1
The Black Dog - It's Not Enough
2
The Black Dog - My Brutal Life
3
The Black Dog - The Mundane
4
The Black Dog - Beyond The Estate Agents Window
5
The Black Dog - Unité d’Habitation
6
The Black Dog - Asymmetrical Living
7
The Black Dog - Postcards For Comfort
8
The Black Dog - Hey Serry
9
The Black Dog - Droppingwell Futures
10
The Black Dog - Concrete Slit
11
The Black Dog - Future Townscapes
12
The Black Dog - Minimal Reconstruction
13
The Black Dog - Villa Göth Calling
14
The Black Dog - Béton-Brut
15
The Black Dog - Kahn
WHITE COLOURED VINYL / LIMITED TO 300 COPIES!
My Brutal Life delves into the profound aspects of our artistic endeavours encompassing brutalism, the environment, and humanity. Throughout our ongoing creative journey, we consistently gravitate towards these themes, documenting and exploring the human experience within these environments. Our unwavering fixation on Symmetry, Synchronisation, and Repetition are the driving force in our artistic expression. Moreover, we strive to peel away superficial layers to expose the underlying emotional strata of the human aspect, unearthing the often overlooked beauty within the ordinary. Although frequently disregarded, the human aspect resonates with echoes from the past, enlightening and guiding our artistic process. Even the failures encountered serve as poignant reminders of the delicate structures we construct. My Brutal Life constitutes a pivotal component within an enduring exhibition, meticulously crafted to delve into the aesthetic and human facets of brutalism. More
My Brutal Life delves into the profound aspects of our artistic endeavours encompassing brutalism, the environment, and humanity. Throughout our ongoing creative journey, we consistently gravitate towards these themes, documenting and exploring the human experience within these environments. Our unwavering fixation on Symmetry, Synchronisation, and Repetition are the driving force in our artistic expression. Moreover, we strive to peel away superficial layers to expose the underlying emotional strata of the human aspect, unearthing the often overlooked beauty within the ordinary. Although frequently disregarded, the human aspect resonates with echoes from the past, enlightening and guiding our artistic process. Even the failures encountered serve as poignant reminders of the delicate structures we construct. My Brutal Life constitutes a pivotal component within an enduring exhibition, meticulously crafted to delve into the aesthetic and human facets of brutalism. More
More records from The Black Dog
1
The Black Dog - The Slow Cancellation Of The Future
2
The Black Dog - The Future Is Now The Past
3
The Black Dog - Generic Protocols
4
The Black Dog - Stockhausen Was Right
5
The Black Dog - Consumer Tethering
6
The Black Dog - New Times End
7
The Black Dog - The Failure Of Modernity
8
The Black Dog - Airport 3
9
The Black Dog - Core Planning
10
The Black Dog - REM Kiss
11
The Black Dog - Agency
12
The Black Dog - Null
13
The Black Dog - Deep Isolation
14
The Black Dog - Shuggy
15
The Black Dog - Human Latch
16
The Black Dog - Floatation
17
The Black Dog - No Title
“Sleep Deprivation” began in 2006, during a time when our sleep patterns were drastically altered by constant travel and late-night gigs. This relentless cycle of broken sleep became a persistent part of our lives, and over time, we noticed something remarkable: our music became more emotional, raw, and vulnerable. Sleep, or the lack of it, affects every aspect of life, and its influence on our creative process was undeniable. For this album, we chose to embrace that emotional intensity, allowing it to take centre stage over traditional arrangements. Sleep deprivation blurs the lines of logic, and the part of the brain that usually handles structure and order begins to falter. In that haze, deeper feelings rise to the surface, unfiltered and honest. With this album, we surrendered to that experience, letting the emotional chaos shape the music, and the result is an exploration of what happens when you’re pushed to your limits, both physically and creatively.
More
1
The Black Dog - The Slow Cancellation Of The Future
2
The Black Dog - The Future Is Now The Past
3
The Black Dog - Generic Protocols
4
The Black Dog - Stockhausen Was Right
5
The Black Dog - Consumer Tethering
6
The Black Dog - New Times End
7
The Black Dog - The Failure Of Modernity
8
The Black Dog - Airport 3
9
The Black Dog - Core Planning
10
The Black Dog - REM Kiss
11
The Black Dog - Agency
12
The Black Dog - Null
13
The Black Dog - Deep Isolation
14
The Black Dog - Shuggy
15
The Black Dog - Human Latch
16
The Black Dog - Floatation
17
The Black Dog - Internal Sunrise
“Sleep Deprivation” began in 2006, during a time when our sleep patterns were drastically altered by constant travel and late-night gigs. This relentless cycle of broken sleep became a persistent part of our lives, and over time, we noticed something remarkable: our music became more emotional, raw, and vulnerable. Sleep, or the lack of it, affects every aspect of life, and its influence on our creative process was undeniable. For this album, we chose to embrace that emotional intensity, allowing it to take centre stage over traditional arrangements. Sleep deprivation blurs the lines of logic, and the part of the brain that usually handles structure and order begins to falter. In that haze, deeper feelings rise to the surface, unfiltered and honest. With this album, we surrendered to that experience, letting the emotional chaos shape the music, and the result is an exploration of what happens when you’re pushed to your limits, both physically and creatively.
More
1
The Black Dog - She Never Wrote Back
2
The Black Dog - With You I Still Feel Alone
3
The Black Dog - Dressed Up Ausländer
4
The Black Dog - [Bolt] Golden Hour At Sisters
5
The Black Dog - Crashed
6
The Black Dog - Just Pretend To Be Someone Else
7
The Black Dog - I'm Poster Syndrome
8
The Black Dog - Bubble Life
9
The Black Dog - 4Real
10
The Black Dog - Closed Eyes
11
The Black Dog - Other, Like Me
12
The Black Dog - Methodology #17
13
The Black Dog - Boy On A Swing
14
The Black Dog - I Have A Keen Interest
15
The Black Dog - In A Place Like This
16
The Black Dog - Mark Up
17
The Black Dog - I Am An Artist
Experience the sonic journey that is The Black Dog's latest album, "Other, Like Me," as they delve into the intricacies of the artist's psyche, questioning the very essence of individuality and creative worth. The album invites listeners to confront darker thoughts about self-identity, imposter syndrome, and the relentless pursuit of creative value, all while celebrating the joy found in the act of artistic creation. In this introspective exploration, The Black Dog challenge both themselves and their audience, creating a musical experience that is profoundly personal and open to interpretation. The themes woven throughout the album are a poignant counterpoint between the shadows of self-doubt and the exuberance of creative expression. It's an inward exploration, offering a place of solace for listeners to find comfort amid the chaos of external influences. The album's title, "Other, Like Me", draws inspiration from an interview with Cosey Fanni Tutti in 1999, resonating deeply with The Black Dog's outsider perspective. The phrase encapsulates the essence of the album, reflecting the band's unique identity and shared experiences, while respecting each member's individual passions and interests. Navigating the waters of cognitive dissonance, The Black Dog bring an authenticity to their music that mirrors the internal and external conflicts of the contemporary music scene. With a commitment to stripping back layers and allowing the heart of each song to shine through, "Other, Like Me" offers a raw and unfiltered musical experience that speaks directly to the soul. It's an invitation to introspection, a celebration of independence, and a testament to the power of authentic artistic expression.
More
1
The Black Dog - Trojan Horus [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered)
2
The Black Dog - Trojan Horus [Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered)
3
The Black Dog - Lam Vril (Album Mix / Remastered)
4
The Black Dog - Truth Benders D.I.E (Album Mix / Remastered)
5
The Black Dog - Bolt 23 Blue Screen ov Death (Album Mix / Remastered)
6
The Black Dog - Alt-Return-Dash-Kill (Album Mix / Remastered)
7
The Black Dog - Bolt 777 Ordinary Boy (Album Mix / Remastered)
8
The Black Dog - Drexian City R.I.D.E (Album Mix / Remastered)
9
The Black Dog - Remote Viewing (Album Mix / Remastered)
10
The Black Dog - Gummi Void (Album Mix / Remastered)
11
The Black Dog - Machine Machina (Album Mix / Remastered)
12
The Black Dog - The Stele of Revealing (Album Mix / Remastered)
13
The Black Dog - Songs for Other People (Album Mix / Remastered)
14
The Black Dog - Break Down On Lake Shore Drive (Album Mix / Remastered)
15
The Black Dog - Bolt 33 Glitch & Chin (Album Mix / Remastered)
16
The Black Dog - Sudden Intake (Album Mix / Remastered)
17
The Black Dog - 4 3s 555 [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered)
18
The Black Dog - 4 3s 555 [Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered)
In the enigmatic realm of electronic music, The Black Dog stands as a visionary act, responsible for crafting, among other things, the mesmerising album "Silenced". Notably, this release marks a significant milestone in the band's evolution, being the first album from the new line-up and their collaboration with the fledgling label Dust Science.
Defying industry norms, The Black Dog embodies a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ethos. Their artistic journey remains steadfast, with a commitment to originality and creative freedom, unfettered by the limitations imposed by the commercial music industry.
The record label Dust Science takes pride in championing The Black Dog's musical prowess, with its first release being the band's 4-track EP "Bite Thee Back". However, this EP was only a prototype for the revitalised collective, eventually leading to the composition of Silenced, which followed soon after.
This creative period denotes a fresh start for The Black Dog, a testament to their resilience and a commitment to evolving their sound. The resulting album represents a new beginning, celebrating and transcending the echoes of the past. It redefines the band's sonic landscape and establishes a distinct musical narrative that resonates with dedicated followers and newcomers alike. More
Defying industry norms, The Black Dog embodies a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ethos. Their artistic journey remains steadfast, with a commitment to originality and creative freedom, unfettered by the limitations imposed by the commercial music industry.
The record label Dust Science takes pride in championing The Black Dog's musical prowess, with its first release being the band's 4-track EP "Bite Thee Back". However, this EP was only a prototype for the revitalised collective, eventually leading to the composition of Silenced, which followed soon after.
This creative period denotes a fresh start for The Black Dog, a testament to their resilience and a commitment to evolving their sound. The resulting album represents a new beginning, celebrating and transcending the echoes of the past. It redefines the band's sonic landscape and establishes a distinct musical narrative that resonates with dedicated followers and newcomers alike. More
1
The Black Dog - Transmission Start (Remastered)
2
The Black Dog - Train By The Autobahn (Part 1) (Remastered)
3
The Black Dog - Train By The Autobahn (Part 2) (Remastered)
4
The Black Dog - Riphead v9 (Remastered)
5
The Black Dog - UV Sine (Remastered)
6
The Black Dog - ...Short Wave Lies (Remastered)
7
The Black Dog - Siiiipher (Remastered)
8
The Black Dog - Digital Poacher (Remastered)
9
The Black Dog - Coda (Remastered)
10
The Black Dog - Set To Receive (Remastered)
11
The Black Dog - EVP Echoes (Remastered)
12
The Black Dog - Floods v3.9 (Remastered)
13
The Black Dog - Beep (Remastered)
14
The Black Dog - Witches Ov (Remastered)
15
The Black Dog - Dials & Dialers 1 (Remastered)
16
The Black Dog - Ghost Vexations (Remastered)
17
The Black Dog - Dials & Dialers 2 (Remastered)
The Black Dog's highly regarded album, Radio Scarecrow, is now remastered and re-issued on Dust Science, 15 years after its original release on Soma Records.
Two years of constant development culminated in a masterpiece that flows delightfully and hits hard. Marking a true progression from the band's previous album, Silenced, the trio are keen to note:
"The beats are faster and the bass is much heavier - so much so, that it was making us ill, working with the low frequencies for hours on end. We could only do 3 hours at a time on some parts."
Tracks like Floods v3.9 and Beep are a testament to this. With throbbing basslines strong enough to make an impact on the Richter scale, these tracks are best played out on big sound systems.
Radio Scarecrow unfolds gracefully, barely skipping a beat between tracks. The act have created an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. With elements blending between tracks (the same kick drum being used to very different means in Short Wave Lies and Siiiipher for example) and with constant references to conspiracy theories and the supernatural, The Black Dog present more than a collection of tracks. Influenced heavily by their interest in Magick, Numbers Stations and Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), the act have hidden examples of these within their work.
"These transmissions and recordings (and people's interpretations of them) had a strong influence on many of the final concepts and compositions, to the point where we've been embedding coded messages and curses deep inside the tracks". More
Two years of constant development culminated in a masterpiece that flows delightfully and hits hard. Marking a true progression from the band's previous album, Silenced, the trio are keen to note:
"The beats are faster and the bass is much heavier - so much so, that it was making us ill, working with the low frequencies for hours on end. We could only do 3 hours at a time on some parts."
Tracks like Floods v3.9 and Beep are a testament to this. With throbbing basslines strong enough to make an impact on the Richter scale, these tracks are best played out on big sound systems.
Radio Scarecrow unfolds gracefully, barely skipping a beat between tracks. The act have created an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. With elements blending between tracks (the same kick drum being used to very different means in Short Wave Lies and Siiiipher for example) and with constant references to conspiracy theories and the supernatural, The Black Dog present more than a collection of tracks. Influenced heavily by their interest in Magick, Numbers Stations and Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), the act have hidden examples of these within their work.
"These transmissions and recordings (and people's interpretations of them) had a strong influence on many of the final concepts and compositions, to the point where we've been embedding coded messages and curses deep inside the tracks". More
Originally released in 1995, Spanners is the second album from The Black Dog and their first for Warp Records. In 2017 it was selected by Pitchfork as one of ‘The 50 Best IDM Albums of All Time’. The reissue will be the first time the vinyl is available since its original pressing in 1995. After this release the original trio of Ed Handley, Andy Turner and Ken Downie went their separate ways - Handley and Turner formed Plaid, whilst Downie carried on with The Black Dog name, initially by himself, and latterly with the assistance of brothers Martin and Richard Dust.
Exact replicas of the original editions, Album re-cut by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering on classic black wax.
- Packaging spec: Black 2LP vinyl in polylined inner sleeves in gatefold outer sleeve with download code
Tracklist
A1. Raxmus
A2. Bolt1
A3. Barbola Work
A4. Bolt2
A5. Psil-cosyin
B1. Chase The Manhattan
B2. Bolt3
B3. Tahr
B4. Bolt4
B5. Further Harm
C1. Nommo
C2. Bolt5
C3. Pot Noddle
C4. Bolt6
C5. End Of Time
D1. Utopian Dream
D2. Bolt7
D3. Frisbee Skip
D4. Chesh More
Exact replicas of the original editions, Album re-cut by Beau Thomas at Ten Eight Seven Mastering on classic black wax.
- Packaging spec: Black 2LP vinyl in polylined inner sleeves in gatefold outer sleeve with download code
Tracklist
A1. Raxmus
A2. Bolt1
A3. Barbola Work
A4. Bolt2
A5. Psil-cosyin
B1. Chase The Manhattan
B2. Bolt3
B3. Tahr
B4. Bolt4
B5. Further Harm
C1. Nommo
C2. Bolt5
C3. Pot Noddle
C4. Bolt6
C5. End Of Time
D1. Utopian Dream
D2. Bolt7
D3. Frisbee Skip
D4. Chesh More
1
The Black Dog - Ghosts Of Decay (Album Mix)
2
The Black Dog - Open Your Head (Album Mix)
3
The Black Dog - Harder Times (Album Mix)
4
The Black Dog - Let's All Make Brutalism (Album Mix)
5
The Black Dog - You've Heard This One Before (Album Mix)
6
The Black Dog - We Never Wante You (Album Mix)
7
The Black Dog - Russell Street (Album Mix)
8
The Black Dog - Owls In Tesco Bags (Album Mix)
9
The Black Dog - (We Never Needed This) Fascist Groove Thang (Album Mix)
10
The Black Dog - This Is Phil Talking (Album Mix)
11
The Black Dog - Thee Difference Ov Girls (Album Mix)
12
The Black Dog - Sound Ov Thee Crowd (Album Mix)
13
The Black Dog - Empire Statement Humanoid (Album Mix)
14
The Black Dog - I Dare You (Album Mix)
15
The Black Dog - Circus Ov Daath (Album Mix)
16
The Black Dog - Borstal Communications (Album Mix)
17
The Black Dog - Let Me Dada (Album Mix)
TIP!!!
Sometimes, things "just happen". For months, we’d been working away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere.
We’d been talking about the old days; making music with friends and dodgy kit, renting small practice rooms and using makeshift recording studios. It was such a common thing back then, you could pick a dusty space in a half-derelict building for as little as £25 a month. In those days, the Cabs and Human League had studios with posh-sounding names, but in reality, they were the same old workspaces long abandoned by the industries they were built for. Nevertheless, the grand names made them sound magical.
Sheffield had thousands of these spaces, and some still exist today, but their abundance and low-cost made Sheffield a very active place. Someone was always doing something. They’d exploded onto the scene in a flurry of excitement before disappearing just as quickly.
There’s something about these little mesters (workshops) that we believe lives in the very consciousness of Sheffield. It’s one of the reasons we never really had big scenes like Manchester or Leeds. The Hacienda would've never been built here.
We don’t really do big gangs or have that kind of mentality. We tend to exist in little pockets, often leaving each other alone. It would be 30 years before any member of The Black Dog talked to Cabaret Voltaire. Sure, we’d stood outside their practice room as kids, trying to listen in, but never felt any reason to approach. Sheffield is like that.
Once we had the first two tracks of the Black EP, we set off to see Jon at Do It Theesen, where he manually cut the tracks to an extremely limited set of 7" singles using a vinyl lathe. It just felt right to go back to the old ways; a small gang creating something special in workshops and sheds. There’s something very satisfying about it, a perfect circle, if you will.
We pushed further by adopting old practices, working with one synth per person and limiting the use of our computers. We only stopped short of putting everything on beer crates. It seems like madness these days, but there is raw creativity within these confines. Pretty much every band started this way. Depeche Mode travelled to the studio on the London Underground for their first appearance on Top Of The Pops, all lugging a synth each. That's how we approached the creation of this album; stripped back, raw and minimal - it just felt so right.
And then there’s the competitive element that was influenced when the original Human League split and became Human League MK II and Heaven 17. Both continued to use the same studio to write what became the albums "Dare" and "Penthouse and Pavement". There is something about that drive that is very Sheffield, just making stuff and hoping everything falls into place.
In Sheffield, we do things differently, because that’s how we are built. away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere. More
Sometimes, things "just happen". For months, we’d been working away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere.
We’d been talking about the old days; making music with friends and dodgy kit, renting small practice rooms and using makeshift recording studios. It was such a common thing back then, you could pick a dusty space in a half-derelict building for as little as £25 a month. In those days, the Cabs and Human League had studios with posh-sounding names, but in reality, they were the same old workspaces long abandoned by the industries they were built for. Nevertheless, the grand names made them sound magical.
Sheffield had thousands of these spaces, and some still exist today, but their abundance and low-cost made Sheffield a very active place. Someone was always doing something. They’d exploded onto the scene in a flurry of excitement before disappearing just as quickly.
There’s something about these little mesters (workshops) that we believe lives in the very consciousness of Sheffield. It’s one of the reasons we never really had big scenes like Manchester or Leeds. The Hacienda would've never been built here.
We don’t really do big gangs or have that kind of mentality. We tend to exist in little pockets, often leaving each other alone. It would be 30 years before any member of The Black Dog talked to Cabaret Voltaire. Sure, we’d stood outside their practice room as kids, trying to listen in, but never felt any reason to approach. Sheffield is like that.
Once we had the first two tracks of the Black EP, we set off to see Jon at Do It Theesen, where he manually cut the tracks to an extremely limited set of 7" singles using a vinyl lathe. It just felt right to go back to the old ways; a small gang creating something special in workshops and sheds. There’s something very satisfying about it, a perfect circle, if you will.
We pushed further by adopting old practices, working with one synth per person and limiting the use of our computers. We only stopped short of putting everything on beer crates. It seems like madness these days, but there is raw creativity within these confines. Pretty much every band started this way. Depeche Mode travelled to the studio on the London Underground for their first appearance on Top Of The Pops, all lugging a synth each. That's how we approached the creation of this album; stripped back, raw and minimal - it just felt so right.
And then there’s the competitive element that was influenced when the original Human League split and became Human League MK II and Heaven 17. Both continued to use the same studio to write what became the albums "Dare" and "Penthouse and Pavement". There is something about that drive that is very Sheffield, just making stuff and hoping everything falls into place.
In Sheffield, we do things differently, because that’s how we are built. away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere. More
Music for Real Airports is a series of exciting live art events and installations in art galleries/spaces that are artistic response to the reality of occupying the semi-public space of an airport, and a contemporary reply to Brian Eno´s work from the 70s. Produced by musicians and artists with an international reputation - the Black Dog and Human - the project will portray airports as they really are, rather than idealised utopian vision of what they should be. Combining performances of electronic music and live-mixed animation and digital video projected on multiple screens, Music for Release Airports will be a unique, immersive experience that will draw in new audiences to art galleries.
Tracklist
M1
Terminal EMA
DISinformation Desk
Passport Control
Wait Behind This Line
Empty Seat Calculations
Strip Light Hate
Future Delay Thinking
Lounge
Delay 9
Sleep Deprivation 1
Sleep Deprivation 2
He Knows
Business Car Park 9 More
Tracklist
M1
Terminal EMA
DISinformation Desk
Passport Control
Wait Behind This Line
Empty Seat Calculations
Strip Light Hate
Future Delay Thinking
Lounge
Delay 9
Sleep Deprivation 1
Sleep Deprivation 2
He Knows
Business Car Park 9 More
We’ve always worked apart. For us, it’s nothing new. Large online servers have been in place for years but at some stage, we always meet up while working on an album to pour over the details, tone and running order. We create storyboards and write text to support and form the ideas. However, this process and the simple ability to sit in the same room just wasn’t possible during the pandemic. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, on this project we believe that it has helped us to capture the isolation a photographer seeks with their subject. It's an attempt at slowing down and finding something internal. When the chatter stops, the creative intentions seep through. Music For Photographers was first created as a functional tool. For the last two years, we’ve been photographing our city and the brutal architecture that sits within the landscape. Throughout this process many mistakes had been made, resulting in many return visits to repeat work already undertaken. Rushing, aimlessly collecting and near misses are all common problems. Photography, just like any other artform, needs to be practised and the skills need to be attained. Like music, it’s a constant battle. Something was needed to aid the art being sought. We created Music For Photographers with two simple rules; to be void of human voices and that it should be played in full when visiting any location. Our approach to composing the music and visiting the locations evolved. It helped the whole process become a more fluid exchange of ideas and we repeated the process later while editing the photographs. The book "Brutal Sheffield" provided a full stop for the creative process, finding that perfect balance between function and form. Music For Photographers has now become a fully functioning sigil in our creative process. Rather than just invoking, it also evokes and goes beyond being a simple function. Listen carefully and you can hear the bre´ton brut!
More
1
The Black Dog - Dust Bunnies
2
The Black Dog - Vertical Grip On Reality
3
The Black Dog - Womersley, Line One
4
The Black Dog - Pho-kuss (Feat. Oliver Ho)
5
The Black Dog - Sensor
6
The Black Dog - Norman Foster Knew
7
The Black Dog - Bokeh Bokeh Bokeh
8
The Black Dog - Re-Pho-kuss (Feat. Oliver Ho)
9
The Black Dog - Nighthawks
10
The Black Dog - We Are All Memories
11
The Black Dog - My Life Is Bracketed
12
The Black Dog - Depth Of Future
13
The Black Dog - Lightroom Lies, Darkroom Doom
14
The Black Dog - For The Love Of Tish
15
The Black Dog - Lost In Lines
4x12” – heavy weight 180g vinyl – gatefold sleeve – limited to 500 units.
We’ve always worked apart. For us, it’s nothing new. Large online servers have been in place for years but at some stage, we always meet up while working on an album to pour over the details, tone and running order. We create storyboards and write text to support and form the ideas. However, this process and the simple ability to sit in the same room just wasn’t possible during the pandemic. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, on this project we believe that it has helped us to capture the isolation a photographer seeks with their subject. It's an attempt at slowing down and finding something internal. When the chatter stops, the creative intentions seep through. Music For Photographers was first created as a functional tool. For the last two years, we’ve been photographing our city and the brutal architecture that sits within the landscape. Throughout this process many mistakes had been made, resulting in many return visits to repeat work already undertaken. Rushing, aimlessly collecting and near misses are all common problems. Photography, just like any other artform, needs to be practised and the skills need to be attained. Like music, it’s a constant battle. Something was needed to aid the art being sought. We created Music For Photographers with two simple rules; to be void of human voices and that it should be played in full when visiting any location. Our approach to composing the music and visiting the locations evolved. It helped the whole process become a more fluid exchange of ideas and we repeated the process later while editing the photographs. The book "Brutal Sheffield" provided a full stop for the creative process, finding that perfect balance between function and form. Music For Photographers has now become a fully functioning sigil in our creative process. Rather than just invoking, it also evokes and goes beyond being a simple function. Listen carefully and you can hear the bre´ton brut! More
We’ve always worked apart. For us, it’s nothing new. Large online servers have been in place for years but at some stage, we always meet up while working on an album to pour over the details, tone and running order. We create storyboards and write text to support and form the ideas. However, this process and the simple ability to sit in the same room just wasn’t possible during the pandemic. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, on this project we believe that it has helped us to capture the isolation a photographer seeks with their subject. It's an attempt at slowing down and finding something internal. When the chatter stops, the creative intentions seep through. Music For Photographers was first created as a functional tool. For the last two years, we’ve been photographing our city and the brutal architecture that sits within the landscape. Throughout this process many mistakes had been made, resulting in many return visits to repeat work already undertaken. Rushing, aimlessly collecting and near misses are all common problems. Photography, just like any other artform, needs to be practised and the skills need to be attained. Like music, it’s a constant battle. Something was needed to aid the art being sought. We created Music For Photographers with two simple rules; to be void of human voices and that it should be played in full when visiting any location. Our approach to composing the music and visiting the locations evolved. It helped the whole process become a more fluid exchange of ideas and we repeated the process later while editing the photographs. The book "Brutal Sheffield" provided a full stop for the creative process, finding that perfect balance between function and form. Music For Photographers has now become a fully functioning sigil in our creative process. Rather than just invoking, it also evokes and goes beyond being a simple function. Listen carefully and you can hear the bre´ton brut! More
1
the black dog - Non Linear Information Life
2
the black dog - Phil 3 to 5 to 3
3
the black dog - Neither/Neither
4
the black dog - Phil 0114
5
the black dog - Control Needs Time
6
the black dog - Them (Everyone Is A Liar But)
7
the black dog - Shut Eye
8
the black dog - The Frequency Ov Thee Truthers
9
the black dog - B.O.O.K.S
10
the black dog - Self Organising Sealed Systems
11
the black dog - Commodification
12
the black dog - Phil vs David
13
the black dog - Platform Lvl 6
14
the black dog - Hollow Stories, Hollow Head
15
the black dog - MK Ultrabrite
We live in dangerous times. We are blinded by control vectors that separate us from reality. And The Black Dog returns with a viral antidote: an album of de-programming material which they've called Nether/Neither. This record continues the work they started with Further Vexations and Radio Scarecrow. Burroughs was right: we are now living in a world that is nothing short of a total information war. We are neither one thing nor another, endlessly on the fence in the face of an onslaught of disinformation. Non-linear hypermedia systems are openly used to control us, their operation being totally exposed, mocking our impotence, yet complete in their power. We are all proles now; all are expected to maintain a mental state of Neither/Neither, of uncertainty and inaction. Even in a world where anyone can be an instant expert on any subject in a single click, we find that all our knowledge is a mere replay of someone else's script. We are surrounded and occupied by systems of platitude generation that are empty and self-referential. All is surface and all is hollow. From the Tories' election propaganda to David Icke, they're all the same, all meaning filtered to nothing by a lack of substance, science and humanity. Falsehood becomes reason, no matter how ridiculous the proposition. They stand for nothing so they can have no questions to answer. False prophets and the modern day snake oil salesmen parade their viral vampirism, grasping for our time, money and headspace. Even our ridicule becomes fuel for their trade as they turn ignorance and psychopathic exploitation into received wisdom and public opinion. Ask any sideshow psychic; repeat, pure Barnum bunkum enough times and you can seize the psychology of the masses. Rumours become truth then they become action and policy that in the cold light of the day make no-sense at all. No one's sure where they heard it but they have. The spectral offer of change, which actually sustains the stasis of confusion. They spin us on a ball of confusion we live on continues to turn and as long as they have us in a state of Neither/Neither they will always maintain control. Fight Back!
More
More records from Dust Science
1
The Black Dog - The Slow Cancellation Of The Future
2
The Black Dog - The Future Is Now The Past
3
The Black Dog - Generic Protocols
4
The Black Dog - Stockhausen Was Right
5
The Black Dog - Consumer Tethering
6
The Black Dog - New Times End
7
The Black Dog - The Failure Of Modernity
8
The Black Dog - Airport 3
9
The Black Dog - Core Planning
10
The Black Dog - REM Kiss
11
The Black Dog - Agency
12
The Black Dog - Null
13
The Black Dog - Deep Isolation
14
The Black Dog - Shuggy
15
The Black Dog - Human Latch
16
The Black Dog - Floatation
17
The Black Dog - No Title
“Sleep Deprivation” began in 2006, during a time when our sleep patterns were drastically altered by constant travel and late-night gigs. This relentless cycle of broken sleep became a persistent part of our lives, and over time, we noticed something remarkable: our music became more emotional, raw, and vulnerable. Sleep, or the lack of it, affects every aspect of life, and its influence on our creative process was undeniable. For this album, we chose to embrace that emotional intensity, allowing it to take centre stage over traditional arrangements. Sleep deprivation blurs the lines of logic, and the part of the brain that usually handles structure and order begins to falter. In that haze, deeper feelings rise to the surface, unfiltered and honest. With this album, we surrendered to that experience, letting the emotional chaos shape the music, and the result is an exploration of what happens when you’re pushed to your limits, both physically and creatively.
More
1
The Black Dog - The Slow Cancellation Of The Future
2
The Black Dog - The Future Is Now The Past
3
The Black Dog - Generic Protocols
4
The Black Dog - Stockhausen Was Right
5
The Black Dog - Consumer Tethering
6
The Black Dog - New Times End
7
The Black Dog - The Failure Of Modernity
8
The Black Dog - Airport 3
9
The Black Dog - Core Planning
10
The Black Dog - REM Kiss
11
The Black Dog - Agency
12
The Black Dog - Null
13
The Black Dog - Deep Isolation
14
The Black Dog - Shuggy
15
The Black Dog - Human Latch
16
The Black Dog - Floatation
17
The Black Dog - Internal Sunrise
“Sleep Deprivation” began in 2006, during a time when our sleep patterns were drastically altered by constant travel and late-night gigs. This relentless cycle of broken sleep became a persistent part of our lives, and over time, we noticed something remarkable: our music became more emotional, raw, and vulnerable. Sleep, or the lack of it, affects every aspect of life, and its influence on our creative process was undeniable. For this album, we chose to embrace that emotional intensity, allowing it to take centre stage over traditional arrangements. Sleep deprivation blurs the lines of logic, and the part of the brain that usually handles structure and order begins to falter. In that haze, deeper feelings rise to the surface, unfiltered and honest. With this album, we surrendered to that experience, letting the emotional chaos shape the music, and the result is an exploration of what happens when you’re pushed to your limits, both physically and creatively.
More
1
The Black Dog - She Never Wrote Back
2
The Black Dog - With You I Still Feel Alone
3
The Black Dog - Dressed Up Ausländer
4
The Black Dog - [Bolt] Golden Hour At Sisters
5
The Black Dog - Crashed
6
The Black Dog - Just Pretend To Be Someone Else
7
The Black Dog - I'm Poster Syndrome
8
The Black Dog - Bubble Life
9
The Black Dog - 4Real
10
The Black Dog - Closed Eyes
11
The Black Dog - Other, Like Me
12
The Black Dog - Methodology #17
13
The Black Dog - Boy On A Swing
14
The Black Dog - I Have A Keen Interest
15
The Black Dog - In A Place Like This
16
The Black Dog - Mark Up
17
The Black Dog - I Am An Artist
Experience the sonic journey that is The Black Dog's latest album, "Other, Like Me," as they delve into the intricacies of the artist's psyche, questioning the very essence of individuality and creative worth. The album invites listeners to confront darker thoughts about self-identity, imposter syndrome, and the relentless pursuit of creative value, all while celebrating the joy found in the act of artistic creation. In this introspective exploration, The Black Dog challenge both themselves and their audience, creating a musical experience that is profoundly personal and open to interpretation. The themes woven throughout the album are a poignant counterpoint between the shadows of self-doubt and the exuberance of creative expression. It's an inward exploration, offering a place of solace for listeners to find comfort amid the chaos of external influences. The album's title, "Other, Like Me", draws inspiration from an interview with Cosey Fanni Tutti in 1999, resonating deeply with The Black Dog's outsider perspective. The phrase encapsulates the essence of the album, reflecting the band's unique identity and shared experiences, while respecting each member's individual passions and interests. Navigating the waters of cognitive dissonance, The Black Dog bring an authenticity to their music that mirrors the internal and external conflicts of the contemporary music scene. With a commitment to stripping back layers and allowing the heart of each song to shine through, "Other, Like Me" offers a raw and unfiltered musical experience that speaks directly to the soul. It's an invitation to introspection, a celebration of independence, and a testament to the power of authentic artistic expression.
More
1
The Black Dog - Trojan Horus [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered)
2
The Black Dog - Trojan Horus [Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered)
3
The Black Dog - Lam Vril (Album Mix / Remastered)
4
The Black Dog - Truth Benders D.I.E (Album Mix / Remastered)
5
The Black Dog - Bolt 23 Blue Screen ov Death (Album Mix / Remastered)
6
The Black Dog - Alt-Return-Dash-Kill (Album Mix / Remastered)
7
The Black Dog - Bolt 777 Ordinary Boy (Album Mix / Remastered)
8
The Black Dog - Drexian City R.I.D.E (Album Mix / Remastered)
9
The Black Dog - Remote Viewing (Album Mix / Remastered)
10
The Black Dog - Gummi Void (Album Mix / Remastered)
11
The Black Dog - Machine Machina (Album Mix / Remastered)
12
The Black Dog - The Stele of Revealing (Album Mix / Remastered)
13
The Black Dog - Songs for Other People (Album Mix / Remastered)
14
The Black Dog - Break Down On Lake Shore Drive (Album Mix / Remastered)
15
The Black Dog - Bolt 33 Glitch & Chin (Album Mix / Remastered)
16
The Black Dog - Sudden Intake (Album Mix / Remastered)
17
The Black Dog - 4 3s 555 [Part 1] (Album Mix / Remastered)
18
The Black Dog - 4 3s 555 [Part 2] (Album Mix / Remastered)
In the enigmatic realm of electronic music, The Black Dog stands as a visionary act, responsible for crafting, among other things, the mesmerising album "Silenced". Notably, this release marks a significant milestone in the band's evolution, being the first album from the new line-up and their collaboration with the fledgling label Dust Science.
Defying industry norms, The Black Dog embodies a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ethos. Their artistic journey remains steadfast, with a commitment to originality and creative freedom, unfettered by the limitations imposed by the commercial music industry.
The record label Dust Science takes pride in championing The Black Dog's musical prowess, with its first release being the band's 4-track EP "Bite Thee Back". However, this EP was only a prototype for the revitalised collective, eventually leading to the composition of Silenced, which followed soon after.
This creative period denotes a fresh start for The Black Dog, a testament to their resilience and a commitment to evolving their sound. The resulting album represents a new beginning, celebrating and transcending the echoes of the past. It redefines the band's sonic landscape and establishes a distinct musical narrative that resonates with dedicated followers and newcomers alike. More
Defying industry norms, The Black Dog embodies a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ethos. Their artistic journey remains steadfast, with a commitment to originality and creative freedom, unfettered by the limitations imposed by the commercial music industry.
The record label Dust Science takes pride in championing The Black Dog's musical prowess, with its first release being the band's 4-track EP "Bite Thee Back". However, this EP was only a prototype for the revitalised collective, eventually leading to the composition of Silenced, which followed soon after.
This creative period denotes a fresh start for The Black Dog, a testament to their resilience and a commitment to evolving their sound. The resulting album represents a new beginning, celebrating and transcending the echoes of the past. It redefines the band's sonic landscape and establishes a distinct musical narrative that resonates with dedicated followers and newcomers alike. More
1
The Black Dog - Transmission Start (Remastered)
2
The Black Dog - Train By The Autobahn (Part 1) (Remastered)
3
The Black Dog - Train By The Autobahn (Part 2) (Remastered)
4
The Black Dog - Riphead v9 (Remastered)
5
The Black Dog - UV Sine (Remastered)
6
The Black Dog - ...Short Wave Lies (Remastered)
7
The Black Dog - Siiiipher (Remastered)
8
The Black Dog - Digital Poacher (Remastered)
9
The Black Dog - Coda (Remastered)
10
The Black Dog - Set To Receive (Remastered)
11
The Black Dog - EVP Echoes (Remastered)
12
The Black Dog - Floods v3.9 (Remastered)
13
The Black Dog - Beep (Remastered)
14
The Black Dog - Witches Ov (Remastered)
15
The Black Dog - Dials & Dialers 1 (Remastered)
16
The Black Dog - Ghost Vexations (Remastered)
17
The Black Dog - Dials & Dialers 2 (Remastered)
The Black Dog's highly regarded album, Radio Scarecrow, is now remastered and re-issued on Dust Science, 15 years after its original release on Soma Records.
Two years of constant development culminated in a masterpiece that flows delightfully and hits hard. Marking a true progression from the band's previous album, Silenced, the trio are keen to note:
"The beats are faster and the bass is much heavier - so much so, that it was making us ill, working with the low frequencies for hours on end. We could only do 3 hours at a time on some parts."
Tracks like Floods v3.9 and Beep are a testament to this. With throbbing basslines strong enough to make an impact on the Richter scale, these tracks are best played out on big sound systems.
Radio Scarecrow unfolds gracefully, barely skipping a beat between tracks. The act have created an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. With elements blending between tracks (the same kick drum being used to very different means in Short Wave Lies and Siiiipher for example) and with constant references to conspiracy theories and the supernatural, The Black Dog present more than a collection of tracks. Influenced heavily by their interest in Magick, Numbers Stations and Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), the act have hidden examples of these within their work.
"These transmissions and recordings (and people's interpretations of them) had a strong influence on many of the final concepts and compositions, to the point where we've been embedding coded messages and curses deep inside the tracks". More
Two years of constant development culminated in a masterpiece that flows delightfully and hits hard. Marking a true progression from the band's previous album, Silenced, the trio are keen to note:
"The beats are faster and the bass is much heavier - so much so, that it was making us ill, working with the low frequencies for hours on end. We could only do 3 hours at a time on some parts."
Tracks like Floods v3.9 and Beep are a testament to this. With throbbing basslines strong enough to make an impact on the Richter scale, these tracks are best played out on big sound systems.
Radio Scarecrow unfolds gracefully, barely skipping a beat between tracks. The act have created an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. With elements blending between tracks (the same kick drum being used to very different means in Short Wave Lies and Siiiipher for example) and with constant references to conspiracy theories and the supernatural, The Black Dog present more than a collection of tracks. Influenced heavily by their interest in Magick, Numbers Stations and Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), the act have hidden examples of these within their work.
"These transmissions and recordings (and people's interpretations of them) had a strong influence on many of the final concepts and compositions, to the point where we've been embedding coded messages and curses deep inside the tracks". More
1
The Black Dog - Ghosts Of Decay (Album Mix)
2
The Black Dog - Open Your Head (Album Mix)
3
The Black Dog - Harder Times (Album Mix)
4
The Black Dog - Let's All Make Brutalism (Album Mix)
5
The Black Dog - You've Heard This One Before (Album Mix)
6
The Black Dog - We Never Wante You (Album Mix)
7
The Black Dog - Russell Street (Album Mix)
8
The Black Dog - Owls In Tesco Bags (Album Mix)
9
The Black Dog - (We Never Needed This) Fascist Groove Thang (Album Mix)
10
The Black Dog - This Is Phil Talking (Album Mix)
11
The Black Dog - Thee Difference Ov Girls (Album Mix)
12
The Black Dog - Sound Ov Thee Crowd (Album Mix)
13
The Black Dog - Empire Statement Humanoid (Album Mix)
14
The Black Dog - I Dare You (Album Mix)
15
The Black Dog - Circus Ov Daath (Album Mix)
16
The Black Dog - Borstal Communications (Album Mix)
17
The Black Dog - Let Me Dada (Album Mix)
TIP!!!
Sometimes, things "just happen". For months, we’d been working away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere.
We’d been talking about the old days; making music with friends and dodgy kit, renting small practice rooms and using makeshift recording studios. It was such a common thing back then, you could pick a dusty space in a half-derelict building for as little as £25 a month. In those days, the Cabs and Human League had studios with posh-sounding names, but in reality, they were the same old workspaces long abandoned by the industries they were built for. Nevertheless, the grand names made them sound magical.
Sheffield had thousands of these spaces, and some still exist today, but their abundance and low-cost made Sheffield a very active place. Someone was always doing something. They’d exploded onto the scene in a flurry of excitement before disappearing just as quickly.
There’s something about these little mesters (workshops) that we believe lives in the very consciousness of Sheffield. It’s one of the reasons we never really had big scenes like Manchester or Leeds. The Hacienda would've never been built here.
We don’t really do big gangs or have that kind of mentality. We tend to exist in little pockets, often leaving each other alone. It would be 30 years before any member of The Black Dog talked to Cabaret Voltaire. Sure, we’d stood outside their practice room as kids, trying to listen in, but never felt any reason to approach. Sheffield is like that.
Once we had the first two tracks of the Black EP, we set off to see Jon at Do It Theesen, where he manually cut the tracks to an extremely limited set of 7" singles using a vinyl lathe. It just felt right to go back to the old ways; a small gang creating something special in workshops and sheds. There’s something very satisfying about it, a perfect circle, if you will.
We pushed further by adopting old practices, working with one synth per person and limiting the use of our computers. We only stopped short of putting everything on beer crates. It seems like madness these days, but there is raw creativity within these confines. Pretty much every band started this way. Depeche Mode travelled to the studio on the London Underground for their first appearance on Top Of The Pops, all lugging a synth each. That's how we approached the creation of this album; stripped back, raw and minimal - it just felt so right.
And then there’s the competitive element that was influenced when the original Human League split and became Human League MK II and Heaven 17. Both continued to use the same studio to write what became the albums "Dare" and "Penthouse and Pavement". There is something about that drive that is very Sheffield, just making stuff and hoping everything falls into place.
In Sheffield, we do things differently, because that’s how we are built. away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere. More
Sometimes, things "just happen". For months, we’d been working away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere.
We’d been talking about the old days; making music with friends and dodgy kit, renting small practice rooms and using makeshift recording studios. It was such a common thing back then, you could pick a dusty space in a half-derelict building for as little as £25 a month. In those days, the Cabs and Human League had studios with posh-sounding names, but in reality, they were the same old workspaces long abandoned by the industries they were built for. Nevertheless, the grand names made them sound magical.
Sheffield had thousands of these spaces, and some still exist today, but their abundance and low-cost made Sheffield a very active place. Someone was always doing something. They’d exploded onto the scene in a flurry of excitement before disappearing just as quickly.
There’s something about these little mesters (workshops) that we believe lives in the very consciousness of Sheffield. It’s one of the reasons we never really had big scenes like Manchester or Leeds. The Hacienda would've never been built here.
We don’t really do big gangs or have that kind of mentality. We tend to exist in little pockets, often leaving each other alone. It would be 30 years before any member of The Black Dog talked to Cabaret Voltaire. Sure, we’d stood outside their practice room as kids, trying to listen in, but never felt any reason to approach. Sheffield is like that.
Once we had the first two tracks of the Black EP, we set off to see Jon at Do It Theesen, where he manually cut the tracks to an extremely limited set of 7" singles using a vinyl lathe. It just felt right to go back to the old ways; a small gang creating something special in workshops and sheds. There’s something very satisfying about it, a perfect circle, if you will.
We pushed further by adopting old practices, working with one synth per person and limiting the use of our computers. We only stopped short of putting everything on beer crates. It seems like madness these days, but there is raw creativity within these confines. Pretty much every band started this way. Depeche Mode travelled to the studio on the London Underground for their first appearance on Top Of The Pops, all lugging a synth each. That's how we approached the creation of this album; stripped back, raw and minimal - it just felt so right.
And then there’s the competitive element that was influenced when the original Human League split and became Human League MK II and Heaven 17. Both continued to use the same studio to write what became the albums "Dare" and "Penthouse and Pavement". There is something about that drive that is very Sheffield, just making stuff and hoping everything falls into place.
In Sheffield, we do things differently, because that’s how we are built. away on various projects and then, without really thinking about it, The Black EP just happened. It seemingly appeared from nowhere. More
Music for Real Airports is a series of exciting live art events and installations in art galleries/spaces that are artistic response to the reality of occupying the semi-public space of an airport, and a contemporary reply to Brian Eno´s work from the 70s. Produced by musicians and artists with an international reputation - the Black Dog and Human - the project will portray airports as they really are, rather than idealised utopian vision of what they should be. Combining performances of electronic music and live-mixed animation and digital video projected on multiple screens, Music for Release Airports will be a unique, immersive experience that will draw in new audiences to art galleries.
Tracklist
M1
Terminal EMA
DISinformation Desk
Passport Control
Wait Behind This Line
Empty Seat Calculations
Strip Light Hate
Future Delay Thinking
Lounge
Delay 9
Sleep Deprivation 1
Sleep Deprivation 2
He Knows
Business Car Park 9 More
Tracklist
M1
Terminal EMA
DISinformation Desk
Passport Control
Wait Behind This Line
Empty Seat Calculations
Strip Light Hate
Future Delay Thinking
Lounge
Delay 9
Sleep Deprivation 1
Sleep Deprivation 2
He Knows
Business Car Park 9 More
1
The Black Dog - Dust Bunnies
2
The Black Dog - Vertical Grip On Reality
3
The Black Dog - Womersley, Line One
4
The Black Dog - Pho-kuss (Feat. Oliver Ho)
5
The Black Dog - Sensor
6
The Black Dog - Norman Foster Knew
7
The Black Dog - Bokeh Bokeh Bokeh
8
The Black Dog - Re-Pho-kuss (Feat. Oliver Ho)
9
The Black Dog - Nighthawks
10
The Black Dog - We Are All Memories
11
The Black Dog - My Life Is Bracketed
12
The Black Dog - Depth Of Future
13
The Black Dog - Lightroom Lies, Darkroom Doom
14
The Black Dog - For The Love Of Tish
15
The Black Dog - Lost In Lines
4x12” – heavy weight 180g vinyl – gatefold sleeve – limited to 500 units.
We’ve always worked apart. For us, it’s nothing new. Large online servers have been in place for years but at some stage, we always meet up while working on an album to pour over the details, tone and running order. We create storyboards and write text to support and form the ideas. However, this process and the simple ability to sit in the same room just wasn’t possible during the pandemic. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, on this project we believe that it has helped us to capture the isolation a photographer seeks with their subject. It's an attempt at slowing down and finding something internal. When the chatter stops, the creative intentions seep through. Music For Photographers was first created as a functional tool. For the last two years, we’ve been photographing our city and the brutal architecture that sits within the landscape. Throughout this process many mistakes had been made, resulting in many return visits to repeat work already undertaken. Rushing, aimlessly collecting and near misses are all common problems. Photography, just like any other artform, needs to be practised and the skills need to be attained. Like music, it’s a constant battle. Something was needed to aid the art being sought. We created Music For Photographers with two simple rules; to be void of human voices and that it should be played in full when visiting any location. Our approach to composing the music and visiting the locations evolved. It helped the whole process become a more fluid exchange of ideas and we repeated the process later while editing the photographs. The book "Brutal Sheffield" provided a full stop for the creative process, finding that perfect balance between function and form. Music For Photographers has now become a fully functioning sigil in our creative process. Rather than just invoking, it also evokes and goes beyond being a simple function. Listen carefully and you can hear the bre´ton brut! More
We’ve always worked apart. For us, it’s nothing new. Large online servers have been in place for years but at some stage, we always meet up while working on an album to pour over the details, tone and running order. We create storyboards and write text to support and form the ideas. However, this process and the simple ability to sit in the same room just wasn’t possible during the pandemic. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, on this project we believe that it has helped us to capture the isolation a photographer seeks with their subject. It's an attempt at slowing down and finding something internal. When the chatter stops, the creative intentions seep through. Music For Photographers was first created as a functional tool. For the last two years, we’ve been photographing our city and the brutal architecture that sits within the landscape. Throughout this process many mistakes had been made, resulting in many return visits to repeat work already undertaken. Rushing, aimlessly collecting and near misses are all common problems. Photography, just like any other artform, needs to be practised and the skills need to be attained. Like music, it’s a constant battle. Something was needed to aid the art being sought. We created Music For Photographers with two simple rules; to be void of human voices and that it should be played in full when visiting any location. Our approach to composing the music and visiting the locations evolved. It helped the whole process become a more fluid exchange of ideas and we repeated the process later while editing the photographs. The book "Brutal Sheffield" provided a full stop for the creative process, finding that perfect balance between function and form. Music For Photographers has now become a fully functioning sigil in our creative process. Rather than just invoking, it also evokes and goes beyond being a simple function. Listen carefully and you can hear the bre´ton brut! More
We’ve always worked apart. For us, it’s nothing new. Large online servers have been in place for years but at some stage, we always meet up while working on an album to pour over the details, tone and running order. We create storyboards and write text to support and form the ideas. However, this process and the simple ability to sit in the same room just wasn’t possible during the pandemic. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, on this project we believe that it has helped us to capture the isolation a photographer seeks with their subject. It's an attempt at slowing down and finding something internal. When the chatter stops, the creative intentions seep through. Music For Photographers was first created as a functional tool. For the last two years, we’ve been photographing our city and the brutal architecture that sits within the landscape. Throughout this process many mistakes had been made, resulting in many return visits to repeat work already undertaken. Rushing, aimlessly collecting and near misses are all common problems. Photography, just like any other artform, needs to be practised and the skills need to be attained. Like music, it’s a constant battle. Something was needed to aid the art being sought. We created Music For Photographers with two simple rules; to be void of human voices and that it should be played in full when visiting any location. Our approach to composing the music and visiting the locations evolved. It helped the whole process become a more fluid exchange of ideas and we repeated the process later while editing the photographs. The book "Brutal Sheffield" provided a full stop for the creative process, finding that perfect balance between function and form. Music For Photographers has now become a fully functioning sigil in our creative process. Rather than just invoking, it also evokes and goes beyond being a simple function. Listen carefully and you can hear the bre´ton brut!
More
Customers who bought this also bought this
Label:Tresor Records / BMG
Cat-No:TRESOR313EP1
Release-Date:13.10.2023
Genre:Techno
Configuration:12" Excl
Label:Tresor Records / BMG
Cat-No:TRESOR313EP1
Release-Date:13.10.2023
Genre:Techno
Configuration:12" Excl
1
Cybotron - Maintain 04:56
2
Cybotron - The Golden Ratio (Version) 04:43
Territory: WORLD
FORMAT 12” 180g vinyl, printed labels,
A4 printed inlay 170gsm, dl code,
black innersleeve, white outersleeve
TRACKLIST
A. Maintain 04:56
B. The Golden Ratio (Version) 04:43
INFO
Cybotron has re-emerged in our contemporary cybercultural age when artifactual futures begin a transition into a new era of
"Meta".
By combining their knowledge of philosophy, science fiction, and mechanical engineering, at a time when electronic instrument
companies were only just beginning to distribute their products to the masses, two prosumer audio technicians named Juan
Atkins and Rik Davis were able to re-engineer Cybotron – a combination of the words “Cyborg” and “Cyclotron” (an atomic
particle accelerator) – to be used as a home studio performance music that would change the course of independently produced
and distributed electronic music.
Dissolving the boundary between singer, songwriter, and producer, Juan Atkins named Cybotron’s future forward funkadelic
sound “techno” in reference to Alvin To ler’s concept of unlikely “techno rebels” against technocracy. Techno is music that
sounds like technology, and its purpose was to help society survive our collision with a universally felt “future shock” by inserting
an audio virus into the cultural matrix.
Techno’s blueprint spread across the Detroit-Berlin Axis between Metroplex and Tresor. As human society began its transition
from a post-industrial to an information-based market economy, Cybotron enabled a thorough system override of the human
senses towards a tangible man-machine hybridity and showed the world how to channel their emotions and imaginations into
new sound technologies and create new ‘sonic’ spatialities where listeners can transport themselves out of the physical world
into the future. The cover of their debut album Enter (1983) transmitted a fragmented view of a body in motion being digitized
mid-stride, dissolving physical and virtual reality into sonic fiction.
Today, the man-machine hybridity of Cybotron is still the truest form of techno, coevolving in conversation with the technological music they created and inspired. The latest data disk marks a new chapter that reflects a techgnostic musical expression of
the knowledge acquired during their decades-long hiatus. Unlike the dance music industrial replications of the Model 500
formula, acknowledging the content marketing expectations that segments music into specific, sellable genres, this techno
music is self-aware. Cybotron processes dance music tropes spawned from its very own blueprint with a meta-tactical precision
out of sync with our current rave new world.
Cybotron’s return demonstrates a studied engagement with what techno was and should be with a peerless update of Juan
Atkins’ initial inventive idea of do-it-yourself electrically reengineered music xeroxed onto both sides of the 12” – uploaded
directly into the alleys of your mind.
- The Rhythmanalyst
More
FORMAT 12” 180g vinyl, printed labels,
A4 printed inlay 170gsm, dl code,
black innersleeve, white outersleeve
TRACKLIST
A. Maintain 04:56
B. The Golden Ratio (Version) 04:43
INFO
Cybotron has re-emerged in our contemporary cybercultural age when artifactual futures begin a transition into a new era of
"Meta".
By combining their knowledge of philosophy, science fiction, and mechanical engineering, at a time when electronic instrument
companies were only just beginning to distribute their products to the masses, two prosumer audio technicians named Juan
Atkins and Rik Davis were able to re-engineer Cybotron – a combination of the words “Cyborg” and “Cyclotron” (an atomic
particle accelerator) – to be used as a home studio performance music that would change the course of independently produced
and distributed electronic music.
Dissolving the boundary between singer, songwriter, and producer, Juan Atkins named Cybotron’s future forward funkadelic
sound “techno” in reference to Alvin To ler’s concept of unlikely “techno rebels” against technocracy. Techno is music that
sounds like technology, and its purpose was to help society survive our collision with a universally felt “future shock” by inserting
an audio virus into the cultural matrix.
Techno’s blueprint spread across the Detroit-Berlin Axis between Metroplex and Tresor. As human society began its transition
from a post-industrial to an information-based market economy, Cybotron enabled a thorough system override of the human
senses towards a tangible man-machine hybridity and showed the world how to channel their emotions and imaginations into
new sound technologies and create new ‘sonic’ spatialities where listeners can transport themselves out of the physical world
into the future. The cover of their debut album Enter (1983) transmitted a fragmented view of a body in motion being digitized
mid-stride, dissolving physical and virtual reality into sonic fiction.
Today, the man-machine hybridity of Cybotron is still the truest form of techno, coevolving in conversation with the technological music they created and inspired. The latest data disk marks a new chapter that reflects a techgnostic musical expression of
the knowledge acquired during their decades-long hiatus. Unlike the dance music industrial replications of the Model 500
formula, acknowledging the content marketing expectations that segments music into specific, sellable genres, this techno
music is self-aware. Cybotron processes dance music tropes spawned from its very own blueprint with a meta-tactical precision
out of sync with our current rave new world.
Cybotron’s return demonstrates a studied engagement with what techno was and should be with a peerless update of Juan
Atkins’ initial inventive idea of do-it-yourself electrically reengineered music xeroxed onto both sides of the 12” – uploaded
directly into the alleys of your mind.
- The Rhythmanalyst
More
1
Atypic (Black Dog Productions) - Otaku (08:56)
2
Anaconda - Ideas For Virtual Reality (10:25)
Genres: electronica / techno / downtempo
Tracklist:
A. Atypic (Black Dog Productions) - Otaku (08:56)
B. Anaconda - Ideas For Virtual Reality (10:25)
Release Info:
Indulge in a delicious audiophile preview with this Appetizer 12" from the upcoming 2024 compilation by Swiss DJ Princess P. This musical amuse-bouche offers a taste of her eclectic sound, in anticipation of her full, richly curated collection.
Swiss DJ Princess P, known for her eclectic sound, has been a dynamic presence in the electronic scene since the 90s. From her early days exploring house music to working at Plattfon Records, she's honed a genre-defying style. Her sets, a blend of savory house with indie and techno, are renowned at clubs and festivals alike, showcasing her deep musical knowledge and innovative spirit.
Half Speed Cutting and mastering by Sidney Meyer @ EBS Berlin Studios (formerly Deutsche Grammophon).
Liner notes by Kirk Degiorgio
More
Tracklist:
A. Atypic (Black Dog Productions) - Otaku (08:56)
B. Anaconda - Ideas For Virtual Reality (10:25)
Release Info:
Indulge in a delicious audiophile preview with this Appetizer 12" from the upcoming 2024 compilation by Swiss DJ Princess P. This musical amuse-bouche offers a taste of her eclectic sound, in anticipation of her full, richly curated collection.
Swiss DJ Princess P, known for her eclectic sound, has been a dynamic presence in the electronic scene since the 90s. From her early days exploring house music to working at Plattfon Records, she's honed a genre-defying style. Her sets, a blend of savory house with indie and techno, are renowned at clubs and festivals alike, showcasing her deep musical knowledge and innovative spirit.
Half Speed Cutting and mastering by Sidney Meyer @ EBS Berlin Studios (formerly Deutsche Grammophon).
Liner notes by Kirk Degiorgio
More
1
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Long Version) (2:26)
2
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Short Version) (1:31)
3
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 1) (0:08)
4
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 2a)(0:06)
5
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 2b) (0:16)
6
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 2c) (0:16)
7
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 3) (0:10)
8
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 4a) (0:06)
9
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 4b) (0:15)
10
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 4c) (0:15)
11
Alan Tew - Helicop (2:54)
12
Alan Tew - The Big One (Prelude) (1:26)
13
Alan Tew - The Big One (4:05)
14
Alan Tew - Headlights (1:09)
15
Alan Tew - The Burn (1:05)
16
Alan Tew - Bust Up (a) (0:14)
17
Alan Tew - Bust Up (b) (0:13)
18
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Slow Version) (2:07)
19
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Interlude) (1:47)
20
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 5a) (0:12)
21
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 5b) (0:29)
22
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 6a) (0:11)
23
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 6b) (0:32)
24
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 7a) (0:19)
25
Alan Tew - The Detectives (Link 7b) (0:13)
26
Alan Tew - The Build Up (5:57)
27
Alan Tew - Snout (1:04)
28
Alan Tew - The Prowler (2:02)
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Format Notes: Part of Be With x KPM Library Reissue Campaign, 2024 first time vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 The Detectives (Long Version) 2:26
A2 The Detectives (Short Version) 1:31
A3 The Detectives (Link 1) 0:08
A4 The Detectives (Link 2a) 0:06
A5 The Detectives (Link 2b) 0:16
A6 The Detectives (Link 2c) 0:16
A7 The Detectives (Link 3) 0:10
A8 The Detectives (Link 4a) 0:06
A9 The Detectives (Link 4b) 0:15
A10 The Detectives (Link 4c) 0:15
A11 Helicop 2:54
A12 The Big One (Prelude) 1:26
A13 The Big One 4:05
A14 Headlights 1:09
A15 The Burn 1:05
A16 Bust Up (a) 0:14
A17 Bust Up (b) 0:13
B1 The Detectives (Slow Version) 2:07
B2 The Detectives (Interlude) 1:47
B3 The Detectives (Link 5a) 0:12
B4 The Detectives (Link 5b) 0:29
B5 The Detectives (Link 6a) 0:11
B6 The Detectives (Link 6b) 0:32
B7 The Detectives (Link 7a) 0:19
B8 The Detectives (Link 7b) 0:13
B9 The Build Up 5:57
B10 Snout 1:04
B11 The Prowler 2:02
Release Notes:
It's the pair you've all been waiting for! FINALLY!
Alan Tew's driving jazz-rock, sleuth-funk masterpiece, Drama Suite Part I is finally reissued to sate your appetites for arguably the very best library two-parter in existence. If you don’t know, get to know. Originally released in 1976 but wonderfully timeless, Drama Suite Part I is at the top of every library funk collectors' list. It's easy to see why...
Racing out the gate, the gritty crime funk of "The Detectives" makes for a thrilling, wild ride. A dramatic action theme, it's packed with strident playing and bags of attitude. There follows 10 (ten!) drama-tinged, horn-heavy, wah-wah-laced, conga-enhanced, synth-riddled links for neat segues and maximum funk fever. "Helicop" is another fast paced and energetic dramatic action background with great breaks and horns. "The Big One (Prelude)" has an ace bassline and creeps along superbly to create expectation and contains an amazing rolling piano loop that just stops you dead in your tracks. It's all building to "The Big One", a driving, dramatic, full-band action with fantastic funk breaks, heavy horns and *that* piano refrain. It was sampled by Jay-Z, and you can't really blame him, can you? The brief, tense "Headlights" and (even briefer) burner "The Burn" add some - you guessed it - deep drama over insistent rhythms to close out Side A.
Flip over for "The Detectives (Slow Version)", a relaxed, thoughtful version featuring synths. You might recognise it as being sampled by Domo Genesis and Evidence for "Tallulah" from their brilliant collaboration a few years ago. "The Detectives (Interlude)" is another slow, pensive version featuring electric piano and a trombone solo in the centre section. There follows 6 further links, Detectives versions essentially, with guitars, electric pianos, flugelhorns - all very cool and relaxed rhythms. The strutting majesty of big-time highlight "The Build Up" is next. It's a medium-slow drama background with occasional light statements of The Detectives theme peppered throughout. Nice. The fantastically-titled "Snout" is a slow, tense background theme which features a repetitive guitar figure with alto flutes over the top. The tense, stabby funk of "The Prowler" rounds out proceedings, with nervous figures over a slow, insistent cymbal beat.
As with all of our KPM re-issues, the audio for Drama Suite Part I comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. And as usual, the sleeve reproduction duties were handed over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity. We're not quite sure what else to say about this landmark record, other than, GET IT! More
Format Notes: Part of Be With x KPM Library Reissue Campaign, 2024 first time vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 The Detectives (Long Version) 2:26
A2 The Detectives (Short Version) 1:31
A3 The Detectives (Link 1) 0:08
A4 The Detectives (Link 2a) 0:06
A5 The Detectives (Link 2b) 0:16
A6 The Detectives (Link 2c) 0:16
A7 The Detectives (Link 3) 0:10
A8 The Detectives (Link 4a) 0:06
A9 The Detectives (Link 4b) 0:15
A10 The Detectives (Link 4c) 0:15
A11 Helicop 2:54
A12 The Big One (Prelude) 1:26
A13 The Big One 4:05
A14 Headlights 1:09
A15 The Burn 1:05
A16 Bust Up (a) 0:14
A17 Bust Up (b) 0:13
B1 The Detectives (Slow Version) 2:07
B2 The Detectives (Interlude) 1:47
B3 The Detectives (Link 5a) 0:12
B4 The Detectives (Link 5b) 0:29
B5 The Detectives (Link 6a) 0:11
B6 The Detectives (Link 6b) 0:32
B7 The Detectives (Link 7a) 0:19
B8 The Detectives (Link 7b) 0:13
B9 The Build Up 5:57
B10 Snout 1:04
B11 The Prowler 2:02
Release Notes:
It's the pair you've all been waiting for! FINALLY!
Alan Tew's driving jazz-rock, sleuth-funk masterpiece, Drama Suite Part I is finally reissued to sate your appetites for arguably the very best library two-parter in existence. If you don’t know, get to know. Originally released in 1976 but wonderfully timeless, Drama Suite Part I is at the top of every library funk collectors' list. It's easy to see why...
Racing out the gate, the gritty crime funk of "The Detectives" makes for a thrilling, wild ride. A dramatic action theme, it's packed with strident playing and bags of attitude. There follows 10 (ten!) drama-tinged, horn-heavy, wah-wah-laced, conga-enhanced, synth-riddled links for neat segues and maximum funk fever. "Helicop" is another fast paced and energetic dramatic action background with great breaks and horns. "The Big One (Prelude)" has an ace bassline and creeps along superbly to create expectation and contains an amazing rolling piano loop that just stops you dead in your tracks. It's all building to "The Big One", a driving, dramatic, full-band action with fantastic funk breaks, heavy horns and *that* piano refrain. It was sampled by Jay-Z, and you can't really blame him, can you? The brief, tense "Headlights" and (even briefer) burner "The Burn" add some - you guessed it - deep drama over insistent rhythms to close out Side A.
Flip over for "The Detectives (Slow Version)", a relaxed, thoughtful version featuring synths. You might recognise it as being sampled by Domo Genesis and Evidence for "Tallulah" from their brilliant collaboration a few years ago. "The Detectives (Interlude)" is another slow, pensive version featuring electric piano and a trombone solo in the centre section. There follows 6 further links, Detectives versions essentially, with guitars, electric pianos, flugelhorns - all very cool and relaxed rhythms. The strutting majesty of big-time highlight "The Build Up" is next. It's a medium-slow drama background with occasional light statements of The Detectives theme peppered throughout. Nice. The fantastically-titled "Snout" is a slow, tense background theme which features a repetitive guitar figure with alto flutes over the top. The tense, stabby funk of "The Prowler" rounds out proceedings, with nervous figures over a slow, insistent cymbal beat.
As with all of our KPM re-issues, the audio for Drama Suite Part I comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. And as usual, the sleeve reproduction duties were handed over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity. We're not quite sure what else to say about this landmark record, other than, GET IT! More
Label:Be With Records
Cat-No:bewith007seven
Release-Date:16.02.2024
Genre:Soul/Funk
Configuration:7" Excl
Label:Be With Records
Cat-No:bewith007seven
Release-Date:16.02.2024
Genre:Soul/Funk
Configuration:7" Excl
1
Common Sense
- I Used To Love H.E.R.
2
Common Sense
- Communism
Format Notes: 2024 repress, First-time 7" vinyl single release, remastered by Simon Francis, full colour printed sleeve
Track List:
A I Used To Love H.E.R.
B Communism
Release Notes:
The best twist in music lyric history?
On 7" for the first time ever, one of the most important rap records ever.
It's timeless, it's genius, it's just pure beautiful brilliance. It's Common's masterpiece.
One of the best songs in all hip-hop history, “I Used To Love H.E.R.” was the first single from Common's eternal 1994 LP, Resurrection. He personifies hip-hop as an ode to the art form he once loved, lamenting how the genre became too commercialised and, due to a mass influx of mainstream rap in the 90s, some of the purity and freshness of the culture was being lost.
Common uses a first-person romance narrative to detail the history of hip-hop, resulting in an extended metaphor that's sophisticated, clever, and delivers a moral message that touched millions of people and still absolutely blows minds at the song's conclusion: "'Cause who we're talkin' about, y'all, is hip-hop"
Perfectly produced by No ID and incorporating a gorgeous, melancholic sample of George Benson’s “The Changing World”, the plaintive sonic landscape provided the ideal foundation for Common’s innovative storytelling. Almost 30 years later, “I Used To Love H.E.R.” remains one the most significant moments in hip-hop: a classic in every sense of the word.
Common did discuss the true meaning of the track in a 1995 interview on “Yo! MTV Raps”, stating: “H.E.R. stands for Hip-Hop in its Essence is Real. And all I’m talking about his how I first came into contact with hip-hop music and how it evolved into where it is now. And it’s like all these gimmicks going on, all the phoniness, ain’t nobody being real with it. Everybody’s stressing that it’s real but ain’t nobody being true to it. I think that came about because — once it started becoming a business, then people started losing their soul and they started looking at it, taking it more as a business than an artform.”
On the flip, we've stayed faithful to the track used for the original 12" release. And what a track it is. Destined to be overshadowed by the behemoth on the A-Side, the frenetic neck-snapping jazz-rap "Communism" has it all - those horns at the start, the lyrical dexterity, the beat. Oh my.
So, one of the greatest pieces of music ever, in any genre. This is not merely music. It's high art. Speaking of which, we've recreated the striking original artwork from the 12" and shrunk it down to the 7" format. It looks and sounds stunning. The most important song in rap history, if you really think about it. We all miss her. We all miss hip-hop... More
Track List:
A I Used To Love H.E.R.
B Communism
Release Notes:
The best twist in music lyric history?
On 7" for the first time ever, one of the most important rap records ever.
It's timeless, it's genius, it's just pure beautiful brilliance. It's Common's masterpiece.
One of the best songs in all hip-hop history, “I Used To Love H.E.R.” was the first single from Common's eternal 1994 LP, Resurrection. He personifies hip-hop as an ode to the art form he once loved, lamenting how the genre became too commercialised and, due to a mass influx of mainstream rap in the 90s, some of the purity and freshness of the culture was being lost.
Common uses a first-person romance narrative to detail the history of hip-hop, resulting in an extended metaphor that's sophisticated, clever, and delivers a moral message that touched millions of people and still absolutely blows minds at the song's conclusion: "'Cause who we're talkin' about, y'all, is hip-hop"
Perfectly produced by No ID and incorporating a gorgeous, melancholic sample of George Benson’s “The Changing World”, the plaintive sonic landscape provided the ideal foundation for Common’s innovative storytelling. Almost 30 years later, “I Used To Love H.E.R.” remains one the most significant moments in hip-hop: a classic in every sense of the word.
Common did discuss the true meaning of the track in a 1995 interview on “Yo! MTV Raps”, stating: “H.E.R. stands for Hip-Hop in its Essence is Real. And all I’m talking about his how I first came into contact with hip-hop music and how it evolved into where it is now. And it’s like all these gimmicks going on, all the phoniness, ain’t nobody being real with it. Everybody’s stressing that it’s real but ain’t nobody being true to it. I think that came about because — once it started becoming a business, then people started losing their soul and they started looking at it, taking it more as a business than an artform.”
On the flip, we've stayed faithful to the track used for the original 12" release. And what a track it is. Destined to be overshadowed by the behemoth on the A-Side, the frenetic neck-snapping jazz-rap "Communism" has it all - those horns at the start, the lyrical dexterity, the beat. Oh my.
So, one of the greatest pieces of music ever, in any genre. This is not merely music. It's high art. Speaking of which, we've recreated the striking original artwork from the 12" and shrunk it down to the 7" format. It looks and sounds stunning. The most important song in rap history, if you really think about it. We all miss her. We all miss hip-hop... More
1
The Black Dog - Transmission Start (Remastered)
2
The Black Dog - Train By The Autobahn (Part 1) (Remastered)
3
The Black Dog - Train By The Autobahn (Part 2) (Remastered)
4
The Black Dog - Riphead v9 (Remastered)
5
The Black Dog - UV Sine (Remastered)
6
The Black Dog - ...Short Wave Lies (Remastered)
7
The Black Dog - Siiiipher (Remastered)
8
The Black Dog - Digital Poacher (Remastered)
9
The Black Dog - Coda (Remastered)
10
The Black Dog - Set To Receive (Remastered)
11
The Black Dog - EVP Echoes (Remastered)
12
The Black Dog - Floods v3.9 (Remastered)
13
The Black Dog - Beep (Remastered)
14
The Black Dog - Witches Ov (Remastered)
15
The Black Dog - Dials & Dialers 1 (Remastered)
16
The Black Dog - Ghost Vexations (Remastered)
17
The Black Dog - Dials & Dialers 2 (Remastered)
The Black Dog's highly regarded album, Radio Scarecrow, is now remastered and re-issued on Dust Science, 15 years after its original release on Soma Records.
Two years of constant development culminated in a masterpiece that flows delightfully and hits hard. Marking a true progression from the band's previous album, Silenced, the trio are keen to note:
"The beats are faster and the bass is much heavier - so much so, that it was making us ill, working with the low frequencies for hours on end. We could only do 3 hours at a time on some parts."
Tracks like Floods v3.9 and Beep are a testament to this. With throbbing basslines strong enough to make an impact on the Richter scale, these tracks are best played out on big sound systems.
Radio Scarecrow unfolds gracefully, barely skipping a beat between tracks. The act have created an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. With elements blending between tracks (the same kick drum being used to very different means in Short Wave Lies and Siiiipher for example) and with constant references to conspiracy theories and the supernatural, The Black Dog present more than a collection of tracks. Influenced heavily by their interest in Magick, Numbers Stations and Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), the act have hidden examples of these within their work.
"These transmissions and recordings (and people's interpretations of them) had a strong influence on many of the final concepts and compositions, to the point where we've been embedding coded messages and curses deep inside the tracks". More
Two years of constant development culminated in a masterpiece that flows delightfully and hits hard. Marking a true progression from the band's previous album, Silenced, the trio are keen to note:
"The beats are faster and the bass is much heavier - so much so, that it was making us ill, working with the low frequencies for hours on end. We could only do 3 hours at a time on some parts."
Tracks like Floods v3.9 and Beep are a testament to this. With throbbing basslines strong enough to make an impact on the Richter scale, these tracks are best played out on big sound systems.
Radio Scarecrow unfolds gracefully, barely skipping a beat between tracks. The act have created an album that demands to be listened to in its entirety. With elements blending between tracks (the same kick drum being used to very different means in Short Wave Lies and Siiiipher for example) and with constant references to conspiracy theories and the supernatural, The Black Dog present more than a collection of tracks. Influenced heavily by their interest in Magick, Numbers Stations and Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP), the act have hidden examples of these within their work.
"These transmissions and recordings (and people's interpretations of them) had a strong influence on many of the final concepts and compositions, to the point where we've been embedding coded messages and curses deep inside the tracks". More
1
José González - With The Ink Of A Ghost
2
José González - Let It Carry You
3
José González - Stories We Build, Stories We Tell
4
José González - The Forest
5
José González - Leaf Off / The Cave
6
José González - Every Age
7
José González - What Will
8
José González - Vissel
9
José González - Afterglow
10
José González - Open Book
LP
Territory: Sales Only to: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France
Sweden’s José González is just such a voice. He first charmed his way into the UK’s earshot via the murmurous and
elegant, classically finger-picked folk pop of his 2005 album, Veneer, which has since sold over a staggering 430, 000
copies in UK alone. Two years later came In Our Nature, a further exploration of José’s influences (Argentinian
Folklore, the ’60s US folk tradition and the British pastoral folk-pop style of the same era), on which he resisted the
temptation to beef up his alluringly introvert aesthetic. The albums made the UK Top 10 and Top 20 respectively.
It may be seven years since he released a solo record, but José has been anything but idle in that time. He’s delivered
two albums with the band Junip, his more fulsome, electronic-edged, pop project and has toured with both the
Berlin/Göteborg String Theory orchestra (in 2011), co-performing 11 reworking’s of his songs, Sidi Touré and played
with Malian desert blues troupe Tinariwen (both in 2012). In 2013, Hollywood came calling when Ben
Stiller commissioned José to work with Theodore Shapiro on the soundtrack to his remake of ‘The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty’ and most recently, he’s contributed his version of ‘This is How We Walk On the Moon’ to the Red Hot
charity compilation honouring Arthur Russell. Community and collaboration are obviously satisfying in their own ways,
but now José is again stepping centre stage solo, with Vestiges & Claws.
Conceived as the natural third part in an acoustic trilogy, Vestiges & Claws is a(nother) hushed and delicate solo set
that forefronts the artist and guitarist’s compellingly intimate vocal style and intricate playing technique, but it’s often
strikingly rhythmic in nature and cohere’s perfectly, with hand claps and taps on the body of his instrument underlining
the songs’ mantric rise-and-fall pattern, while elsewhere, over-dubbed guitar parts and multi-tracked vocal harmonies
entwine to sweetly immersive effect.
The title refers to both cultural practices and biological features that survive despite having lost their original function,
and to currently useful tools, ie the “claws” of modern life.
Vestiges & Claws was recorded almost entirely by José and self-produced, mostly in his Gothenburg home, using
computer plug-ins to achieve a warm, analogue sound. He prefers working alone, mainly for artistic reasons. “There
were a couple of things that enabled me to complete this record: one was curiosity, to be able to play percussion and
do a lot of harmonies and also to produce and mix the album; the other was aesthetics. I love to listen to Arthur Russell
and Shuggie Otis, to music that has been done mostly by one person in their solitary state.”
As José sees it, the record is his personal, “zoomed-out eye on humanity on a small, pale blue dot in a cold, sparse
and unfriendly space. The amazing fact that we are all here, an attempt at encouraging us to understand ourselves and
to make the best of the one life we know we have – after birth and before death."
TRACKLISTING:
With The Ink Of A Ghost
Let It Carry You
Stories We Build, Stories We Tell
The Forest
Leaf Off / The Cave
Every Age
What Will
Vissel
Afterglow
Open Book More
Territory: Sales Only to: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France
Sweden’s José González is just such a voice. He first charmed his way into the UK’s earshot via the murmurous and
elegant, classically finger-picked folk pop of his 2005 album, Veneer, which has since sold over a staggering 430, 000
copies in UK alone. Two years later came In Our Nature, a further exploration of José’s influences (Argentinian
Folklore, the ’60s US folk tradition and the British pastoral folk-pop style of the same era), on which he resisted the
temptation to beef up his alluringly introvert aesthetic. The albums made the UK Top 10 and Top 20 respectively.
It may be seven years since he released a solo record, but José has been anything but idle in that time. He’s delivered
two albums with the band Junip, his more fulsome, electronic-edged, pop project and has toured with both the
Berlin/Göteborg String Theory orchestra (in 2011), co-performing 11 reworking’s of his songs, Sidi Touré and played
with Malian desert blues troupe Tinariwen (both in 2012). In 2013, Hollywood came calling when Ben
Stiller commissioned José to work with Theodore Shapiro on the soundtrack to his remake of ‘The Secret Life of
Walter Mitty’ and most recently, he’s contributed his version of ‘This is How We Walk On the Moon’ to the Red Hot
charity compilation honouring Arthur Russell. Community and collaboration are obviously satisfying in their own ways,
but now José is again stepping centre stage solo, with Vestiges & Claws.
Conceived as the natural third part in an acoustic trilogy, Vestiges & Claws is a(nother) hushed and delicate solo set
that forefronts the artist and guitarist’s compellingly intimate vocal style and intricate playing technique, but it’s often
strikingly rhythmic in nature and cohere’s perfectly, with hand claps and taps on the body of his instrument underlining
the songs’ mantric rise-and-fall pattern, while elsewhere, over-dubbed guitar parts and multi-tracked vocal harmonies
entwine to sweetly immersive effect.
The title refers to both cultural practices and biological features that survive despite having lost their original function,
and to currently useful tools, ie the “claws” of modern life.
Vestiges & Claws was recorded almost entirely by José and self-produced, mostly in his Gothenburg home, using
computer plug-ins to achieve a warm, analogue sound. He prefers working alone, mainly for artistic reasons. “There
were a couple of things that enabled me to complete this record: one was curiosity, to be able to play percussion and
do a lot of harmonies and also to produce and mix the album; the other was aesthetics. I love to listen to Arthur Russell
and Shuggie Otis, to music that has been done mostly by one person in their solitary state.”
As José sees it, the record is his personal, “zoomed-out eye on humanity on a small, pale blue dot in a cold, sparse
and unfriendly space. The amazing fact that we are all here, an attempt at encouraging us to understand ourselves and
to make the best of the one life we know we have – after birth and before death."
TRACKLISTING:
With The Ink Of A Ghost
Let It Carry You
Stories We Build, Stories We Tell
The Forest
Leaf Off / The Cave
Every Age
What Will
Vissel
Afterglow
Open Book More
1
Little Dragon - A New
2
Little Dragon - Looking Glass
3
Little Dragon - My Step
4
Little Dragon - Feather
5
Little Dragon - Thunder Love
6
Little Dragon - Never Never
7
Little Dragon - Runabout
8
Little Dragon - Swimming
9
Little Dragon - Blinking Pigs
10
Little Dragon - Come Home
11
Little Dragon - Fortune
LP
Territory: No sales to: Japan, UK, Eire, Benelux and Americas
Little Dragon return with a spectacular second album offering in the fall, a pulsating electro pop epic
that Prince would be proud of! Machine Dreams, with its nagging hooks and gloriously infectious tunes, should finally see the
band break out into the mainstream. Having toured relentlessly since the last record, Little Dragon found themselves to be very
popular on the West coast. After appearing on KCRW’s popular ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ show, their album became the
most played on the station after Radiohead. No mean feat for the little dragons from Sweden, especially when the record was
only release digitally! The track ‘Twice’ even got played on hit ABC show Grey’s Anatomy, and After The Rain got licensed to
the Hollwywood motion picture 'The Women' starring Meg Ryan. The band soon came to the attention of David Sitek who
became an instant fan (as did notorious basement dweller DJ Shadow) and he wasted no time asking them to support TV On
The Radio on their US tour in May 2009.
Tracklist:
A New
Looking Glass
My Step
Feather
Thunder Love
Never Never
Runabout
Swimming
Blinking Pigs
Come Home
Fortune More
Territory: No sales to: Japan, UK, Eire, Benelux and Americas
Little Dragon return with a spectacular second album offering in the fall, a pulsating electro pop epic
that Prince would be proud of! Machine Dreams, with its nagging hooks and gloriously infectious tunes, should finally see the
band break out into the mainstream. Having toured relentlessly since the last record, Little Dragon found themselves to be very
popular on the West coast. After appearing on KCRW’s popular ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ show, their album became the
most played on the station after Radiohead. No mean feat for the little dragons from Sweden, especially when the record was
only release digitally! The track ‘Twice’ even got played on hit ABC show Grey’s Anatomy, and After The Rain got licensed to
the Hollwywood motion picture 'The Women' starring Meg Ryan. The band soon came to the attention of David Sitek who
became an instant fan (as did notorious basement dweller DJ Shadow) and he wasted no time asking them to support TV On
The Radio on their US tour in May 2009.
Tracklist:
A New
Looking Glass
My Step
Feather
Thunder Love
Never Never
Runabout
Swimming
Blinking Pigs
Come Home
Fortune More
1
letta mbulu - Sweet Juju
2
letta mbulu - Nomalizo
3
letta mbulu - Nkedama
4
letta mbulu - Hamba Nam We
5
letta mbulu - Vumani Makhos
6
letta mbulu - Down By The River
7
letta mbulu - The Village
2023 repress
Tracklist:
A1 Sweet Juju (4:45)
A2 Nomalizo (5:10)
A3 Nkedama (4:44)
A4 Hamba Nam We (4:36)
B1 Vumani Makhosi (4:57)
B2 Down By The River (5:09)
B3 The Village (4:25)
Release Notes
Originally released in South Africa in 1983, In The Music… The Village Never Ends is one of those holy grail African records that barely needs any introduction. Featuring the enormous “Nomalizo”, it’s a record that aficionados around the world have been waiting many years for. Now, Be With Records proudly presents the hugely anticipated vinyl reissue of this bona fide classic.
This release is officially licensed and has been lovingly mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis (Claremont 56 mastering engineer). It has been pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl for the first time and features the original, rarely seen artwork.
South African singer Letta Mbulu possesses one of the most beautiful voices the world has ever known. Her immaculate voice emits a sweetness that radiates from deep within, brimming with a joy of life and inspiring a spirit of hope and happiness. On this album, her voice soars over a strident musical force that veers between disco, soul and pop music of the most incredible kind. The gleaming guitars recall disco’s finest hours while the thump of the beats anticipate 80s British soul.
News of this reissue has already been causing a significant stir amongst those in the know so do not sleep on this - you have been warned! More
Tracklist:
A1 Sweet Juju (4:45)
A2 Nomalizo (5:10)
A3 Nkedama (4:44)
A4 Hamba Nam We (4:36)
B1 Vumani Makhosi (4:57)
B2 Down By The River (5:09)
B3 The Village (4:25)
Release Notes
Originally released in South Africa in 1983, In The Music… The Village Never Ends is one of those holy grail African records that barely needs any introduction. Featuring the enormous “Nomalizo”, it’s a record that aficionados around the world have been waiting many years for. Now, Be With Records proudly presents the hugely anticipated vinyl reissue of this bona fide classic.
This release is officially licensed and has been lovingly mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis (Claremont 56 mastering engineer). It has been pressed on audiophile 180g vinyl for the first time and features the original, rarely seen artwork.
South African singer Letta Mbulu possesses one of the most beautiful voices the world has ever known. Her immaculate voice emits a sweetness that radiates from deep within, brimming with a joy of life and inspiring a spirit of hope and happiness. On this album, her voice soars over a strident musical force that veers between disco, soul and pop music of the most incredible kind. The gleaming guitars recall disco’s finest hours while the thump of the beats anticipate 80s British soul.
News of this reissue has already been causing a significant stir amongst those in the know so do not sleep on this - you have been warned! More
1
Alan Tew - The Rub (2:27)
2
Alan Tew - Money Runner (2:15)
3
Alan Tew - White Elephant Walk (1:24)
4
Alan Tew - White Elephant Walk (Link) (0:07)
5
Alan Tew - Walking Link (0:18)
6
Alan Tew - Master Plan (3:26)
7
Alan Tew - Night Watch (2:12)
8
Alan Tew - The Fence (Version A) (1:49)
9
Alan Tew - The Fence (Version B) (2:11)
10
Alan Tew - Surveillance (1:33)
11
Alan Tew - Total Silence (1:26)
12
Alan Tew - Eyes (0:47)
13
Alan Tew - Drama Backcloth (1a) (1:38)
14
Alan Tew - Drama Backcloth (1b) (0:17)
15
Alan Tew - Drama Backcloth (2) (0:59)
16
Alan Tew - Drama Backcloth (3) (0:17)
17
Alan Tew - Drama Backcloth (4) (0:24)
18
Alan Tew - Scenechange (1) (0:17)
19
Alan Tew - Scenechange (2a) (0:10)
20
Alan Tew - Scenechange (2b) (0:24)
21
Alan Tew - Scenechange (2c) (0:25)
22
Alan Tew - Scenechange (3a) (0:17)
23
Alan Tew - Scenechange (3b) (0:17)
24
Alan Tew - Scenechange (4) (0:15)
25
Alan Tew - Scenechange (5) (0:21)
26
Alan Tew - Scenechange (6a) (0:25)
27
Alan Tew - Scenechange (6b) (0:21)
28
Alan Tew - Scenechange (7) (0:10)
29
Alan Tew - Scenechange (8a) (0:12)
30
Alan Tew - Scenechange (8b) (0:30)
31
Alan Tew - Scenechange (9) (0:51)
32
Alan Tew - Brass Statement (0:05)
33
Alan Tew - Final Statement (0:47)
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Format Notes:
Part of Be With x KPM Library Reissue Campaign, 2024 first time vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 The Rub 2:27
A2 Money Runner 2:15
A3 White Elephant Walk 1:24
A4 White Elephant Walk (Link) 0:07
A5 Walking Link 0:18
A6 Master Plan 3:26
A7 Night Watch 2:12
A8 The Fence (Version A) 1:49
A9 The Fence (Version B) 2:11
A10 Surveillance 1:33
B1 Total Silence 1:26
B2 Eyes 0:47
B3 Drama Backcloth (1a) 1:38
B4 Drama Backcloth (1b) 0:17
B5 Drama Backcloth (2) 0:59
B6 Drama Backcloth (3) 0:17
B7 Drama Backcloth (4) 0:24
B8 Scenechange (1) 0:17
B9 Scenechange (2a) 0:10
B10 Scenechange (2b) 0:24
B11 Scenechange (2c) 0:25
B12 Scenechange (3a) 0:17
B13 Scenechange (3b) 0:17
B14 Scenechange (4) 0:15
B15 Scenechange (5) 0:21
B16 Scenechange (6a) 0:25
B17 Scenechange (6b) 0:21
B18 Scenechange (7) 0:10
B19 Scenechange (8a) 0:12
B20 Scenechange (8b) 0:30
B21 Scenechange (9) 0:51
B22 Brass Statement 0:05
B23 Final Statement 0:47
It's the pair you've all been waiting for! FINALLY!
Alan Tew's Drama Suite Part II. What can we really say? Honestly? We guess the first thing that strikes you is how clean the drums are. Almost impossibly slick but dripping so, so heavy with the neck-snapping funk you'd expect from perhaps the most sought-after library funk set of them all! The cheapest on Discogs is, currently, £1300+. Now's your chance to remedy that. If you know, you know. And we think you know...
"The Rub" is a cool, low-slung heavy-funk roller with relaxed brass and alto flute phrases. Up next, "Money Runner" is another edgy funk glider, its easy-tempo moving in harmony with slinky rhythmic riffs and featuring a seemingly ad-libbed electric piano solo. Strutting along after, "White Elephant Walk" is another laconic, deeply stoned walking theme with electric piano and alto flutes. There follows a couple of brief "walking" links before the brilliantly tense "Master Plan" slowly builds. Expectancy grows to the main theme around a minute in and then a melodic theme builds slightly to the 3 minute mark before floating down gradually and elegantly to its climax. It's utterly fantastic. The smoky, after-hours "Night Watch" is a slow, cool gem featuring alto flutes and synths.
Now we're talking, "The Fence (a)" is just sensational and worth buying this album all on its own. It's likely the reason you're here, anyway. Another impossibly funky, slow and easy tempo with a bass riff to die for, dramatic guitar with gorgeous electric piano and alto flute phrases. It was sampled for "Action Satisfaction" by J5, way way back. "The Fence (b)" is a slower, more deliberate version of the previous heater, but it's no less essential. Indeed, it's absolutely jaw-drooping. Closing out this remarkable side, "Surveillance" is another horizontal masterpiece of relaxed yet dramatic jazz-funk. Vibes ad-lib in centre section and give you an idea of how Roy Ayers making library funk in the mid-late 70s might've sounded. Sensational.
Flip over for "Total Silence", a near-beatless and understated scene-setter featuring neat interplay of guitar and synthesizer themes over bass and hi-hats. The slow "Eyes" follows, a brief gem with subdued electric piano solo and a light climax. The fantastic "Drama Backcloth (1a)" is up next, a repetitive piano and bass refrain with guitar figures over the top. Its creeping crime-funk vibe was pilfered for "Outta Town Shit" by Ghostface Killah in 2006. "Drama Backcloth (1b)" is a short, subdued version without the guitar figure. "Drama Backcloth (2)" features an expectant, background marimba figure over light rhythm whilst the cool "Drama Backcloth (3)" centres around a relaxed riff and the angular "Drama Backcloth (4)" presents eerie progressions with piano interjections. It's decidedly non-rhythmic!
We're then onto 14 (!) different half-minute "Scenechanges", all jazzy and funky, some cool and dramatic, some slow and rhythmic. All ace and groove-fuelled. The aptly-titled "Final Statement" closes proceedings, a slow, pensive theme on guitar joined by cool brass and a solo trumpet to its climax.
As with all of our KPM re-issues, the audio for Drama Suite Part II comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. And as usual, the sleeve reproduction duties were handed over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity. We're not quite sure what else to say about this landmark record, other than, GET IT! More
Format Notes:
Part of Be With x KPM Library Reissue Campaign, 2024 first time vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 The Rub 2:27
A2 Money Runner 2:15
A3 White Elephant Walk 1:24
A4 White Elephant Walk (Link) 0:07
A5 Walking Link 0:18
A6 Master Plan 3:26
A7 Night Watch 2:12
A8 The Fence (Version A) 1:49
A9 The Fence (Version B) 2:11
A10 Surveillance 1:33
B1 Total Silence 1:26
B2 Eyes 0:47
B3 Drama Backcloth (1a) 1:38
B4 Drama Backcloth (1b) 0:17
B5 Drama Backcloth (2) 0:59
B6 Drama Backcloth (3) 0:17
B7 Drama Backcloth (4) 0:24
B8 Scenechange (1) 0:17
B9 Scenechange (2a) 0:10
B10 Scenechange (2b) 0:24
B11 Scenechange (2c) 0:25
B12 Scenechange (3a) 0:17
B13 Scenechange (3b) 0:17
B14 Scenechange (4) 0:15
B15 Scenechange (5) 0:21
B16 Scenechange (6a) 0:25
B17 Scenechange (6b) 0:21
B18 Scenechange (7) 0:10
B19 Scenechange (8a) 0:12
B20 Scenechange (8b) 0:30
B21 Scenechange (9) 0:51
B22 Brass Statement 0:05
B23 Final Statement 0:47
It's the pair you've all been waiting for! FINALLY!
Alan Tew's Drama Suite Part II. What can we really say? Honestly? We guess the first thing that strikes you is how clean the drums are. Almost impossibly slick but dripping so, so heavy with the neck-snapping funk you'd expect from perhaps the most sought-after library funk set of them all! The cheapest on Discogs is, currently, £1300+. Now's your chance to remedy that. If you know, you know. And we think you know...
"The Rub" is a cool, low-slung heavy-funk roller with relaxed brass and alto flute phrases. Up next, "Money Runner" is another edgy funk glider, its easy-tempo moving in harmony with slinky rhythmic riffs and featuring a seemingly ad-libbed electric piano solo. Strutting along after, "White Elephant Walk" is another laconic, deeply stoned walking theme with electric piano and alto flutes. There follows a couple of brief "walking" links before the brilliantly tense "Master Plan" slowly builds. Expectancy grows to the main theme around a minute in and then a melodic theme builds slightly to the 3 minute mark before floating down gradually and elegantly to its climax. It's utterly fantastic. The smoky, after-hours "Night Watch" is a slow, cool gem featuring alto flutes and synths.
Now we're talking, "The Fence (a)" is just sensational and worth buying this album all on its own. It's likely the reason you're here, anyway. Another impossibly funky, slow and easy tempo with a bass riff to die for, dramatic guitar with gorgeous electric piano and alto flute phrases. It was sampled for "Action Satisfaction" by J5, way way back. "The Fence (b)" is a slower, more deliberate version of the previous heater, but it's no less essential. Indeed, it's absolutely jaw-drooping. Closing out this remarkable side, "Surveillance" is another horizontal masterpiece of relaxed yet dramatic jazz-funk. Vibes ad-lib in centre section and give you an idea of how Roy Ayers making library funk in the mid-late 70s might've sounded. Sensational.
Flip over for "Total Silence", a near-beatless and understated scene-setter featuring neat interplay of guitar and synthesizer themes over bass and hi-hats. The slow "Eyes" follows, a brief gem with subdued electric piano solo and a light climax. The fantastic "Drama Backcloth (1a)" is up next, a repetitive piano and bass refrain with guitar figures over the top. Its creeping crime-funk vibe was pilfered for "Outta Town Shit" by Ghostface Killah in 2006. "Drama Backcloth (1b)" is a short, subdued version without the guitar figure. "Drama Backcloth (2)" features an expectant, background marimba figure over light rhythm whilst the cool "Drama Backcloth (3)" centres around a relaxed riff and the angular "Drama Backcloth (4)" presents eerie progressions with piano interjections. It's decidedly non-rhythmic!
We're then onto 14 (!) different half-minute "Scenechanges", all jazzy and funky, some cool and dramatic, some slow and rhythmic. All ace and groove-fuelled. The aptly-titled "Final Statement" closes proceedings, a slow, pensive theme on guitar joined by cool brass and a solo trumpet to its climax.
As with all of our KPM re-issues, the audio for Drama Suite Part II comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis. And as usual, the sleeve reproduction duties were handed over to Richard Robinson, the current custodian of KPM’s brand identity. We're not quite sure what else to say about this landmark record, other than, GET IT! More
1
José González - How Low
2
José González - Down The Line
3
José González - Killing For Love
4
José González - In Our Nature
5
José González - Teardrop
6
José González - Abram
7
José González - Time To Send Someone Away
8
José González - The Nest
9
José González - Fold
10
José González - Cycling Trivialities
LP, Black vinyl with Printed Inner
Territory: Sales Only to: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France
On his sophomore album, the Swedish singer and guitarist takes the basic elements of an acoustic troubadour's
craft and explores their possibilities, not only as ingredients of songs, but as sounds to be enjoyed in their own
right. A stray breath, the buzzing of guitar strings, a hand scraping across the frets: these are all shades in
González's palette. The biggest embellishment you're likely to hear is a metronomic foot-tap, subtle hand
percussion, or a backing vocal by Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagamo. Where the Knife's "haunted house" sound is
informed by minimal techno, González's lo-fi acoustic guitar music could be dubbed "minimal folk."
TRACKLISTING:
How Low
Down The Line
Killing For Love
In Our Nature
Teardrop
Abram
Time To Send Someone
Away
The Nest
Fold
Cycling Trivialities More
Territory: Sales Only to: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France
On his sophomore album, the Swedish singer and guitarist takes the basic elements of an acoustic troubadour's
craft and explores their possibilities, not only as ingredients of songs, but as sounds to be enjoyed in their own
right. A stray breath, the buzzing of guitar strings, a hand scraping across the frets: these are all shades in
González's palette. The biggest embellishment you're likely to hear is a metronomic foot-tap, subtle hand
percussion, or a backing vocal by Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagamo. Where the Knife's "haunted house" sound is
informed by minimal techno, González's lo-fi acoustic guitar music could be dubbed "minimal folk."
TRACKLISTING:
How Low
Down The Line
Killing For Love
In Our Nature
Teardrop
Abram
Time To Send Someone
Away
The Nest
Fold
Cycling Trivialities More
1
Little Dragon - Ritual Union
2
Little Dragon - Little Man
3
Little Dragon - Brush The Heat
4
Little Dragon - Shuffle A Dream
5
Little Dragon - Please Turn
6
Little Dragon - Crystalfilm
7
Little Dragon - Precious
8
Little Dragon - Nightlight
9
Little Dragon - Summertearz
10
Little Dragon - When I Go Out
LP
Territory: No sales to: Japan, UK, Eire, Benelux and Americas
Since 2009’s critically acclaimed Machine Dreams they have not sat still, touring the globe and making some high profile friends along the way.
No one in their right mind would have expected the future of soul music to come from Gothenburg, Sweden. But there it is in the dreamy, rhythmical, shifting, moody rainbow creature
that is Little Dragon. It is easy to see why some of the world’s top musical luminaries are falling over themselves to work with them. Stylishly seductive in their own right, their 2007 selftitled debut was filled with classy songwriting and cool production, with the stunning track ‘Twice’ getting played on Grey’s Anatomy and countless adverts since it’s release. Machine
Dreams showed a bouncier side, as they flexed their dancing nous and came up with an album that would turn Prince’s head.
Damon Albarn invited them to collaborate on two tracks for last year’s Gorillaz record Plastic Beach, which became album highlights for the critics with Pitchfork describing the songs
‘Empire Ants’ and ‘To Binge’ as “two of the most arresting things here; they’re airy, elusive and amazingly beautiful”.
Little Dragon started 2011 with a headlining tour of the U.S. and a performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in March, thanks to a recommendation from super-fan Questlove of
The Roots. In May, the band appeared on the track ‘Just Don’t’ from Raphael Saadiq’s Stone Rollin’, a record some are already calling the album of the year. Then Big Boi and DJ
Shadow called to invite the group to work on new music.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Ritual Union
2. Little Man
3. Brush The Heat
4. Shuffle A Dream
5. Please Turn
6. Crystalfilm
7. Precious
8. Nightlight
9. Summertearz
10. When I Go Out
11. Seconds More
Territory: No sales to: Japan, UK, Eire, Benelux and Americas
Since 2009’s critically acclaimed Machine Dreams they have not sat still, touring the globe and making some high profile friends along the way.
No one in their right mind would have expected the future of soul music to come from Gothenburg, Sweden. But there it is in the dreamy, rhythmical, shifting, moody rainbow creature
that is Little Dragon. It is easy to see why some of the world’s top musical luminaries are falling over themselves to work with them. Stylishly seductive in their own right, their 2007 selftitled debut was filled with classy songwriting and cool production, with the stunning track ‘Twice’ getting played on Grey’s Anatomy and countless adverts since it’s release. Machine
Dreams showed a bouncier side, as they flexed their dancing nous and came up with an album that would turn Prince’s head.
Damon Albarn invited them to collaborate on two tracks for last year’s Gorillaz record Plastic Beach, which became album highlights for the critics with Pitchfork describing the songs
‘Empire Ants’ and ‘To Binge’ as “two of the most arresting things here; they’re airy, elusive and amazingly beautiful”.
Little Dragon started 2011 with a headlining tour of the U.S. and a performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in March, thanks to a recommendation from super-fan Questlove of
The Roots. In May, the band appeared on the track ‘Just Don’t’ from Raphael Saadiq’s Stone Rollin’, a record some are already calling the album of the year. Then Big Boi and DJ
Shadow called to invite the group to work on new music.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Ritual Union
2. Little Man
3. Brush The Heat
4. Shuffle A Dream
5. Please Turn
6. Crystalfilm
7. Precious
8. Nightlight
9. Summertearz
10. When I Go Out
11. Seconds More
1
Cleveland Eaton - Keep It Funky 5:20
2
Cleveland Eaton - Day Dreaming 3:36
3
Cleveland Eaton - Here Comes Funky Lou 4:00
4
Cleveland Eaton - Betcha By Golly Wow 4:15
5
Cleveland Eaton - People Make The World Go Round 5:34
6
Cleveland Eaton - Slipping Into Darkness 7:15
7
Cleveland Eaton - Missing You 3:17
8
Cleveland Eaton - John's Groove 2:55
9
Cleveland Eaton - The Love Gangster 3:20
10
Cleveland Eaton - Lie 2:15
11
Cleveland Eaton - Ah Movin' On 4:00
Format Notes: 2023 reissue, 140g vinyl
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 Keep It Funky 5:20
A2 Day Dreaming 3:36
A3 Here Comes Funky Lou 4:00
A4 Betcha By Golly Wow 4:15
A5 People Make The World Go Round 5:34
B1 Slipping Into Darkness 7:15
B2 Missing You 3:17
B3 John's Groove 2:55
B4 The Love Gangster 3:20
B5 Lie 2:15
B6 Ah Movin' On 4:00
Release Notes:
"Every cut on our albums are what we call "A" sides" - Cleveland Eaton, on Half And Half
Like the winged half-man/half-bull that dominates its outrageous cover, Cleveland Eaton's Half And Half is a mutant bass-heavy monster that absolutely slays. Incredible jazz-funk from 1973, it's been largely overlooked for decades, and unfairly so. This is just sensational music - a crate digger's delight. It's super funky throughout, with lots of layers, jazz breaks for days, dripping with style and gritty class. This is the first reissue of what has been a hard to find record for many years; it's long overdue. Joyous music for mind, soul and body.
Cleveland Eaton was a revered bassist who played an active role in the backing of Count Basie, the Donald Byrd Quintet, The Ramsey Lewis Trio, Terry Callier and Minnie Riperton; amongst many, many others. Half And Half was the first album released under his own name, initially released as a private press record on his - awkwardly named - Cle An Thair Records. It was then picked up by Gamble & Huff for Gamble Records. Varied, string-adorned and with stupid funky grooves, it's just exceptionally good.
Whilst Half And Half is treasured for its famously brilliant interpretations of gold funk-soul standards, Eaton proves an imaginative composer in his own right. Indeed, the album opens with a striking original; the earthy, laconic jazz-guitar-funk fusion of "Keep It Funky". Cleveland and co. do exactly that. Up next is a properly moving cover of Aretha Franklin's eternal "Day Dreaming". The flute and guitar combo truly achieve celestial greatness here. "Here Comes Funky Lou" rides a bassline from the Gods and a driving soul-jazz groove allows the track to go off in all sorts of directions. Serene guitar soul of the breezy variety one moment, crazy hectic violin-driven wig outs the next, courtesy of Ed Green who played with Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane.
His blistering two track salvo of Stylistics covers to close out this A-Side of A-Sides will leave your jaw dropped, and they're likely the reason you're here for this. And why not? "Betcha By Golly Wow", which uses a bed of acidy synths and harmonica to create a unique atmosphere, is on some next level business. Melancholic, wistful, beautiful. "People Make the World Go Round" is so good, dripping in wonderful horns and ace percussive breaks, it could even be regarded as the definitive version. Seriously!
Opening Side B, War's gigantic "Slipping Into Darkness" is tightly tailored to Eaton's funky flute fusion arrangement whilst the insistent "Missing You" is a swaggering horn-heavy version of Luther Ingram's track from the Dilla/Ghostface-linked LP, I've Been Here All The Time. The creeping, screeching guitar-drenched original "John's Groove" features more fantastic horn lines and neck-snapping percussion whilst "The Love Gangster", written by Bill Wyman and Stephen Stills for his seminal Manassas LP, contains a heavy break with slick drums high in the mix and fuzzy guitars.
The album closes with two more Eaton originals. Written with Johnny Guitar Watson, "Lie" is one hell of a funky string and guitar-driven gem whilst the wild, celebratory "Ah Movin' On" cleverly quotes "Wade In The Water" (which he'd recorded with Ramsey Lewis in 1966) folding it into his new free-jazz composition. A message to his old boss, perhaps, as a sign-off?
We've worked on this reissue for 3.5 years, spending the whole time making it sound super sharp and looking as perfect as it possibly can. An absolute must-have for fans of soulful jazz-funk, Half And Half was mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman at Final Tweak. The bizarre artwork, mutant beast and all, was restored at Be With HQ over many painstaking months! Hopefully, this new edition, a real labour of love, should bring Cleveland Eaton into the homes and record boxes of many more people.
More
Territories: Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 Keep It Funky 5:20
A2 Day Dreaming 3:36
A3 Here Comes Funky Lou 4:00
A4 Betcha By Golly Wow 4:15
A5 People Make The World Go Round 5:34
B1 Slipping Into Darkness 7:15
B2 Missing You 3:17
B3 John's Groove 2:55
B4 The Love Gangster 3:20
B5 Lie 2:15
B6 Ah Movin' On 4:00
Release Notes:
"Every cut on our albums are what we call "A" sides" - Cleveland Eaton, on Half And Half
Like the winged half-man/half-bull that dominates its outrageous cover, Cleveland Eaton's Half And Half is a mutant bass-heavy monster that absolutely slays. Incredible jazz-funk from 1973, it's been largely overlooked for decades, and unfairly so. This is just sensational music - a crate digger's delight. It's super funky throughout, with lots of layers, jazz breaks for days, dripping with style and gritty class. This is the first reissue of what has been a hard to find record for many years; it's long overdue. Joyous music for mind, soul and body.
Cleveland Eaton was a revered bassist who played an active role in the backing of Count Basie, the Donald Byrd Quintet, The Ramsey Lewis Trio, Terry Callier and Minnie Riperton; amongst many, many others. Half And Half was the first album released under his own name, initially released as a private press record on his - awkwardly named - Cle An Thair Records. It was then picked up by Gamble & Huff for Gamble Records. Varied, string-adorned and with stupid funky grooves, it's just exceptionally good.
Whilst Half And Half is treasured for its famously brilliant interpretations of gold funk-soul standards, Eaton proves an imaginative composer in his own right. Indeed, the album opens with a striking original; the earthy, laconic jazz-guitar-funk fusion of "Keep It Funky". Cleveland and co. do exactly that. Up next is a properly moving cover of Aretha Franklin's eternal "Day Dreaming". The flute and guitar combo truly achieve celestial greatness here. "Here Comes Funky Lou" rides a bassline from the Gods and a driving soul-jazz groove allows the track to go off in all sorts of directions. Serene guitar soul of the breezy variety one moment, crazy hectic violin-driven wig outs the next, courtesy of Ed Green who played with Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane.
His blistering two track salvo of Stylistics covers to close out this A-Side of A-Sides will leave your jaw dropped, and they're likely the reason you're here for this. And why not? "Betcha By Golly Wow", which uses a bed of acidy synths and harmonica to create a unique atmosphere, is on some next level business. Melancholic, wistful, beautiful. "People Make the World Go Round" is so good, dripping in wonderful horns and ace percussive breaks, it could even be regarded as the definitive version. Seriously!
Opening Side B, War's gigantic "Slipping Into Darkness" is tightly tailored to Eaton's funky flute fusion arrangement whilst the insistent "Missing You" is a swaggering horn-heavy version of Luther Ingram's track from the Dilla/Ghostface-linked LP, I've Been Here All The Time. The creeping, screeching guitar-drenched original "John's Groove" features more fantastic horn lines and neck-snapping percussion whilst "The Love Gangster", written by Bill Wyman and Stephen Stills for his seminal Manassas LP, contains a heavy break with slick drums high in the mix and fuzzy guitars.
The album closes with two more Eaton originals. Written with Johnny Guitar Watson, "Lie" is one hell of a funky string and guitar-driven gem whilst the wild, celebratory "Ah Movin' On" cleverly quotes "Wade In The Water" (which he'd recorded with Ramsey Lewis in 1966) folding it into his new free-jazz composition. A message to his old boss, perhaps, as a sign-off?
We've worked on this reissue for 3.5 years, spending the whole time making it sound super sharp and looking as perfect as it possibly can. An absolute must-have for fans of soulful jazz-funk, Half And Half was mastered for vinyl by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman at Final Tweak. The bizarre artwork, mutant beast and all, was restored at Be With HQ over many painstaking months! Hopefully, this new edition, a real labour of love, should bring Cleveland Eaton into the homes and record boxes of many more people.
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