual instruments or samples. Just plug a toy instrument into an amp, press a rhythm and play around to see what happens. If it sounds good and fresh then record it. Plug a bass in to jam around and you'll soon hear and feel what sits in the pocket of the beat. Record it as it is. Dirty is real and good. Cleanliness equals sterility. Loop the bassline. Plug a guitar in and do the same.

Don't think when doing any of this. Just experiment with interest and curiosity and the music will take care of itself. You will now have a groove which is also about half a song minimum. Play some keys from the toys on top of what you have. Put 'em through effects pedals. Again, don't overthink it and don't try to get it clean. Add sound effects in right and random places.

There you go. Something you've never made before. But more importantly, it's something you've never heard before.

You don't have to die to be reincarnated.

BROKEN BEAUTY...You can't be either without also having been the other.

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Khartomb's Post-Punk/Reggae tinged masterpiece Swahili Lullaby/Teekon Warriors influenced by contemporaries of the time The Slits & The Raincoats was originally released on 45, 23rd June 1983.

Despite initial interest following their Peel Session & support from Melody Maker and Zig Zag the band were unable to capitalise & Swahili Lullaby/Teekon Warriors remains their only vinyl release, until now.
40 years later, the tracks have been exclusively licensed by BiD alongside the previously unreleased Pat Nevin favourite 'Daisy High'.

Complementary remixes of Swahili Lullaby are provided by fans of the original version Synkro & Talking Drums.

Swahili Lullaby - Under the radar post punk jam with killer drums, dubby bassline and spidery guitar, topped off by a haunting melancholic vocal.

Teekon Warriors - Deep ode to the fallen, dope drums, angular guitar, tribal drums and a sweet vocal.

Daisy High - Peel dubbed Daisy High "Subversive MOR" who are we to disagree, haunting flute peppered slow jam with a bossa feel & a sick guitar lick.

Synkro's Balearic Dub takes the original version and sends it to a transcendental spiritual realm, creating a future classic for Sunrises and Sunsets for the next millennium.
The Talking Drums Redub tweeks, extends & amps up the Dub Pressure to maximum psychedelic levels.

JD Twitch (Optimo) - "Khartomb package is most excellent"
Michael Kuyck (Essential Space) - "Goddamn this Khartomb release is supreme!"

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BiD are back with a new selection in a relaxed & spectacular fashion.

Introducing KlangKollektor aka Lars Fischer a solo project by the drummer with the Psychedelic Cumbia band Trak Trak from Nurnberg.
This debut release from KlangKollektor has been developing for some time, liberated from Lars' hard drive and mastered by the Franconian Conny Plank - Frank Mollena (Bambi Davidson) the release channels the pioneering spirit of Dub and places it in a present context.

A stellar collection of seven dubwise tracks over 4 sides with a Techno and Balearic influence that's been on heavy rotation here for the past year and now available for all to feel.
All synths, programming, pianos, bass, percussion, dub mixing, editing & mixing by Lars Fischer.
Cover image courtesy of renowned German photographer - Thomas Bergner @thomas.bergner
Sleeve Design by Yasmin - Small Press @smallpressstudio
Final Mix and Mastering by Frank Mollena

Across the board five star reviews from those that received the very limited promo.

"Deep evocative and meditative modern dubtronica. Beautiful"
"A deep and truly mesmerising album, Love this"
"A fine late night mix of jazz / electronica / Detroit all rolled into one"
"Immersive soundscapes for the head, a very nice collection"
"Ooofffftttttt, this is lush, beautiful stuff!"
"Very nice indeed . Atmospheric dub magic"
"Nice Krautrock-balearic-psych all rolled into one with dubby elements"
"Super deep balearic dub leanings"
"Wow! Incredible work!"
"s u b l i m e !!!!!!"
"This is so good, really refreshing and sweet for the ears."
"Lovely dubbly"

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For BiD006 we're very pleased to announce that renowned Artist Matt Sewell has agreed to release his fledgling audio project, Sewell & The Gong on the label.

4 guitar led mystical meanderings and deep meditations of cosmic transcendental psychedelic folk.
Matt's acoustic guitar has been a fixture of his studio for many years, although nobody would ever of known as he kept it pretty much to himself.
Over the years he developed a self taught, repetitive, finger picked style in hushed tones to not bother anybody. Just a quiet little part of his studio practise, calming looping melodies.

Like his art, his music is very much inspired by nature, earth magic and cosmic wanderings. His 'A Crushing Glow' compilations are pretty much a defining list of inspirations.
Never heard by anybody outside of the family home that all changed after Matt started working with Newcastle based multi-instrumentalist, fellow pathfinder and astral traveler Chris Tate.
Combining forces Chris helped build a beautiful world for Matt's melodies to wander in, deep and lush and always, always positive.

It only feels right that this music now gets to stretch its legs in the outside world...>

mattsewell.co.uk

instagram.com/mattsewell

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Konformer are a band from Nuremberg in Germany.

Their members are;

Andreas Berg (Drums)
Kristian Krauß (Synthesizer)
Rainer Ruder (Bass)

Initially Konformer was not a project for the public, far away from expectations their sound was developed, with focus on only the essential, but that takes time.
The creation of their minimalist, rhythmic and repetitive groove patterns commence with bass loops and develop into modified strophic form.

Comparison with the likes of Early Kraftwerk and the output of cult German labels such as Brain and Sky are inevitable but Konformer sound a little bit like none of the above.
The record was produced and mastered by the 'Franconian Conny Plank' Frank Mollena at his Lonestar Studios in Nuremberg, Bavaria.

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This is the first release from new micro label 'Before I Die' curated by Jason Boardman (Aficionado Recordings).

Tungusku are a guitar based instrumental project inspired by hypnotic grooves from around the world. The duo behind the band are Phil Ratcliffe (Guitar) and James Defty (Bass) who are longtime collaborators of Manchester live hip-hop collective The Mouse Outfit.

Influenced by artists such as Khruangbin, Skinshape and Tommy Guerrero, Tungusku explore a sonic landscape that takes in stoner soul, jazzy psychedelia and low-end beats.
The five tracks on the EP were released on digital format and subsequently came to Jasons attention who remastered and collated them for vinyl release on this edition.
Before I Die commissioned MMU graduate @deedoubleyoo to provide fine art direction for the first release to complete the package.

Call it Balearic, Jazz, Funk, Soul or whatever you like, this is an accomplished debut from emerging Mancunian artists highly aware of their direction of travel.

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Lovingly recorded at home in lockdown during 2020/21 by Martin 'Brew' Fisher and receiving a very limited cassette release in September 2021.

Mellotronique was on heavy rotation on Jason's Bluetooth speaker, Jason gave his Stockport based compatriot and friend a call to see if they could collaborate to do a vinyl release of the LP via Before I Die and a plan was agreed over tasty Noodle dishes at The Mekong Cat on Hillgate.

The LP is a collection of inspired pieces which wears its influences on its sleeve but is uniquely J-Walk, elements of Art Of Noise's bohemian electronica, 1980's Japanese video game cues, electro funk, street soul, slow motion disco and melodic synth jams all with the crisp percussion, meaty basslines and the spacious production Martin is renowned for.

As Martin states on the original release notes:
Someplace in the scheme of things, this world must touch another...a world where a mutant fantasy strange brew of street soul, electronic funk, slow motion disco and ambient rave can be found and heard, a place of perpetual twilight where the sun and the stars both shine bright...

For further information, please listen.

All songs written, arranged, produced and mixed by Martin Fisher
Martin Fisher: synthesizers, electric guitar and drum programming
Mastered by Joseph Reiser
Mastering coordination by Rik Walker
Artwork and design by Dylan Woodall.

"Great musicianship...it's all really excellent...sounds like a lost pen-friend from Lille who moved to the Pacific Ocean and sent back paintings..." (Mark Rae)

"Not many producers have been dropping lush laidback beats for as long or as reliably as J-Walk.
In his latest LP, cosmic soulfulness meets low gravity grooviness in this NASA approved synth soaked space station soundtrack.
One for all you space rangers" (The Slow Music Movement)

IF YOU LIKE THIS MAKE SURE TO ALSO CHECK BiD001!

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More