7"

- Unreleased material from the lost tapes of the album that Avi Matos recorded in 1986. First seeing the light of day nearly 40 years after.
- First ever reggae and dub record to be made in Israel
- Produced by the legendary Dennis Bovell


Genre: Reggae/Dub


TRACKLISTS:

For 7" Version:
A Side: Ish Im Neshama
B Side: Dub Im Neshama



SHORT INFO:

Straight from the long forgotten tapes of Avi and never released before. The DUB version of Ish I'm Neshama (Man with soul) that was featured on his iconic Lokeach Et Hayom Leat album that was released in 1986 as the first ever reggae and dub record to be made in Israel. Produced by the greatest of the greatest Yossi Fine and Dennis Bovel.

This 7" with the special dub version sees the light of day for the first time ever, alongside its' original track. FIYAH ??



VITAL SALES POINTS:
Please add VSPs as key points.
f.i.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Genre: Reggae/Dub

Diggers Holy Grail - Second Release from Tel-Aviv based Label Bauhaus Records
Re-mastered at Curve Pusher Studios (where legendary Mad Professor, Lee 'Scratch' Perry records were done)
Originally Released in 1986 , now re-isseud in 2019

Tracklist LP:

A1 Lokeach Et Hayom Leat
A2 Ratsinu Kzat Lauf
A3 Haketshev Mishtane
A4 Kol Hayom Histovavti
B1 Al Telchi Achshav
B2 Hasheket Shebach
B3 Ish Im Neshama
B4 Al Telchi

Short Info:

We're delivering you what is truly a passion project for us at Bauhaus Records. When the album came out in 1986 Avi Matos' album "Lokeach Et Hayom Le'at (taking the day slowly) was the first ever reggae and dub album to be made in Israel. Needless to say it was way ahead of its time. Back then, the production has been a milestone and brought together some of Israel's best musicians at the time.
Re-mastered with love to provide the true reggae and dub sound

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

- Beautiful 1 LP 33rpm Cut Re-Edition
- 33 rpm LP mastercut by Emil Berliner

*** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN ***

Tracklisting:
1. Mr. Henri Rousseau's Dream
2. Crossing
3. Trompe-l'œil
4. Catastrophe E

Info


WRWTFWW & Palto Flats Records are ecstatic to announce the highly-anticipated reissue of Japanese percussionist Midori Takada's sought after and timeless ambient / minimal album "Through The Looking Glass", originally released in 1983 by RCA Japan.

Considered a Holy Grail of Japanese music by many, "Through The Looking Glass" is Midori Takada's first solo endeavor, a captivating four-song suite capturing her deep quests into traditional African and Asian percussive language and exploring contemplative ambient sounds with an admirably precise use of marimba. The result is alternatively ethereal and vibrant, always precise and mesmerizing, and makes for an atmospheric masterpiece and an unparalleled sonic and spiritual experience.

The fully licensed reissue is available as a single 33rpm LP and a limited 45rpm DLP, both cut directly from the original studio reels (AAA), at Emil Berliner (formerly the in-house recording department of renowned classical record label Deutsche Grammophon) for the 45rpm DLP, and at the equally famous Frankfurter SST Studio for the LP. It is also available in CD format for the first time. All versions come with extensive liner notes.

Bio

Midori Takada is a composer, multi percussionist, and theater artist renowned in Japanese vanguard circles. She will tour Europe this year.

Midori released two solo albums: "Through The Looking Glass" and "Tree Of Life" and wrote music for Tadashi Suzuki's theater plays. Her hypnotic, minimalist music is based in the concept of coherence between sound and the human body. She performs solo on marimba and other percussion instruments.

She debuted on the scene of Berlin Philharmonic, performing with the RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Berlin just after graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts in 1974. She continued her career with solo concerts in Japan and abroad.

In the 1980s Midori began to explore the traditional music of Asia and Africa. Her fascination resulted in joint projects with Kakraba Lobi from Ghana, Lamine Konte from Senegal, Farafina Band from Burkina Faso, and Korean musicians: zither player Chi Seong-Ja, flute player Won-Il, and saxophone player Kang Tae-Hwan. She also led Mkwaju Ensemble's innovative percussion project and still performs with free-jazz band Ton-Klami with Kang Tae-Hwan and jazz pianist Masahiko Satoh.

In the past 20 years, Midori Takada spent more time in theaters than in concert halls - composing and performing live music for theater. She regularly works with Tadashi Suzuki and his Suzuki Company of Toga on their adaptations of "Electra" and "King Lear".

Takada's compositions have a remarkable way of affecting the imagination. Her minimalist, contemplative music is filled with the concept of infinity and reminds us of a moon voyage, falling stars, a journey into the ocean, or a walk in the garden. The trans melodies, initially simple, begin to loop and splinter, their rhythm breaking and thickening, slowly drawing the listener into another reality.

Every live performance Midori Takada gives is unique and prepared especially for that occasion.




Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

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

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

No sales to Japan!

CD
Genre: Jazz, Fusion, Funk

Tracklisting CD
01. Shrimp Dance
02. Kuro To Shiro
03. Walk Tall
04. Cat
05. Romance


Info

We Release Jazz is ecstatic (purrrr!) to announce the official reissue of Hiroshi Suzuki's glorious jazz-fusion-funk Holy Grail Cat (originally released in 1976), sourced from the original masters and available on limited edition 180 gram vinyl mastered at half speed for full audiophile sound, as well as on digipack CD. Both versions come with liner notes by Teruo Isono.
Cat was recorded in October 1975 at at Nippon Columbia Studio, while Hiroshi Suzuki was visiting his home country of Japan after moving to Las Vegas in 1971 to play with Buddy Rich and perfect his craft. Back on his old stomping grounds, the man known as Neko (Cat) immediately reunited with his dear friends for an epic two day session of groove magic. The chemistry was still intact. The skills and style had grown.
The result, Cat, is a smooth masterpiece, a deep and soulful affair where stunning trombone solos by Hiroshi Suzuki flirt with Takeru Muraoka's heavenly saxophone and the sensual rhythm section of Hiromasa Suzuki (keyboards), Kunimitsu Inaba (bass), and Akira Ishikawa (drums).
Celebrated in jazz collectors circles, in the lofi beat scene, and among music diggers around the world, Cat has become one of the most sought-after Japanese jazz albums of all time and, much like Ryo Fukui's Scenery, has fascinated old and young generations alike.

Points of interests

- For fans of jazz, fusion, funk, trombone, Japanese jazz, smooth rides, cats, allure.

- Official reissue of the glorious jazz-fusion album by Japanese trombonist extraordinaire Hiroshi "Neko" Suzuki.

- 10th release from We Release Jazz, following Ryo Fukui's Scenery, Mellow Dream, A Letter from Slowboat, and Ryo Fukui in New York, the soundtrack of Le Cercle Rouge by Eric Demarsan, Stuff Combe 5 + Percussion, Marc Moulin's Placebo Live 1971 and Boillat Thérace Quintet albums. We Release Jazz is the sister-label of Geneva-based WRWTFWW Records (Midori Takada's Through The Looking Glass and Lunar Cruise with Masahiko Sato, Pierre Barouh's Le Pollen, Jun Fuka-machi's Nicole, Grauzone's discography, …)


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

WORLD EXCLUDING GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, AUSTRIA (GSA), NEW ZEALAND.
2LP, Special remarks : Doppelvinyl im Gatefold + 180g + 2 printed Innersleeves + Downloadcode

Tracklist 2LP:
A1 Amniotic
A2 Black Day
A3 Sirens
B1 Rearrange My Mind
B2 Frozen
B3 Father Ocean
C1 Swallow
C2 Take Me Home
C3 Riverman
D1 Return To Oz
D2 Burning Sun


Short release info:
Berlin's own Steffen Linck, a multi-instrumentalist known as Monolink, announces his debut album Amniotic, due April 20th via Embassy of Music subsidy Embassy One.
It is the experiential nature of Monolink's music that defies the muddy definition of modern live electronic music. Armed with a singular blend of Berlin underground culture with the pop-leaning sensibility of American electronica, Steffen transports listeners into his own realm of sonic exploration. The music is pillared by emotive guitar tones, analog synth stabs and, for the first time, his own vocals - acting as a singular point of departure for this budding talent.

Amniotic stands as Monolink's first complete body of work, following his 2017 EP 'Burning Sun' via Sol Selectas, and 'The End', a collaborative record with Acid Pauli in 2015.



Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Finally: the long awaited Trentemøller debut album - maybe one of the most anticipated independent albums of the year - is ready to be released in October!The danish producer Anders Trentemøller is one of the hottest artists on the electronic circuit - the man of the moment!His 12“es broke many sales-records and he‘s been voted as the shooting star in 2005 by many reader polls.So the time is right to release his debut album The Last Resort“ - a beautifully crafted, astonishing masterpiece, that will leave you breathless. The 13 instrumental tracks together form a wordless musical story, almost like the soundtrack of a movie. It manages to capture a whole range of emotions in subtle melodic miniatures, dreamy ambiences, dusty beats, deep dub-tracks and driving groove-excursions. An ever-changing kaleidoscope of colours and moods, „The Last Resort“ without a doubt contains Trentemøller’s best work to date. Although it’s an electronic album, it also incorporates live-drums, guitars, bass and other acoustic instruments like celesta, glockenspiel, melodica and even DJ scratching to create a more organic feel. „Something I couldn’t manage with just electronica“, according to the producer.

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Territories:
Worldwide no exceptions
Format:
double LP
Format Notes:
2019 re-press, remastered, 180g vinyl, expanded to double LP, gatefold sleeve

Track List:

A1 : Blue Masses
A2 : Four Trk Samba
A3 : Tiny
A4 : Numb Millenium

B1 : 100 Years
B2 : Pescadito
B3 : Azucar

C1 : Flux And Meter
C2 : It’s Raining Again
C3 : Today Like Everyday
C4 : Soul Miner

D1 : As The Sea Holds Creatures Vast And True
D2 : So Blue It’s Black
D3 : Little Chin

Release Notes:

It’s rare that a certain sound is entirely an artist’s own. Although undeniably a stew of impeccable influences – from blues to folk to Latin to dusty funk, soul and hip-hop – one cannot hear a Tommy Guerrero song without immediately recognising it as his - and his only.

The cult skater from San Francisco is globally renowned as one of the original members of the legendary "Bones Brigade" team. And as an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, his laid-back soul is beloved by all who’ve basked in its blissful glow.

There’s something elemental about this music that really stirs the soul. Strikingly beautiful and instantly addictive, it’s a kind of funk-fuelled, melody-driven, groove-based magic. There's a serenity and heart in the playing that radiates warmth and splendour, as if crafted for endless sunsets. His albums that surfaced on Mo Wax at the turn of the century have been treasured since their release and it’s two of his most vital LPs that we're honoured to reintroduce.

The originals were quietly pressed on to a single piece of vinyl so we've worked closely with Tommy this year to bring you these fresh, limited editions. They have been lovingly remastered, cut nice and loud on to heavyweight double vinyl and presented in deluxe gatefold jackets.

A Little Bit Of Somethin’ is a quietly majestic gem. Brimming with Guerrero’s horizontal “loose grooves”, these brief but innovative instrumentals demonstrate a rich variety and, as such, comprise an LP that is aptly titled. An enchanting start-to-finish listen, it was instantly regarded as essential upon release via Mo Wax in 2000. It has aged remarkably well.

Throughout this inspired collection, simplicity is key. In deploying it, Guerrero presents a beautifully crafted melodic soundscape. The distinctive, mellifluous approach of his guitar style, blending Brazilian, Cuban, Mexican, soul and jazz motifs, is at once startlingly new and tantalisingly familiar. Set against unrushed percussion, the music releases a crystal clear stream of healing frequencies to create a fragile, hypnotic atmosphere.

Each track clocks in at around three minutes and, with a lack of studio polish or commitment to traditional song structure, it’s a wonder how this enigmatic record demands your attention. However, through its gentle dynamism and impressive playing, it does just that. Whilst resolutely low-key, this lo-fi aesthetic feels genuinely organic and remarkably personal; its powerful intimacy truly connects. It’s what makes this album so beloved of those lucky enough to be already familiar with it. From Margaret Kilgallen's truly iconic cover artwork to the music contained within, it's all brilliantly effortless.

Guerrero’s musical ideas are consistently compelling throughout, making it impossible to select highlights. The album’s laconic drift touches upon jazz-fusion workouts and slow-mo hip-hop drums, Tortoise-style experimental post-rock and cinematic sound textures. It’s at once hazy, light and bouncy yet sombre and bluesy. The Latin soul of El Chicano blends with the breezy jazz of Grant Green. By employing guitars and drum machines to create a stripped down rhythmic tapestry of spellbinding, addictive songs, there are even traces of The Durutti Column. A little bit of country, a little bit of rock & roll. A Little Bit Of Somethin’, indeed.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Territories: World excl. UK + North America

FORMAT digipack CD, silver pantone

Tracklist CD:

1. Temple Of Dos De Agua 01:00
2. Species Of The Pod 03:53
3. Andreaen Sand Dunes 06:15
4. Running Out Of Space 01:54
5. Habitat ‘O’ Negative 05:16
6. Universal Element 01:55
7. Drifting Into A Time Of No Future 03:33
8. Polymono Plexusgel 03:08
9. Surface Terrestrial Colonization 06:56
10. Funk Release Valve 03:06
11. Organic Hydropoly Spores 02:07
12. Draining Of The Tanks 02:43
13. Devil Ray Cove 02:49
14. Fusion Flats 03:55
15. Triangular Hydrogen Strain 03:55
16. Oxyplasmic Gyration Beam 04:17
17. Quantum Hydrodynamics 01:16
18. Lost Vessel 05:52
19. Bottom Feeders 03:25
20. Jazzy Fluids 03:21
21. C To The Power Of X+C To The Power Of X=MM=Unknown 02:35


Release Info:
Tresor Records is proud to announce forthcoming special editions of its entire catalogue of Drexciya and related projects. 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the passing of James Stinson and the releases of the Transllusion and Shifted Phases albums. In recognition, the rightsholders, their families, and the label have commissioned Detroit-based contemporary artist Matthew Angelo Harrison to re-conceptualize the covers of Tresor's Drexciya-related catalogue. These editions will be released sequentially, bimonthly, starting early-September 2022.

The series starts with Neptune's Lair, first released in 1999, with the Hydro Doorways single arriving shortly after. In November, Harnessed The Storm and Digital Tsunami are coming. In 2023 comes the release of Transllusion in February. The series is completed by the long-awaited re-release of Shifted Phases - The Cosmic Memoirs Of The Late Great Rupert J. Rosinthrope - at the end of March.

These records, individually and as a catalogue, represent some of the most crucial moments in the Tresor label history, with the sound and mythic world of Drexciya undoubtedly inspiring generations.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Vinyl only

GENRE/S:
Progressive House, Techno, Trance

TRACKLISTS:
A1. Café Del Mar (Nalin & Kane Remix)
B1. Café Del Mar (Deadmau5 Remix)

SHORT INFO:
Energy 52’s Café Del Mar has come to represent the most euphoric and hedonistic pleasures of dancefloors - in Ibiza and all around the world - and has been remixed by some of the biggest names in electronic music. Known for its infectious melody and its strong impact on dancefloors around the globe it charted multiple times around the world and won countless awards. Now, 30 years after its first original release, Superstition Records will be putting out a new series of releases, with brand new remixes as well as some of the many remixes from across the last three decades.

The second part in the series features two of the most recognizable interpretations, which fed into the hearts of millions: the remixes from 90ies Trance legends Nalin & Kane, originally released in 1998, which takes us on a deeper trance journey, raiding the senses with warm, calming pads before lush basses come through and ultimately that famous, instantly recognizable melody, alongside iconic Deadmau5 who delivered a remarkable housegrooving deep interpretation of the classic in 2008.

After about 15 years this cult classics are finally available again on vinyl in a new cutting.




Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Release Info:
Released for the first time in 2009, ‘utp_’ is the third installment of Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s V.I.R.U.S.'s series. It was commissioned for the 400th anniversary of Mannheim, Germany. The flowing 10-section multimedia work derives its shape from a rasterized structure of the southwestern city, founded in 1608. The recording documents the work’s debut performed by Ensemble Modern at the National Theatre in Mannheim. The music embraces the electronic, piano-based palettes, an expanded array of avant-garde chamber instrumentation and natural timbres. It combined the digital visual score created by Carsten Nicolai and Simon Mayer, and lighting design by Nigel Edwards.

Album art designed by Carsten Nicolai
Mastering by Bo @ Calyx


Tracklisting
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 1 // Side: A // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Attack/Transition
Playtime: 00:07:24
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719505
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 1 // Side: B // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Particle 1
Playtime: 00:06:40
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719507
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

---------------------------------------------------------
Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
Medium: 1 // Side: A // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Grains
Playtime: 00:06:24
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719506
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto

---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 1 // Side: B // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Transition
Playtime: 00:03:31
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719508
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------

Medium: 1 // Side: B // Track: 3

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Broken Line 1
Playtime: 00:06:32
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719509
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto

---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: C // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Plateaux 1
Playtime: 00:08:07
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719510
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------

Medium: 2 // Side: D // Track: 1

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Broken Line 2
Playtime: 00:06:25
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719513
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto

---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: C // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Silence
Playtime: 00:06:50
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719511
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: D // Track: 2

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Plateaux 2/End
Playtime: 00:13:10
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719514
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------
Medium: 2 // Side: C // Track: 3

Artist: Alva Noto; Ryuichi Sakamoto
Title: Particle 2
Playtime: 00:07:00
Explicit Lyrics: No
ISRC: UK6821719512
(P): 2022 NOTON
Country: Germany

Composer: Carsten Nicolai, Ryuichi Sakamoto
---------------------------------------------------------

Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

Territories: World

Format Notes: 140g vinyl double LP, previously Japan-only CD and limited vinyl release

Track List:

A1 - Sunset Reflection (04:41)
A2 - East Dry River (05:02)
A3 - Coastline (05:00)

B1 - Drifting Ice (05:57)
B2 - My Fire (04:00)
B3 - Woods And My Guitar (05:05)

C1 - Half Moon Shadow (04:38)
C2 - Last Summer In Rio (09:55)

D1 - Maracas Bay (06:16)
D2 - Down Town (04:36)

Release Notes:


Coastlines is the self-titled long player from the new Japanese production unit of DJ and producer Masanori Ikeda and solo artist, session musician and Cro-Magnon keyboard player Takumi Kaneko.

Masanori and Takumi have been part of the Japanese dance music scene for years and Coastlines was born out of their working together on soundtracks for video projects. The pair wanted to make laid-back listening music for now, laying Takumi’s playful keys over Masanori’s widescreen balearic jazz-fusion to conjure beautiful and breathtaking “coastlines”.

A couple of two-track 7"s put out in late 2018 and early 2019 on Japanese house music label Flower Records soon sold out. Those four tracks were expanded to a full album of music, “a joyous, relaxing, summery soundtrack for everyone’s after hours wind down” that was released just in time for summer. It soundtracked many a Be With BBQ in 2019.

The album opens in the horizontal with the sophisticated, cocktails-by-the-pool groove of “Sunset Reflection”. A lush, beatless wonder. Their re-imagining of Ralph MacDonald’s “East Dry River” removes all the original’s bells and whistles (quite literally) and re-gears it with a subtle balearic chug. The result is a percussive gem.

“Coastline” is a beach-jazz noodle. “Drifting Ice” is as chilled and glacial as its title would suggest, yet Masanori’s head-nod slo-mo house beats throb not far below the surface. “My Fire” is another soft killer, all swelling, swirling organ over muted kicks and snares. An elegant boom-bap.

A pair of insistent tunes of the deeply balearic variety raise the tempo, but not by too much of course. On “Woods And My Guitar” a half-heard vocal refrain breathes life into the synthetic xylophone and guitar. Deft piano-work turns “Half Moon Shadow” into lounge-house for the sophisticated beach bum. A classy duo.

The self-assured re-work of Azymuth’s “Last Summer In Rio” is arguably the album’s centrepiece. Ten minutes of casually propulsive slapped bass, steel pans and slick 80s soul beats. Cue the steel drum interlude of “Maracas Bay” before album closer “Down Town” transitions us one with a shuffling, string-hinted hit of ethereal, euphoric piano bliss. Gentle disco for the new decade.

As former Test Pressing scribe Dr. Rob observed on his ever-reliable Ban Ban Ton Ton blog, the Coastlines fusion is very much in conversation with their 80s counterparts, both at home and along the coastlines of different continents. So among the nods to revered Japanese artists like Hiroshi Sato, Sakamoto and Casiopea, there are also hints of Marcos Valle and Mtume, of the aforementioned Azymuth. “The production though is very much now, not then. Not retro, just proper”. We couldn’t put it better ourselves.

Coastlines was originally a CD release only available in Japan, with HMV putting out a super-limited vinyl version a few months later for Japanese Record Store Day. But this music is just too good, so when Be With was asked via Ken Hidaka to take care of a vinyl version for the rest of the world it wasn’t a tough decision.

Mastered by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman, this magnificent double LP has been pressed by the good people at Record Industry.


Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More