ISBN: 978-1-913231-35-4
Written by Spiral Tribe’s co-founder and visual artist, Mark Angelo Harrison, A Darker Electricity charts the infamous sound system’s nomadic journey and the rapid escalation of their popularity – and notoriety.
From small squat-scene parties in early 90s London to enormous warehouse raves and free festivals. The undercover police operation against them. The record deal with Youth. The creation of their community recording studio. The government stitch-up and their prosecution. The escape to Europe and the start of the teknival scene… More
Written by Spiral Tribe’s co-founder and visual artist, Mark Angelo Harrison, A Darker Electricity charts the infamous sound system’s nomadic journey and the rapid escalation of their popularity – and notoriety.
From small squat-scene parties in early 90s London to enormous warehouse raves and free festivals. The undercover police operation against them. The record deal with Youth. The creation of their community recording studio. The government stitch-up and their prosecution. The escape to Europe and the start of the teknival scene… More
More records from Velocity Press
ISBN: 978-1-913231-61-3
David Kane explores the evolution of UK Rap.
Cover art by Trevor Jackson whose own history in UK Rap is something worth exploring.
In July 2019, eleven years after Jay-Z became the first hip-hop artist to headline Glastonbury, Stormzy became the first English rapper to follow suit. Wearing a customised stab-proof vest designed by Banksy, the South London rapper delivered an explosive performance and finished by thanking the “legends for paving the way,” name-checking Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, and Giggs. Despite how unlikely it seemed for decades, UK rap was now firmly a part of pop music and the greater hip-hop canon.
Rich, nuanced, and often misunderstood, the history of UK rap is a story of music that refused to stand still. Factoring in socioeconomics, gender, identity, music industry disruption, and innovation, What Do You Call It? charts the artform’s first four decades, beginning when rap landed on our island in the early 1980s. Shaped by sound system culture, inspired by punk, and accelerated by rave, it has evolved from Britcore, UK hip-hop, and trip-hop of the late twentieth century to garage, grime, and drill.
Through cultural theory, historical research, and original interviews with key figures and collaborators in the UK rap scene, from pioneers like Malcolm McLaren, Soul II Soul, Tricky, Roots Manuva, and Roll Deep to modern artists like Dave, CASISDEAD, Little Simz, Loyle Carner, and Skengdo x AM, adds a rich human dimension to the UK rap story — one that helped change British music and culture forever.
“A long overdue exploration of rap music in the UK and its longstanding – albeit overlooked – legacy and influence. In an era when UK rappers dominate the charts, star in major movies and TV shows and front huge advertising campaigns for multi-national corporations, Kane traces back the arduous journey from maligned sub-culture to celebrated mascot of neoliberal capitalism.” Jehst
“David Kane writes with a deft touch and possesses a disarming and deeply insightful interview style. Sparking life, humour, and sorrow across every page of more than three decades of UK rap history.” Charlie Dark MBE
“Kane builds bridges in a rich musical universe full of heroes and villains—and plot twists. With an inimitable style, he merges culture high and low to bring new meaning to the music. What Do You Call It? is a landmark tome for UK rap music.” Brian DiGenti, Wax Poetics
“A mind rich in ideas” Stanley Ledbetter, The New Yorker More
David Kane explores the evolution of UK Rap.
Cover art by Trevor Jackson whose own history in UK Rap is something worth exploring.
In July 2019, eleven years after Jay-Z became the first hip-hop artist to headline Glastonbury, Stormzy became the first English rapper to follow suit. Wearing a customised stab-proof vest designed by Banksy, the South London rapper delivered an explosive performance and finished by thanking the “legends for paving the way,” name-checking Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, and Giggs. Despite how unlikely it seemed for decades, UK rap was now firmly a part of pop music and the greater hip-hop canon.
Rich, nuanced, and often misunderstood, the history of UK rap is a story of music that refused to stand still. Factoring in socioeconomics, gender, identity, music industry disruption, and innovation, What Do You Call It? charts the artform’s first four decades, beginning when rap landed on our island in the early 1980s. Shaped by sound system culture, inspired by punk, and accelerated by rave, it has evolved from Britcore, UK hip-hop, and trip-hop of the late twentieth century to garage, grime, and drill.
Through cultural theory, historical research, and original interviews with key figures and collaborators in the UK rap scene, from pioneers like Malcolm McLaren, Soul II Soul, Tricky, Roots Manuva, and Roll Deep to modern artists like Dave, CASISDEAD, Little Simz, Loyle Carner, and Skengdo x AM, adds a rich human dimension to the UK rap story — one that helped change British music and culture forever.
“A long overdue exploration of rap music in the UK and its longstanding – albeit overlooked – legacy and influence. In an era when UK rappers dominate the charts, star in major movies and TV shows and front huge advertising campaigns for multi-national corporations, Kane traces back the arduous journey from maligned sub-culture to celebrated mascot of neoliberal capitalism.” Jehst
“David Kane writes with a deft touch and possesses a disarming and deeply insightful interview style. Sparking life, humour, and sorrow across every page of more than three decades of UK rap history.” Charlie Dark MBE
“Kane builds bridges in a rich musical universe full of heroes and villains—and plot twists. With an inimitable style, he merges culture high and low to bring new meaning to the music. What Do You Call It? is a landmark tome for UK rap music.” Brian DiGenti, Wax Poetics
“A mind rich in ideas” Stanley Ledbetter, The New Yorker More
ISBN: 978-1-913231-67-5
How You Make Me Feel: The Life & Legacy of Marcus Intalex is a tribute to the late, great producer/DJ and a genre-transcending story of passion, creativity and timeless underground music. It has unprecedented insider access to his life and legacy with interviews with Goldie, Calibre, DJ Flight, Doc Scott, Mark XTC and many more. It’s also visually captivating, packed with over 100 rare photos, artwork, and memorabilia. More
How You Make Me Feel: The Life & Legacy of Marcus Intalex is a tribute to the late, great producer/DJ and a genre-transcending story of passion, creativity and timeless underground music. It has unprecedented insider access to his life and legacy with interviews with Goldie, Calibre, DJ Flight, Doc Scott, Mark XTC and many more. It’s also visually captivating, packed with over 100 rare photos, artwork, and memorabilia. More
ISBN: 978-1-913231-66-8
Drumz Of The South: The Dubstep Years (2004-2007) is the first photography book to present the early days of dubstep in detail. It features over 200 photographs by Georgina Cook from events and radio stations such as FWD>> at Plastic People, DMZ and Rinse FM, plus pioneering producers, DJs and MCs like Burial, Skream and Benga, Mala & Coki, Loefah and Sgt Pokes, Plastician, Kode9, Hatcha & Crazy D, Skepta and Wiley.
Originally published in 2021 as a Kickstarter campaign, this second edition features a complete redesign, hardback cover and essays from Blackdown, Charlie Dark MBE, Emma Warren and others. The book is 24cm x 17cm, and the 224 pages are printed on heavyweight paper with a hardback cover. More
Drumz Of The South: The Dubstep Years (2004-2007) is the first photography book to present the early days of dubstep in detail. It features over 200 photographs by Georgina Cook from events and radio stations such as FWD>> at Plastic People, DMZ and Rinse FM, plus pioneering producers, DJs and MCs like Burial, Skream and Benga, Mala & Coki, Loefah and Sgt Pokes, Plastician, Kode9, Hatcha & Crazy D, Skepta and Wiley.
Originally published in 2021 as a Kickstarter campaign, this second edition features a complete redesign, hardback cover and essays from Blackdown, Charlie Dark MBE, Emma Warren and others. The book is 24cm x 17cm, and the 224 pages are printed on heavyweight paper with a hardback cover. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP042
Release-Date:05.07.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP042
Release-Date:05.07.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN:9781913231699
The Icon Catalogue is a series of small A6 zines profiling 40 record labels in various dance music genres such as Techno, Drum & Bass, Jungle, UK Garage and Dubstep. From the most important labels responsible for the scene’s foundations to rare, hard-to-find imprints now defunct, plus a few heavy-hitting newcomers.
House Volume 1 features the likes of Trax, Music For Freaks, Sound Pak, Vulture Music and many more. More
The Icon Catalogue is a series of small A6 zines profiling 40 record labels in various dance music genres such as Techno, Drum & Bass, Jungle, UK Garage and Dubstep. From the most important labels responsible for the scene’s foundations to rare, hard-to-find imprints now defunct, plus a few heavy-hitting newcomers.
House Volume 1 features the likes of Trax, Music For Freaks, Sound Pak, Vulture Music and many more. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP039
Release-Date:10.05.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP039
Release-Date:10.05.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-74-3
1994 was a year of fervent resistance against the encroaching Criminal Justice Act in the UK. Amidst the clamour of dissent, three historic demonstrations echoed through the streets of London, challenging the very fabric of authority and transforming the nature of peaceful protest, forever.
Through the lens of Matt Smith (Exist To Resist), witness the raw energy and unity of the protests that shook the capital. Each image in this zine is a testament to the power of the people, capturing not just moments frozen in time, but the spirit of a generation refusing to accept oppressive legislation.
Pages: 68
Size: A5 (21cm x 14.8cm)
Binding: Staple bound
Print: Black & white
Front cover design: Tom Booth Woodger
Interior design: Jez Tucker More
1994 was a year of fervent resistance against the encroaching Criminal Justice Act in the UK. Amidst the clamour of dissent, three historic demonstrations echoed through the streets of London, challenging the very fabric of authority and transforming the nature of peaceful protest, forever.
Through the lens of Matt Smith (Exist To Resist), witness the raw energy and unity of the protests that shook the capital. Each image in this zine is a testament to the power of the people, capturing not just moments frozen in time, but the spirit of a generation refusing to accept oppressive legislation.
Pages: 68
Size: A5 (21cm x 14.8cm)
Binding: Staple bound
Print: Black & white
Front cover design: Tom Booth Woodger
Interior design: Jez Tucker More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP037
Release-Date:10.05.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP037
Release-Date:10.05.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-55-2
The Radio Phonics Laboratory by Justin Patrick Moore is the story of how electronic music came to be, told through the lens of the telecommunications scientists and composers who helped give birth to the bleeps and blips that have captured the imagination of musicians and dedicated listeners around the world.
Featuring the likes of Leon Theremin, Hedy Lamarr, Max Matthews, Hal 9000, Robert Moog, Wendy Carlos, Claude Shannon, Halim El-Dabh, Pierre Schaeffer, Pierre Henry, Francois Bayle, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Milton Babbitt, Daphne Oram, Delia Derbyshire, Edgar Varese & Laurie Spiegel.
Quotes
“From telegraphy to the airwaves, by way of Hedy Lamarr and Doctor Who, listening to Hal 9000 sing to us whilst a Clockwork Orange unravels the past and present, Moore spirits us on an expansive trip across the twentieth century of sonic discovery. The joys of electrical discovery are unravelled page by page.”
Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner
“Embark on an odyssey through the harmonious realms of Justin Patrick Moore’s Radio Phonics Laboratory echoing the resonances of innovation and discovery. Witness the mesmerising fusion of telecommunications and musical evolution as it weaves a sonic tapestry, a testament to the boundless creativity within the electronic realm. A compelling pilgrimage for those attuned to the avant-garde rhythms of technological alchemy.”
Nigel Ayers (Nocturnal Emissions)
“In this captivating exploration of electronic music, Justin Patrick Moore unveils its evolution as guided by telecommunication technology, spotlighting the enigmatic laboratories of early experimenters who shaped the sound of 20th century music. A must-read for electronic musicians & sound artists alike—this book will undoubtedly find a prominent place on their bookshelves.”
Kim Cascone More
The Radio Phonics Laboratory by Justin Patrick Moore is the story of how electronic music came to be, told through the lens of the telecommunications scientists and composers who helped give birth to the bleeps and blips that have captured the imagination of musicians and dedicated listeners around the world.
Featuring the likes of Leon Theremin, Hedy Lamarr, Max Matthews, Hal 9000, Robert Moog, Wendy Carlos, Claude Shannon, Halim El-Dabh, Pierre Schaeffer, Pierre Henry, Francois Bayle, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Milton Babbitt, Daphne Oram, Delia Derbyshire, Edgar Varese & Laurie Spiegel.
Quotes
“From telegraphy to the airwaves, by way of Hedy Lamarr and Doctor Who, listening to Hal 9000 sing to us whilst a Clockwork Orange unravels the past and present, Moore spirits us on an expansive trip across the twentieth century of sonic discovery. The joys of electrical discovery are unravelled page by page.”
Robin Rimbaud aka Scanner
“Embark on an odyssey through the harmonious realms of Justin Patrick Moore’s Radio Phonics Laboratory echoing the resonances of innovation and discovery. Witness the mesmerising fusion of telecommunications and musical evolution as it weaves a sonic tapestry, a testament to the boundless creativity within the electronic realm. A compelling pilgrimage for those attuned to the avant-garde rhythms of technological alchemy.”
Nigel Ayers (Nocturnal Emissions)
“In this captivating exploration of electronic music, Justin Patrick Moore unveils its evolution as guided by telecommunication technology, spotlighting the enigmatic laboratories of early experimenters who shaped the sound of 20th century music. A must-read for electronic musicians & sound artists alike—this book will undoubtedly find a prominent place on their bookshelves.”
Kim Cascone More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP030
Release-Date:05.04.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP030
Release-Date:05.04.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-52-1
Format: Paperback Book
From the cacophonous surrounds of London to the sea stacks of Orkney, via the abandoned military facilities of the Suffolk coast and the watery expanses of the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, from the quarries and neolithic sites of Snowdonia and the wide open skies of Norfolk to the hubbub of Nairobi and Berlin, the streets of Kyiv and the windblown wilds of Antarctica – music is everywhere. You just need to know or learn how to listen.
Ears To The Ground: Adventures in Field Recording and Electronic Music explores how electronic music producers and sound artists use field recordings and samples to document their environments. Author Ben Murphy takes you on a journey to discover how field recordings can create context, emotion, atmosphere, humour and meaning – and examine the most pressing topics of our times.
Composed of extensive interviews with music producers, the book will show how field recordings have become a vital way of understanding, celebrating and interrogating the landscape and the places we live. The book features interviews with Leafcutter John, KMRU, Ultramarine, Kate Carr, Erland Cooper, Proc Fiskal, Flora Yin-Wong, Langham Research Centre, Claire Guerin, Toshiya Tsunoda, Lawrence English, Heinali, Oliver Ho, Matthew Herbert, Matmos, Scanner, Felicia Atkinson and many more.
On its journey, the book takes in abandoned military test sites, remote bird colonies, estuaries, cities, coastlines, old quarries, neolithic burial grounds, scientific research centres and docklands, and ventures between Orkney, Edinburgh and Cork to Norfolk, Kent and Snowdonia, before heading to Kenya, Ukraine, Japan and Antarctica More
Format: Paperback Book
From the cacophonous surrounds of London to the sea stacks of Orkney, via the abandoned military facilities of the Suffolk coast and the watery expanses of the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, from the quarries and neolithic sites of Snowdonia and the wide open skies of Norfolk to the hubbub of Nairobi and Berlin, the streets of Kyiv and the windblown wilds of Antarctica – music is everywhere. You just need to know or learn how to listen.
Ears To The Ground: Adventures in Field Recording and Electronic Music explores how electronic music producers and sound artists use field recordings and samples to document their environments. Author Ben Murphy takes you on a journey to discover how field recordings can create context, emotion, atmosphere, humour and meaning – and examine the most pressing topics of our times.
Composed of extensive interviews with music producers, the book will show how field recordings have become a vital way of understanding, celebrating and interrogating the landscape and the places we live. The book features interviews with Leafcutter John, KMRU, Ultramarine, Kate Carr, Erland Cooper, Proc Fiskal, Flora Yin-Wong, Langham Research Centre, Claire Guerin, Toshiya Tsunoda, Lawrence English, Heinali, Oliver Ho, Matthew Herbert, Matmos, Scanner, Felicia Atkinson and many more.
On its journey, the book takes in abandoned military test sites, remote bird colonies, estuaries, cities, coastlines, old quarries, neolithic burial grounds, scientific research centres and docklands, and ventures between Orkney, Edinburgh and Cork to Norfolk, Kent and Snowdonia, before heading to Kenya, Ukraine, Japan and Antarctica More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP036
Release-Date:23.02.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP036
Release-Date:23.02.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-68-2
UK Hardcore Volume 1 features the likes of Basement Records, Dark Horse, Liquid Wax, Satin Storm, Symphony Sounds, Tone Def and many more. More
UK Hardcore Volume 1 features the likes of Basement Records, Dark Horse, Liquid Wax, Satin Storm, Symphony Sounds, Tone Def and many more. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP035
Release-Date:16.02.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP035
Release-Date:16.02.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-50-7
Format: Paperback Book
Having failed at rapping, what’s next for an endlessly passionate rap nerd? In this sequel to the acclaimed memoir Wiggaz With Attitude, it turns out what’s next is a sometimes controversial career in rap journalism.
Write Lines: Adventures in Rap Journalism tells the tale of hip-hop writing from the inside. From death threats to interviewing Lauryn Hill while she’s in the shower. From calling Jay-Z a c*** to his face, to letting a notorious rapper sleep in his bath, it’s a hilarious, anecdote-studded tale that takes in hip-hop's first-ever magazine and lifts the lid on rivalries, squabbles and how music journalism really works.
Brutally honest, and endlessly opinionated, this story is also a love letter to hip-hop as it changed seismically through the decades. Write Lines charts those changes from the front line through encounters with many of the greats of rap: Chuck D, Missy Elliott, RZA, Eminem, Jazzy Jeff and Gang Starr among them. This is an unfiltered tale of hip-hop that is both heartfelt and scabrously funny.
“With its relatable take on growing up in the 80s, Andrew Emery’s Wiggaz With Attitude marked his card as a vivid memoirist. He might have failed as a wannabe rapper, but the music he loved gained multitudes from his work for Hip-Hop Connection. A pivotal force in the magazine’s 90s/00s heyday, never short of a telling opinion or four, Andrew set a high bar for its other writers to reach. Write Lines is a transportive account of his many travails in that murky world. Packed with eye-watering encounters and witty asides, his compulsive, self-deprecating and brutally honest reflections will resonate widely and change perspectives on rap journalism forever.” - Andy Cowan, HHC Editor & Publisher, author of B-Side: A Flipsided History of Pop. More
Format: Paperback Book
Having failed at rapping, what’s next for an endlessly passionate rap nerd? In this sequel to the acclaimed memoir Wiggaz With Attitude, it turns out what’s next is a sometimes controversial career in rap journalism.
Write Lines: Adventures in Rap Journalism tells the tale of hip-hop writing from the inside. From death threats to interviewing Lauryn Hill while she’s in the shower. From calling Jay-Z a c*** to his face, to letting a notorious rapper sleep in his bath, it’s a hilarious, anecdote-studded tale that takes in hip-hop's first-ever magazine and lifts the lid on rivalries, squabbles and how music journalism really works.
Brutally honest, and endlessly opinionated, this story is also a love letter to hip-hop as it changed seismically through the decades. Write Lines charts those changes from the front line through encounters with many of the greats of rap: Chuck D, Missy Elliott, RZA, Eminem, Jazzy Jeff and Gang Starr among them. This is an unfiltered tale of hip-hop that is both heartfelt and scabrously funny.
“With its relatable take on growing up in the 80s, Andrew Emery’s Wiggaz With Attitude marked his card as a vivid memoirist. He might have failed as a wannabe rapper, but the music he loved gained multitudes from his work for Hip-Hop Connection. A pivotal force in the magazine’s 90s/00s heyday, never short of a telling opinion or four, Andrew set a high bar for its other writers to reach. Write Lines is a transportive account of his many travails in that murky world. Packed with eye-watering encounters and witty asides, his compulsive, self-deprecating and brutally honest reflections will resonate widely and change perspectives on rap journalism forever.” - Andy Cowan, HHC Editor & Publisher, author of B-Side: A Flipsided History of Pop. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP034
Release-Date:26.01.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP034
Release-Date:26.01.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Format: Paperback Book
ISBN: 978-1-913231-48-4
Let the Music Play: How R&B Fell in Love with 80s Synths is the overlooked story of how R&B, disco and funk were transformed by the explosion of music tech in the era of ghetto blasters and Ronald Reagan. It traces how pioneers like Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock inspired a new generation of black musicians and producers to reinvent music with a whole new set of rules.
From superstars like Prince and Sade to production geniuses like Kashif and Jam & Lewis, it tells the fascinating stories of the artists involved and how they made some of the best-loved records of the era – creating a blueprint for music today. More
ISBN: 978-1-913231-48-4
Let the Music Play: How R&B Fell in Love with 80s Synths is the overlooked story of how R&B, disco and funk were transformed by the explosion of music tech in the era of ghetto blasters and Ronald Reagan. It traces how pioneers like Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock inspired a new generation of black musicians and producers to reinvent music with a whole new set of rules.
From superstars like Prince and Sade to production geniuses like Kashif and Jam & Lewis, it tells the fascinating stories of the artists involved and how they made some of the best-loved records of the era – creating a blueprint for music today. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP031
Release-Date:26.01.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP031
Release-Date:26.01.2024
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Format: Hardback Book, 27.2cm x 29.4cm
ISBN: 978-1-913231-44-6
Egostrip Book 1 is a beautifully designed collection of Dan Lish’s stunning character illustrations from the world of hip hop and beyond. There are 138 illustrations of pioneering artists from hip hop’s golden era, such as De La Soul, Madlib, DJ Premier, Mobb Deep, Nas, Cypress Hill, J.Period, J Dilla, Kool Keith, MF DOOM, The Roots, Biggie Smalls, A Tribe Called Quest, Biz Markie and The Beastie Boys.
The book is 27.2cm x 29.4cm, and the 160 pages are printed and bound on heavyweight 130gsm paper with a hardback cover. It’s also available as a limited edition 20cm square art print (see left for design). More
ISBN: 978-1-913231-44-6
Egostrip Book 1 is a beautifully designed collection of Dan Lish’s stunning character illustrations from the world of hip hop and beyond. There are 138 illustrations of pioneering artists from hip hop’s golden era, such as De La Soul, Madlib, DJ Premier, Mobb Deep, Nas, Cypress Hill, J.Period, J Dilla, Kool Keith, MF DOOM, The Roots, Biggie Smalls, A Tribe Called Quest, Biz Markie and The Beastie Boys.
The book is 27.2cm x 29.4cm, and the 160 pages are printed and bound on heavyweight 130gsm paper with a hardback cover. It’s also available as a limited edition 20cm square art print (see left for design). More
Paperback Book, ISBN: 978-1-913231-15-6
The first up to date, post-pandemic, no-borders era book to cover Berlin’s role as an electronic music and cultural capital. Coming To Berlin breaks the tradition of Berlin’s perception as techno ground zero and shows the true diversity and richness that make up the city. Written by a former Londoner who made Berlin his home, the book captures nuances and details of living in Berlin that will be immediately relatable to fellow Berliners yet at the same time captures the city’s creative, free-living essence to anyone with a curiosity for Berlin and a love of electronic music. More
The first up to date, post-pandemic, no-borders era book to cover Berlin’s role as an electronic music and cultural capital. Coming To Berlin breaks the tradition of Berlin’s perception as techno ground zero and shows the true diversity and richness that make up the city. Written by a former Londoner who made Berlin his home, the book captures nuances and details of living in Berlin that will be immediately relatable to fellow Berliners yet at the same time captures the city’s creative, free-living essence to anyone with a curiosity for Berlin and a love of electronic music. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP027
Release-Date:06.10.2023
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP027
Release-Date:06.10.2023
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-56-9
Recommended Retail Price: £7.00 / 8,5€
Following on from his 2021 book, Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back), Oli Freke returns with a Synthesizer Evolution A6 zine series.
The invention of the synthesizer in the 1960s changed musical culture and music production forever, giving musicians whole new worlds of sound to play with. Vintage Synths celebrates that invention and its subsequent history by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting synths from 1939 – 1998. They represent the introduction of a new technology, had a particular impact, or maybe even formed the basis of entirely new genres.
Explore the most legendary synthesizers ever created, including the Minimoog, ARP 2600, Yamaha DX7, Roland Jupiter 8 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development. More
Recommended Retail Price: £7.00 / 8,5€
Following on from his 2021 book, Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back), Oli Freke returns with a Synthesizer Evolution A6 zine series.
The invention of the synthesizer in the 1960s changed musical culture and music production forever, giving musicians whole new worlds of sound to play with. Vintage Synths celebrates that invention and its subsequent history by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting synths from 1939 – 1998. They represent the introduction of a new technology, had a particular impact, or maybe even formed the basis of entirely new genres.
Explore the most legendary synthesizers ever created, including the Minimoog, ARP 2600, Yamaha DX7, Roland Jupiter 8 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP028
Release-Date:06.10.2023
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP028
Release-Date:06.10.2023
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-57-6
Recommended Retail Price: £7.00 / 8,5€
Following on from his 2021 book, Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back), Oli Freke returns with a Synthesizer Evolution A6 zine series.
Drum machines and samplers have something of a shared history and this zine celebrates their invention and by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting synths from 1949 – 1996. Explore the most legendary drum machines and samplers ever created, including the Roland TR-808, Roland TR-909, Akai S1000, Fairlight CMI, Akai MPC60 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development. More
Recommended Retail Price: £7.00 / 8,5€
Following on from his 2021 book, Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back), Oli Freke returns with a Synthesizer Evolution A6 zine series.
Drum machines and samplers have something of a shared history and this zine celebrates their invention and by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting synths from 1949 – 1996. Explore the most legendary drum machines and samplers ever created, including the Roland TR-808, Roland TR-909, Akai S1000, Fairlight CMI, Akai MPC60 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development. More
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP032
Release-Date:22.09.2023
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
Label:Velocity Press
Cat-No:VP032
Release-Date:22.09.2023
Genre:Merchandise
Configuration:Import Magazine
ISBN: 978-1-913231-45-3
Recommended Retail Price: £7.00 / 8,5€
Drum & Bass Volume 1 features the likes of Metalheadz, Symmetry, Sofa Sound, Prototype, Commercial Suicide and many more More
Recommended Retail Price: £7.00 / 8,5€
Drum & Bass Volume 1 features the likes of Metalheadz, Symmetry, Sofa Sound, Prototype, Commercial Suicide and many more More
ISBN: 9781913231330
Format: Paperback Deluxe Coffee Table Book: 480 pages in full colour on heavyweight 150 gsm paper.
RRP: £40 / 46€
After picking up a camera in 2006 to shoot events at London superclub Fabric, Sarah Ginn started her journey of documenting the dance music scene. With exclusive, behind-the-scenes access at the likes of Fabric, Ultra Festival, Boomtown, Glastonbury, Outlook, Printworks, Creamfields and Hospitality, Sarah captured the sights of UK rave and
dance culture in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.
Super Sharp Shooter is a carefully curated selection of over 800 photographs from Sarah’s extensive archives, many never before seen. Spanning drum & bass, dubstep, house and techno, the book showcases festivals, clubs, press shots and record covers, providing an unsurpassed document of electronic music in a colourful celebration of beats and bass.
This deluxe book features artists like Andy C, Skream, Chase & Status, Shy FX, Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim, Goldie, Chemical Brothers, Jon Hopkins, Sub Focus, DJ Zinc, Ben UFO, Craig Richards, Erol Alkan, Miss Kitten, Dusky and many more. Also contained is Sarah’s essay,
The Feedback Loop Theory. A demonstration of how music affects time and energy and makes it a magic entity. Set in colour order to reflect the visible light spectrum, this gorgeous book is a must-have for all music and photography enthusiasts. It has 480 pages in full colour on heavyweight 150 gsm paper. It's available as a book only and as a bundle with an exclusive A2 poster.
“‘I’m looking forward to publishing this book because these actually are my only memories!Research shows that when you take photos it actually affects the way you remember things. So on that note, I hope you all enjoy my crazy spectral journey into sound, the many sights of the rave and everything in between.” - Sarah Ginn More
Format: Paperback Deluxe Coffee Table Book: 480 pages in full colour on heavyweight 150 gsm paper.
RRP: £40 / 46€
After picking up a camera in 2006 to shoot events at London superclub Fabric, Sarah Ginn started her journey of documenting the dance music scene. With exclusive, behind-the-scenes access at the likes of Fabric, Ultra Festival, Boomtown, Glastonbury, Outlook, Printworks, Creamfields and Hospitality, Sarah captured the sights of UK rave and
dance culture in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.
Super Sharp Shooter is a carefully curated selection of over 800 photographs from Sarah’s extensive archives, many never before seen. Spanning drum & bass, dubstep, house and techno, the book showcases festivals, clubs, press shots and record covers, providing an unsurpassed document of electronic music in a colourful celebration of beats and bass.
This deluxe book features artists like Andy C, Skream, Chase & Status, Shy FX, Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim, Goldie, Chemical Brothers, Jon Hopkins, Sub Focus, DJ Zinc, Ben UFO, Craig Richards, Erol Alkan, Miss Kitten, Dusky and many more. Also contained is Sarah’s essay,
The Feedback Loop Theory. A demonstration of how music affects time and energy and makes it a magic entity. Set in colour order to reflect the visible light spectrum, this gorgeous book is a must-have for all music and photography enthusiasts. It has 480 pages in full colour on heavyweight 150 gsm paper. It's available as a book only and as a bundle with an exclusive A2 poster.
“‘I’m looking forward to publishing this book because these actually are my only memories!Research shows that when you take photos it actually affects the way you remember things. So on that note, I hope you all enjoy my crazy spectral journey into sound, the many sights of the rave and everything in between.” - Sarah Ginn More
1
A Guy Called Gerald - "Trip City" (4:27)
2
A Guy Called Gerald - "Valentines Theme" (4:20)
3
A Guy Called Gerald - "At The Mambo" (4:57)
4
A Guy Called Gerald - "FX" (6:23)
5
A Guy Called Gerald - "Soho Chances" (5:31)
Repress!
In the summer of 1989, when Trip City was first released with a soundtrack by A Guy Called Gerald, there had been no other British novel like it. This was the down and dirty side of London nightclubs, dance music and the kind of hallucinogenic drug sub-culture that hadn’t really been explored since Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Maybe this is why Trip City is still known as “the acid house novel” and an underground literary landmark. More
In the summer of 1989, when Trip City was first released with a soundtrack by A Guy Called Gerald, there had been no other British novel like it. This was the down and dirty side of London nightclubs, dance music and the kind of hallucinogenic drug sub-culture that hadn’t really been explored since Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. Maybe this is why Trip City is still known as “the acid house novel” and an underground literary landmark. More
ISBN: 978-1-913231-34-7
Format: Paperback Book
RRP: £14.99 / 17.49€
Written by veteran journalist Shawn Reynaldo, First Floor is a weekly newsletter that focuses on electronic music, along with the culture and industry that surround it. Over the course of just a few years, it’s become one of electronic music’s most influential platforms, routinely putting many of the genre’s thorniest issues under the microscope while reckoning with changes in the culture during a time of profound transformation.
A collection of Reynaldo’s most thought-provoking essays, First Floor Volume 1 provides a nuanced, wide-ranging look at contemporary electronic music culture, with a particular focus on systemic issues that often go undiscussed.
Topics covered included the evolving nature of electronic music fandom and artistry, value shifts brought on by the current changing of the generational guard, the shortcomings of the modern music press and the growing gap between electronic music’s foundational rhetoric and the genre’s present-day norms.
Incorporating both pieces originally published in the newsletter (all of which have been updated) and exclusive new material from Reynaldo himself, the book also features a foreword by veteran artist and 3024 label founder Martyn. More
Format: Paperback Book
RRP: £14.99 / 17.49€
Written by veteran journalist Shawn Reynaldo, First Floor is a weekly newsletter that focuses on electronic music, along with the culture and industry that surround it. Over the course of just a few years, it’s become one of electronic music’s most influential platforms, routinely putting many of the genre’s thorniest issues under the microscope while reckoning with changes in the culture during a time of profound transformation.
A collection of Reynaldo’s most thought-provoking essays, First Floor Volume 1 provides a nuanced, wide-ranging look at contemporary electronic music culture, with a particular focus on systemic issues that often go undiscussed.
Topics covered included the evolving nature of electronic music fandom and artistry, value shifts brought on by the current changing of the generational guard, the shortcomings of the modern music press and the growing gap between electronic music’s foundational rhetoric and the genre’s present-day norms.
Incorporating both pieces originally published in the newsletter (all of which have been updated) and exclusive new material from Reynaldo himself, the book also features a foreword by veteran artist and 3024 label founder Martyn. More
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1
Sally C - All Love
2
Sally C - Hi It
3
Sally C - Control
4
Sally C - Get Up
Repress coming mid september!
The love for Sally C’s sound and burgeoning label shows no sign of slowing down. Last year’s ‘Big Saldo’s Chunkers 002’ was a phenomenon. Led by ‘Downtown’, which became one of the most beloved tracks of the year, it secured over 30 BBC Radio 1 plays and genre-crossing support from Peggy Gou to TSHA and Bradley Zero. Critical acclaim came from Bandcamp, RA and beyond.
Launched in 2020 with ‘Big Saldo’s Chunkers 001’ that’s currently on its fourth repress, the Chunker sound is special to all those who know it. Taking influence from artists including K-Hand and Fast Eddie, Sally draws on the sensibilities of classic US house music, crafting unique dancefloor cuts that don’t compromise on quality.
Active on the release front over the last 12 months with well-received remixes of Obongjayar, LB aka LABAT and a fresh original on Rhythm Section, we witness a noticeable evolution in her sound with BSC003. “I wanted to challenge myself when writing this record. I still haven’t released a full EP on another label, so I wanted to pair straight up Chunkers with something a bit different to shake up the Chunker energy,” she shares.
The four-tracker opens with ‘All Love’, a joyous house banger that swaps out Sally’s trademark Chunker bassline for a sexier groove. When the euphoric piano breakdown kicks in, soon accompanied by the ‘dance’ vocal on repeat, we’re reminded of the exultant power of rave. ‘
Hit It’ follows, a proper Chunker to the core. A hip house-informed jam, it’s packed full of tight drums, stabs, sirens and one of Sally’s monster Chunker b-lines. An absolute tune!
‘Control’ is a low-slung roller, encapsulating her love for simplistic production principles that birth memorable results. A headsy offering ripe for the after-hours.
‘‘Get Up’ is an ice-cool slab born out of a jam on a drum machine that hits at 144bpm. “I wasn’t sure how this would fit on the record being this speed, but it’s exactly what I envisioned when I wanted to challenge myself more. It’s raw and rolling and as soon as I made it, I knew it fitted into the Chunker family,” Sally explains. More
The love for Sally C’s sound and burgeoning label shows no sign of slowing down. Last year’s ‘Big Saldo’s Chunkers 002’ was a phenomenon. Led by ‘Downtown’, which became one of the most beloved tracks of the year, it secured over 30 BBC Radio 1 plays and genre-crossing support from Peggy Gou to TSHA and Bradley Zero. Critical acclaim came from Bandcamp, RA and beyond.
Launched in 2020 with ‘Big Saldo’s Chunkers 001’ that’s currently on its fourth repress, the Chunker sound is special to all those who know it. Taking influence from artists including K-Hand and Fast Eddie, Sally draws on the sensibilities of classic US house music, crafting unique dancefloor cuts that don’t compromise on quality.
Active on the release front over the last 12 months with well-received remixes of Obongjayar, LB aka LABAT and a fresh original on Rhythm Section, we witness a noticeable evolution in her sound with BSC003. “I wanted to challenge myself when writing this record. I still haven’t released a full EP on another label, so I wanted to pair straight up Chunkers with something a bit different to shake up the Chunker energy,” she shares.
The four-tracker opens with ‘All Love’, a joyous house banger that swaps out Sally’s trademark Chunker bassline for a sexier groove. When the euphoric piano breakdown kicks in, soon accompanied by the ‘dance’ vocal on repeat, we’re reminded of the exultant power of rave. ‘
Hit It’ follows, a proper Chunker to the core. A hip house-informed jam, it’s packed full of tight drums, stabs, sirens and one of Sally’s monster Chunker b-lines. An absolute tune!
‘Control’ is a low-slung roller, encapsulating her love for simplistic production principles that birth memorable results. A headsy offering ripe for the after-hours.
‘‘Get Up’ is an ice-cool slab born out of a jam on a drum machine that hits at 144bpm. “I wasn’t sure how this would fit on the record being this speed, but it’s exactly what I envisioned when I wanted to challenge myself more. It’s raw and rolling and as soon as I made it, I knew it fitted into the Chunker family,” Sally explains. More
Label:Clone Aqualung Series
Cat-No:CAL009RE/C25LPB
Release-Date:20.10.2023
Genre:Electro
Configuration:2LP
Label:Clone Aqualung Series
Cat-No:CAL009RE/C25LPB
Release-Date:20.10.2023
Genre:Electro
Configuration:2LP
1
Drexciya - Cascading Celestial Giants
2
Drexciya - Powers Of The Deep
3
Drexciya - Drexciyen Starchamber
4
Drexciya - Gravity Waves
5
Drexciya - Drexciyen R E S T Principle
6
Drexciya - Hightech Nomads
7
Drexciya - 700 Million Lightyears From Earth
8
Drexciya - Astronomical Guidepost
Drexciya presents Grava 4. Earth has finally discovered Utopia. (Drexciya Home Universe) Earth scientist discovered the home planet of Drexciya on 2-14-2002. Within moments Dr. Blowfin was given the orders to initiate the seven dimensional cloaking-spheres to hide the other three planets from earths view. The star chart is authentic; you will be able to find the star by using the coordinations on the star chart. The planet Drexciya can be found in the international star vault in Switzerland & recorded in the astronomical compendium. Updated artwork version for 2023, Black vinyl.
More
LP 180g, beautiful embossed Chess Board Artwork Print, inner sleeve with artist picture and text by David Elliott, Sounds June 16, 1984
In anticipation of the 35th anniversary next year one of electronic music´s most influential recordings, the legendary E2-E4, from 12.12.1981 does get an official rerelease by Manuel Göttsching on his own Label MG.ART.
Carefully overseen by the Master himself
Total Time: 59:34
Tracks:
Ruhige Nervosität 13:00, Gemäßigter Aufbruch 10:00, ... und Mittelspiel 07:00, Ansatz 06:00, Damen-Eleganza 05:00, Ehrenvoller Kampf 03:00, Hoheit weicht (nicht ohne Schwung...) 09:00, ... und Souveränität 03:00, Remis 03:00
More
In anticipation of the 35th anniversary next year one of electronic music´s most influential recordings, the legendary E2-E4, from 12.12.1981 does get an official rerelease by Manuel Göttsching on his own Label MG.ART.
Carefully overseen by the Master himself
Total Time: 59:34
Tracks:
Ruhige Nervosität 13:00, Gemäßigter Aufbruch 10:00, ... und Mittelspiel 07:00, Ansatz 06:00, Damen-Eleganza 05:00, Ehrenvoller Kampf 03:00, Hoheit weicht (nicht ohne Schwung...) 09:00, ... und Souveränität 03:00, Remis 03:00
More
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallvillelp16
Release-Date:24.11.2023
Genre:Deephouse
Configuration:2LP Excl
Label:Smallville Records
Cat-No:smallvillelp16
Release-Date:24.11.2023
Genre:Deephouse
Configuration:2LP Excl
1
Joe Davies - Hi Life (feat. Ossia)
2
Joe Davies - Echo Form
3
Joe Davies - Two Hours Earth Room
4
Joe Davies - Smile And Wave
5
Joe Davies - Cygnus (feat. Space Drum Meditation)
6
Joe Davies - AMY (feat. Johan Kaseta)
7
Joe Davies - Movement In The Breach
8
Joe Davies - Nefyn
Tracklist 2LP:
01/ A1 Hi Life (feat. Ossia)
02/ A2 Echo Form
03/ B1 Two Hours Earth Room
04/ B2 Smile And Wave
05/ C1 Cygnus (feat. Space Drum Meditation)
06/ C2 AMY (feat. Johan Kaseta)
07/ D1 Movement In The Breach
08/ D2 Nefyn
DJ Assam delivers his inaugural project under his own name Joe Davies this November. Entitled ‘Shields In Full Sunlight’ and comprising eight original cuts, his debut album is full of beautiful shades, unexpected twists and twirling melodies.
The past decade has seen DJ Assam releasing material for the likes of (his own imprint) Lehult, that he runs with a few friends, KANN Records, Super Tuff and Smallville Record sub-label Down by the Lake, as well as Djing regularly at hotspots across Europe and beyond. We are very happy to have him appearing under his own name- Joe Davies- to our main Smallville imprint with some serious longplayer material.
Through the project, Davies offers up textural ethereal numbers like opener ‘Hi Life’ (featuring his brother Daniel aka Ossia, ‘Smile and Wave’ and closing track ‘Nefyn’. Also on offer is the more signature deep and dubby Smallville house sound with tracks like ‘Two Hours Earth Room’, ‘Cygnus’ (featuring Space Drum Meditation) and ‘AMY' (featuring Johan Kaseta), while the likes of ‘’Echo Form’ sees Davies deviate into Bruk with broken rhythms and jazzy melodies or ‘Movement Into The Breach’, which embraces a more mystical, Balearic-tinged aesthetic.
Once again Smallville delivers raw deep and understated music for the heads with Joe Davies ‘Shields In Full Sunlight’ LP out this November.
Full cover artwork by Stefan Marx.
All tracks written & produced by Joe Davies, 2017 - 2023
Plus additional production on A1 by Daniel Davies, on B1 by Lucas Gloe, on C1 by Eddie Ness & Lars Krug, on C2 by Hannes Hehemann
Additional mixing by Gentle Soul, Ossia
Cover Artwork by Stefan Marx
Mastering by Helmut Erler
Vinyl Cut by Lathesville
Distributed by Wordandsound
Smallville 2023
More
01/ A1 Hi Life (feat. Ossia)
02/ A2 Echo Form
03/ B1 Two Hours Earth Room
04/ B2 Smile And Wave
05/ C1 Cygnus (feat. Space Drum Meditation)
06/ C2 AMY (feat. Johan Kaseta)
07/ D1 Movement In The Breach
08/ D2 Nefyn
DJ Assam delivers his inaugural project under his own name Joe Davies this November. Entitled ‘Shields In Full Sunlight’ and comprising eight original cuts, his debut album is full of beautiful shades, unexpected twists and twirling melodies.
The past decade has seen DJ Assam releasing material for the likes of (his own imprint) Lehult, that he runs with a few friends, KANN Records, Super Tuff and Smallville Record sub-label Down by the Lake, as well as Djing regularly at hotspots across Europe and beyond. We are very happy to have him appearing under his own name- Joe Davies- to our main Smallville imprint with some serious longplayer material.
Through the project, Davies offers up textural ethereal numbers like opener ‘Hi Life’ (featuring his brother Daniel aka Ossia, ‘Smile and Wave’ and closing track ‘Nefyn’. Also on offer is the more signature deep and dubby Smallville house sound with tracks like ‘Two Hours Earth Room’, ‘Cygnus’ (featuring Space Drum Meditation) and ‘AMY' (featuring Johan Kaseta), while the likes of ‘’Echo Form’ sees Davies deviate into Bruk with broken rhythms and jazzy melodies or ‘Movement Into The Breach’, which embraces a more mystical, Balearic-tinged aesthetic.
Once again Smallville delivers raw deep and understated music for the heads with Joe Davies ‘Shields In Full Sunlight’ LP out this November.
Full cover artwork by Stefan Marx.
All tracks written & produced by Joe Davies, 2017 - 2023
Plus additional production on A1 by Daniel Davies, on B1 by Lucas Gloe, on C1 by Eddie Ness & Lars Krug, on C2 by Hannes Hehemann
Additional mixing by Gentle Soul, Ossia
Cover Artwork by Stefan Marx
Mastering by Helmut Erler
Vinyl Cut by Lathesville
Distributed by Wordandsound
Smallville 2023
More
1
King Sporty / The Extra Funk Factory - Fantasy
2
King Sporty / The Extra Funk Factory - Fantasy (Instrumental)
3
King Sporty / The Extra Funk Factory - Fantasy (Jonny Rock Discomix)
The last of the Konduko series from Emotional Rescue arrives now and quite possibly it is the best of the lot from Noel Williams. His 'Fantasy' saw him work with Larry Dermer aka Der Mer on what is an effective and catchy electro jam that operates at the higher end of the tempo chart with some classic vocoder vocal action to really make it pop. Despite being released originally in 1984 this one still bangs with its emulated TR-808 beats and nagging melodies. The instrumental heightens that and then the Jonny Rock Discomix shuts down with long-form rework that shows why the DJ, editor and all-round amiable bloke is so well regarded.
More
1
Wally Badarou - Dance In The Dust
2
Wally Badarou - Amber Whispers
3
Wally Badarou - Where Were We
4
Wally Badarou - The Lights Of Kinshasa
5
Wally Badarou - Pictures Of You
6
Wally Badarou - Serendipity For Two
7
Wally Badarou - Smiles By The Millions
8
Wally Badarou - Higher Still
9
Wally Badarou - Oriental
10
Wally Badarou - Days To Wonder
11
Wally Badarou - Dawn Of Europa
12
Wally Badarou - Crystal Falls
13
Wally Badarou - Purple Lines
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Format Notes: First time vinyl release, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 Dance In The Dust
A2 Amber Whispers
A3 Where Were We
A4 The Lights Of Kinshasa
A5 Pictures Of You
----
B1 Serendipity For Two
B2 Smiles By The Millions
B3 Higher Still
B4 Oriental
B5 Days To Wonder
B6 Dawn Of Europa
B7 Crystal Falls
B8 Purple Lines
Release Notes:
Synth pioneer and musical polymath, Wally Badarou is a genius. But you know that already. A vinyl version of his majestic Colors Of Silence has been craved by the Balearic cognoscenti ever since its low-key 2001 release. Indeed, when we first started work on Be With, we asked some pals with exquisite taste what their dream release would be. We asked Balearic legend Moonboots and, without hesitation, he said Colors Of Silence by Wally Badarou. We didn't know Wally had made this album. And most still don't. But that's about to change.
Colors Of Silence is ostensibly a new age album. As ever though, Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. It's simply stunning, throughout. It sounds like A.r.t. Wilson or Suzanne Kraft, with traces of CFCF and Jonny Nash. But it was made a good decade earlier than the work of these modern giants. Sometimes, it doesn't seem far from some Larry Heard albums.
Island Records founder Chris Blackwell's friend Nathalie Delon asked Wally to provide music for the yoga DVD she was to release. Lack of time on both sides made them agree on using "quality demos" Wally had in his ideas bank. It's understandable why Colors Of Silence remains somewhat of a lost gem. As Wally explains: "Total lack of promotion made it an 'intimate' release, which was exactly what I was looking for: just a buzz-maker and time-buyer that would allow me to concentrate on the real thing as soon as I'd have time, which could also turn into a rare collecting item later, once the final versions made their way to success. You never know."
Over the years, Colors Of Silence has become a true cult record for the ambient/Balearic heads.
The beguiling but brief "Dance In The Dust" is the shuffling, hyper-percussive, hypnotic opener. It gives way to the deep serenity of "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. The bright and breezy "Where Were We" follows, a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands.
The uptempo groove is maintained on the keys-drizzled soca-funk of "The Lights Of Kinshasa" before Side A is rounded out with "Pictures Of You". It starts with stately, melancholic, unadorned piano and this alone would make for a beautiful song. But Wally always gives us that bit extra and he effortlessly introduces warm, dreamy pads and minimal, slo-mo percussion to augment a frankly stunning piece of work.
Ushering in Side B, Wally's mesmeric piano playing is to the fore again, in the intro to uber-chilled "Serendipity For Two". The playing becomes more mellifluous as the track progresses and adds warmth through exotic percussion, woodwind, sweeping synths and digi-drums. It has echoes of, er, Echoes. It segues seamlessly into the more propulsive, wavy "Smiles By The Millions". If you're not nodding and grinning along widely to the gently throbbing bassline underpinning this, we can't help you. The meditative "Higher Still" follows, cinematic in feel and ever so slightly sinister with the strings. It sounds particularly Badalamenti-esque, if you ask us.
That unmistakable, almost peculiar Badarou funk - so lyrical, so texturally rich and so rhythmically spacious - is all over "Oriental". Next up, "Days To Wonder" brings the serenity back, insistent yet melodic keys, as if played in a place of worship, coupled with birdsong, conjure a kind of instant nostalgia for halcyon days of youth. The contemplative "Dawn Of Europa" is a sombre, beatless, ambient journey whilst the glorious, too-brief "Crystal Falls" features soft percussion and sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod beats. Wally brings this incredible collection to a mellow, tender close with the graceful "Purple Lines".
There can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. A synth specialist, Badarou was the long-time associate of Level 42. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!
Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Special thanks must go to Apiento from Test Pressing who first introduced us to Wally and facilitated all those early zoom meetings. It couldn't have happened without his help. Not least on pulling the art together, too, which features striking original photography by Mads Perch. Benji Roebuck of Roebuck Press did his thing brilliantly in art working the whole package to completion. All in all: essential. More
Format Notes: First time vinyl release, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 Dance In The Dust
A2 Amber Whispers
A3 Where Were We
A4 The Lights Of Kinshasa
A5 Pictures Of You
----
B1 Serendipity For Two
B2 Smiles By The Millions
B3 Higher Still
B4 Oriental
B5 Days To Wonder
B6 Dawn Of Europa
B7 Crystal Falls
B8 Purple Lines
Release Notes:
Synth pioneer and musical polymath, Wally Badarou is a genius. But you know that already. A vinyl version of his majestic Colors Of Silence has been craved by the Balearic cognoscenti ever since its low-key 2001 release. Indeed, when we first started work on Be With, we asked some pals with exquisite taste what their dream release would be. We asked Balearic legend Moonboots and, without hesitation, he said Colors Of Silence by Wally Badarou. We didn't know Wally had made this album. And most still don't. But that's about to change.
Colors Of Silence is ostensibly a new age album. As ever though, Wally's sophisticated synth textures and expressive keyboard runs are so full of character, so full of life, that this work of art transcends any easy genre categorisation. It's simply stunning, throughout. It sounds like A.r.t. Wilson or Suzanne Kraft, with traces of CFCF and Jonny Nash. But it was made a good decade earlier than the work of these modern giants. Sometimes, it doesn't seem far from some Larry Heard albums.
Island Records founder Chris Blackwell's friend Nathalie Delon asked Wally to provide music for the yoga DVD she was to release. Lack of time on both sides made them agree on using "quality demos" Wally had in his ideas bank. It's understandable why Colors Of Silence remains somewhat of a lost gem. As Wally explains: "Total lack of promotion made it an 'intimate' release, which was exactly what I was looking for: just a buzz-maker and time-buyer that would allow me to concentrate on the real thing as soon as I'd have time, which could also turn into a rare collecting item later, once the final versions made their way to success. You never know."
Over the years, Colors Of Silence has become a true cult record for the ambient/Balearic heads.
The beguiling but brief "Dance In The Dust" is the shuffling, hyper-percussive, hypnotic opener. It gives way to the deep serenity of "Amber Whispers". It's a gliding, divine, mini melodic masterpiece. It'll make you swoon in its extreme beauty. The bright and breezy "Where Were We" follows, a tropical, reggae-tinged bounce through the islands.
The uptempo groove is maintained on the keys-drizzled soca-funk of "The Lights Of Kinshasa" before Side A is rounded out with "Pictures Of You". It starts with stately, melancholic, unadorned piano and this alone would make for a beautiful song. But Wally always gives us that bit extra and he effortlessly introduces warm, dreamy pads and minimal, slo-mo percussion to augment a frankly stunning piece of work.
Ushering in Side B, Wally's mesmeric piano playing is to the fore again, in the intro to uber-chilled "Serendipity For Two". The playing becomes more mellifluous as the track progresses and adds warmth through exotic percussion, woodwind, sweeping synths and digi-drums. It has echoes of, er, Echoes. It segues seamlessly into the more propulsive, wavy "Smiles By The Millions". If you're not nodding and grinning along widely to the gently throbbing bassline underpinning this, we can't help you. The meditative "Higher Still" follows, cinematic in feel and ever so slightly sinister with the strings. It sounds particularly Badalamenti-esque, if you ask us.
That unmistakable, almost peculiar Badarou funk - so lyrical, so texturally rich and so rhythmically spacious - is all over "Oriental". Next up, "Days To Wonder" brings the serenity back, insistent yet melodic keys, as if played in a place of worship, coupled with birdsong, conjure a kind of instant nostalgia for halcyon days of youth. The contemplative "Dawn Of Europa" is a sombre, beatless, ambient journey whilst the glorious, too-brief "Crystal Falls" features soft percussion and sparkle before fully glistening with some gentle head-nod beats. Wally brings this incredible collection to a mellow, tender close with the graceful "Purple Lines".
There can be few artists more under-appreciated given their vast influence than Wally Badarou. His solo work practically defined the sound of the Balearic DJs of the 1980s, and thus the more sophisticated sound of dance culture thereafter. A synth specialist, Badarou was the long-time associate of Level 42. He was one of the Compass Point All Stars (with Sly and Robbie, Barry Reynolds, Mikey Chung and Uziah "Sticky" Thompson), the in-house recording team of Compass Point Studios responsible for a series of albums in the 1980s recorded by Grace Jones, Tom Tom Club, Mick Jagger, Black Uhuru, Gwen Guthrie, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs. Badarou's keyboard playing could also be heard on albums by Robert Palmer, Marianne Faithfull, Herbie Hancock, M (Pop Muzik), Talking Heads, Manu Dibango and Miriam Makeba. He also produced Fela Kuti. Phew!
Meticulously remastered and cut by both Simon Francis and Cicely Balston respectively, it has been pressed to the highest possibly quality at Record Industry in Holland. Special thanks must go to Apiento from Test Pressing who first introduced us to Wally and facilitated all those early zoom meetings. It couldn't have happened without his help. Not least on pulling the art together, too, which features striking original photography by Mads Perch. Benji Roebuck of Roebuck Press did his thing brilliantly in art working the whole package to completion. All in all: essential. More
1
Fred P - Bliss Filled Passages
2
Fred P - Uplifted Vibe
3
Fred P - Smooth And Real
As we journey Fred P continues to go further into his singular sonic landscape with long player Bliss Filled Passages. Depth and emotive intensity of Uplifted Vibes keeps the energy flowing with what has been a stable of Private Society vinyl arm, trippy fusionhouse. Rounding the proceedings with laid back roller Smooth and Real.
Another ace outing by the futurist Fred P. More
Another ace outing by the futurist Fred P. More
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Deena Abdelwahed - The Key To The Exit - 06:36
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Deena Abdelwahed - Each day - 05:40
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Deena Abdelwahed - Six as oil - 06:05
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Deena Abdelwahed - Complain - 05:03
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Deena Abdelwahed - Violence for free - 06:15
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Deena Abdelwahed - Naive - 08:40
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Deena Abdelwahed - Pre Island - 06:13
Territories: WORLD EXCL FRANCE
Tracklist LP:
A1_The Key To The Exit - 06:36
A2_Each day - 05:40
A3_Six as oil - 06:05
A4_Complain - 05:03
B1_Violence for free - 06:15
B2_Naive - 08:40
B3_Pre Island - 06:13
Short Info:
Building off of the themes of identity, storytelling and experimentation on her critically acclaimed debut album, Khonnar (2018), Deena Abdelwahed’s upcoming album Jbal Rrsas is the next chapter of a reimagining of what club music could be. The album spans seven tracks of bass, techno, and experimental music, with Abdelwahed consulting with masterminds like Tunisian composer and multi-instrumentalist Khalil Hentati, aka Khalil Epi, and Iraqi-British multi-instrumentalist, composer, and researcher Khyam Allami, as well as Egyptian mastering engineer Heba Kadry, to help realise her vision.
Jbal Rrsas starts with the seductively apocalyptic opener, The Key to the Exit, a deconstructed sha’bi production. With tracks like Six as Oil and the delightfully intense Violence for Free, Abdelwahed leads users to a desert rave, where industrial rhythms are left unbridled. Abdelwahed’s vocals on Complain and Pre-Island are powerful and exposed, confidently placed on dizzying avant-garde productions. The Wire previously said “[Khonnar is] an assured debut that sits on the edge of a whole swathe of possibilities, not only sonic but also geographical, social and political.” With Jbal Rrsas finds Abdelwahed deftly navigating through those possibilities, frequently pushing against genres, labels, and social identifiers, while elevating club music to otherworldly heights.
More
Tracklist LP:
A1_The Key To The Exit - 06:36
A2_Each day - 05:40
A3_Six as oil - 06:05
A4_Complain - 05:03
B1_Violence for free - 06:15
B2_Naive - 08:40
B3_Pre Island - 06:13
Short Info:
Building off of the themes of identity, storytelling and experimentation on her critically acclaimed debut album, Khonnar (2018), Deena Abdelwahed’s upcoming album Jbal Rrsas is the next chapter of a reimagining of what club music could be. The album spans seven tracks of bass, techno, and experimental music, with Abdelwahed consulting with masterminds like Tunisian composer and multi-instrumentalist Khalil Hentati, aka Khalil Epi, and Iraqi-British multi-instrumentalist, composer, and researcher Khyam Allami, as well as Egyptian mastering engineer Heba Kadry, to help realise her vision.
Jbal Rrsas starts with the seductively apocalyptic opener, The Key to the Exit, a deconstructed sha’bi production. With tracks like Six as Oil and the delightfully intense Violence for Free, Abdelwahed leads users to a desert rave, where industrial rhythms are left unbridled. Abdelwahed’s vocals on Complain and Pre-Island are powerful and exposed, confidently placed on dizzying avant-garde productions. The Wire previously said “[Khonnar is] an assured debut that sits on the edge of a whole swathe of possibilities, not only sonic but also geographical, social and political.” With Jbal Rrsas finds Abdelwahed deftly navigating through those possibilities, frequently pushing against genres, labels, and social identifiers, while elevating club music to otherworldly heights.
More
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Numero 6 - Halo
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Numero 6 - Pomme D'Amour (Dream Drum Mix)
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Numero 6 - Woaw
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Numero 6 - Roi Cosmos
Numero 6 launches his first solo EP with 4 clubs tracks, sharing with you a new insights of his musical space. Expect mellow notes, corky vocals and unexpected sounds.
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Major Problems - A1. Overdose (The Final Trip)
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Major Problems - A2. Flashbacks (Version)
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Major Problems - B1. The Rush (Freakout Mix)
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Major Problems - B2. Paranoia (The Bad Trip)
Patagonia Wave series is back on the beloved Orange Wedge imprint. From the glorious collaboration of Joey Beltram, Lenny Dee and Ralphie Dee this is a masterpiece to have in your collection.
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Knopha - Fizz
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Knopha - The Light Ft. Fishdoll
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Knopha - Mizu Le Goût
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Knopha - Corundum ft Voision Xi
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Knopha - Corundrum
Knopha steps out on Mood Hut Records with 'Kwong'. Ranging in tone from downtempo drum and bass to Herbert-like cut up house tunes, from esoteric pop to digital abstractions.
After years of friendship, we're very proud to release Knopha's beautiful music. We hope you enjoy. More
After years of friendship, we're very proud to release Knopha's beautiful music. We hope you enjoy. More
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Verraco - Escándaloo
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Verraco - jajaja
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Verraco - How is this even possible?
Voam is proud to present a new EP from Colombian producer, DJ and TraTraTrax co-founder, Verraco. Taking influences from hardgroove, dembow and UK soundsystem music and blending them with cutting edge sound design, these three tracks present a dramatic and forward thinking vision of the hybrid possibilities of techno.
Written & produced by Verraco
Mastered by Rashad Becker
Artwork & design by Atact More
Written & produced by Verraco
Mastered by Rashad Becker
Artwork & design by Atact More