1
Les Cyclades - Glika
2
Les Cyclades - Yser Mystère
3
Les Cyclades - Alocasia
4
Les Cyclades - Short Hero
5
Les Cyclades - Epigone
6
Les Cyclades - Parc Fou
7
Les Cyclades - DRAM
8
Les Cyclades - Niko
9
Les Cyclades - PAME!
10
Les Cyclades - Glossa
Tracklist
A1 Glika
A2 Yser Mystère
A3 Alocasia
A4 Short Hero
A5 Epigone
B1 Parc Fou
B2 DRAM
B3 Niko
B4 PAME!
B5 Glossa
(comes with a poster) The Klein blue horizon, gliding seagulls, a ferry purring between two languid islands, dotted with ultra-white villages and ancient ruins... These idyllic visions run through Glika, the ultimate musical project of Les Cyclades. An exciting electronic odyssey from West to East, from Belgian effervescence to Greek mysticism.
In 2020, confined to the neighborhoods of Yser and Mystère in Brussels, Alex and Ludo dream of Greek islands, of scorching sun on their skin, of salty baths, chilled ouzo and braised octopus. But everywhere, time stands still. Must one necessarily move to travel? To levitate? In the absence of Elsewhere, the Franco-Canadian duo will compose the imaginary soundtrack to their escape.
Glika (which means "sweet" in Greek) perfectly synthesizes the musical influences of Les Cyclades: a cosmic saxophone inherited from Alex’s dub and free jazz past, an architect-pastry chef-botanist from Normandy, and Ludo’s "Balearic" tracks, a musician-performer-wine lover who frequented his first raves in 1995 in Houston, Texas.
From a hedonistic encounter on a friendly terrace in the 19th arrondissement of Paris to their chosen exile in Brussels, these hypersensitive jacks-of-all-trades first danced and mixed records. Before creating their own phantasmagorical sonic territories, where cinema and poetry meet more or less human voices, brass instruments, synthesizers and analogue drum machines.
A searing fragment of Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos's "Eternity and a Day" preludes Glika. Then, on Yser Mystère - the names of the two stations on tram 51 that physically linked Alex and Ludo's psyches during the lockdown - Alex's astral sax balances out the industrial mechanics of a locomotive, against a backdrop of urban soundscapes.
And then a rising bpm dominates Alocasia, with its deep and sensual light foot. So sunny. From one track to another, there are interludes influenced by Xenakis, Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre. Seminal heroes of the Cyclades... But soon, the duo unleash hostilities at the helm of Epigone, their meta-techno anthem. "I know", "You know", echoes Alex.
Laughs of friends, "mouth noises," and "bizarre rhythms" still dominate Parc Fou, while DRAM eyes the minimalist techno of Detroit. So dear to Ludo's heart... And what about PAME, that post-modern Greek epic.Or Glossa, a timeless track that finishes with a fascinating - because diffracted - elegance, this multi-sensory journey through Les Cyclades. Let's close our eyes. Silencio! Hay Banda!
By Eléonore Colin, journalist (and friend!!)
•••Les Cyclades are:
Alexandre Rabineau (saxophone, keyboards,percussion,programmation)
Ludovic Gayer (drum machines, effects, sampler, tape deck)
••• All tracks written, recorded and mixed by Les Cyclades at studio Yser Mystère
In Brussels (2020-2023).
Except A5 mixed by Chris Ferreira
••• Tracks A2, A3, B1, B2, B4 and B5 previously self-released on tape cassette (Glossa ep) in 2021.
••• Mastering & lacquer cut by Ångström
••• Artwork by Marius Cstlle
••• A1 contains a sample taken from the movie « Eternity and a day »
Directed by Thedoros Angelopoulos (1998).
••• B2 features a phone call with Ioannis Nikolaou, owner of Underflow Record store
In Athens.
Big love and thank you: Lucie, Mimu, Thomas, Mumu, Ascencio, Chris, Violette, Marius, Serge, Louise, Famille Gayer/Goux, Pablo Volcano, Seb Tonka, ojpb, Marie, Barbara, Jésus, Crevettes Records, Balades Sonores, Mickey and Kiosk Radio, and everybody we forgot.
Special thanks to Koen Galle and Hi Scores for listening, believing and making it real!
More
A1 Glika
A2 Yser Mystère
A3 Alocasia
A4 Short Hero
A5 Epigone
B1 Parc Fou
B2 DRAM
B3 Niko
B4 PAME!
B5 Glossa
(comes with a poster) The Klein blue horizon, gliding seagulls, a ferry purring between two languid islands, dotted with ultra-white villages and ancient ruins... These idyllic visions run through Glika, the ultimate musical project of Les Cyclades. An exciting electronic odyssey from West to East, from Belgian effervescence to Greek mysticism.
In 2020, confined to the neighborhoods of Yser and Mystère in Brussels, Alex and Ludo dream of Greek islands, of scorching sun on their skin, of salty baths, chilled ouzo and braised octopus. But everywhere, time stands still. Must one necessarily move to travel? To levitate? In the absence of Elsewhere, the Franco-Canadian duo will compose the imaginary soundtrack to their escape.
Glika (which means "sweet" in Greek) perfectly synthesizes the musical influences of Les Cyclades: a cosmic saxophone inherited from Alex’s dub and free jazz past, an architect-pastry chef-botanist from Normandy, and Ludo’s "Balearic" tracks, a musician-performer-wine lover who frequented his first raves in 1995 in Houston, Texas.
From a hedonistic encounter on a friendly terrace in the 19th arrondissement of Paris to their chosen exile in Brussels, these hypersensitive jacks-of-all-trades first danced and mixed records. Before creating their own phantasmagorical sonic territories, where cinema and poetry meet more or less human voices, brass instruments, synthesizers and analogue drum machines.
A searing fragment of Greek filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos's "Eternity and a Day" preludes Glika. Then, on Yser Mystère - the names of the two stations on tram 51 that physically linked Alex and Ludo's psyches during the lockdown - Alex's astral sax balances out the industrial mechanics of a locomotive, against a backdrop of urban soundscapes.
And then a rising bpm dominates Alocasia, with its deep and sensual light foot. So sunny. From one track to another, there are interludes influenced by Xenakis, Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre. Seminal heroes of the Cyclades... But soon, the duo unleash hostilities at the helm of Epigone, their meta-techno anthem. "I know", "You know", echoes Alex.
Laughs of friends, "mouth noises," and "bizarre rhythms" still dominate Parc Fou, while DRAM eyes the minimalist techno of Detroit. So dear to Ludo's heart... And what about PAME, that post-modern Greek epic.Or Glossa, a timeless track that finishes with a fascinating - because diffracted - elegance, this multi-sensory journey through Les Cyclades. Let's close our eyes. Silencio! Hay Banda!
By Eléonore Colin, journalist (and friend!!)
•••Les Cyclades are:
Alexandre Rabineau (saxophone, keyboards,percussion,programmation)
Ludovic Gayer (drum machines, effects, sampler, tape deck)
••• All tracks written, recorded and mixed by Les Cyclades at studio Yser Mystère
In Brussels (2020-2023).
Except A5 mixed by Chris Ferreira
••• Tracks A2, A3, B1, B2, B4 and B5 previously self-released on tape cassette (Glossa ep) in 2021.
••• Mastering & lacquer cut by Ångström
••• Artwork by Marius Cstlle
••• A1 contains a sample taken from the movie « Eternity and a day »
Directed by Thedoros Angelopoulos (1998).
••• B2 features a phone call with Ioannis Nikolaou, owner of Underflow Record store
In Athens.
Big love and thank you: Lucie, Mimu, Thomas, Mumu, Ascencio, Chris, Violette, Marius, Serge, Louise, Famille Gayer/Goux, Pablo Volcano, Seb Tonka, ojpb, Marie, Barbara, Jésus, Crevettes Records, Balades Sonores, Mickey and Kiosk Radio, and everybody we forgot.
Special thanks to Koen Galle and Hi Scores for listening, believing and making it real!
More
More records from HI SCORES
1
LARSON - Our Inner Sun 06:57
2
LARSON - Hi Scores 06:08
3
LARSON - Slack Breeze (Club mix) 05:40
4
LARSON - Slack Breeze (Sensual mix) 05:22
5
LARSON - Lethal Dance 06:33
6
LARSON - High Jazz Travel 06:44
7
LARSON - Hi Scores (Chris Ferreira’s Magic Force Remix) 06:53
8
LARSON - Souvenir d'Enfance 04:22
(Chris "Funk" Ferreira remix) A true love letter to house music, Larson presents his account of the ubiquitous dance music genre diving deep into its origins. Connecting the dots with some of the genre’s most beloved innovators such as Larry Heard, Boo Williams, Ron Trent, Chez Damier or Chris Brann, the Belgian producer pays tribute by adding his own emphases.
TRACKLIST
A1 Larson - Our Inner Sun 06:57
A2 Larson - Hi Scores 06:08
B1 Larson - Slack Breeze (Club mix) 05:40
B2 Larson - Slack Breeze (Sensual mix) 05:22
C1 Larson - Lethal Dance 06:33
C2 Larson - High Jazz Travel 06:44
D1 Larson - Hi Scores (Chris Ferreira’s Magic Force Remix) 06:53
D2 Larson - Souvenir d'Enfance 04:22
INFO
A true love letter to house music, Larson presents his account of the ubiquitous dance music genre diving deep into its origins. Connecting the dots with some of the genre’s most beloved innovators such as Larry Heard, Boo Williams, Ron Trent, Chez Damier or Chris Brann, the Belgian producer pays tribute by adding his own emphases. Setting a bright mood, at times aiming for the dance floor, at others comforting the listener into a casual vibe, Larson is not seeking, but spontaneously drawing attention with his graceful sounds, stripped to the bone and built on an intuitive factor.
Larson hails from Liège, the South Belgian city known for its meat balls and the mighty river La Meuse, and works as a sound editor in movie production. Recognised by those-who-know as one of the most quintessential figures of Liège’s burgeoning underground nightlife scene, the time is now for Larson to step forward. His 2x12” debut release dubbed ‘Interlace Joy Motions’ is one for the house heads, shifting between 121 and 130 BPM and showcasing the diverse sounds the producer has in store.
Opening track Our Inner Sun has smiles written all over. A simple yet effective piano loop, warm strings and a delicately running acid baseline are all Larson needs to set the standard for the beauty that is yet to come. Effortlessly entertaining for close to seven minutes, here is the essence of timeless house music at work.
Pushing up the speed up to 129 BPM, A2 brings the brand new label’s title track, Larson’s take on the many meanings the name may represent. Designed for jubilant dance floor action, Hi Scores is punchy and elegant at the same time.
On the flip side, Slack Breeze is an eleven-minutes-long breezy electro trip paying homage to Detroit music pioneer Juan Atkins and offers two mixes, nicely manufactured as one auditive whole on the vinyl record with a useful visual marker in between. Be aware of the slight tempo drop between the bold Club mix and the more laid back Sensual mix.
In a cultured and charming manner, Lethal Dance opens the second 12”. Driven by a fab bassline and soft as silk string arrangements, here is a slow burner for moments lost track of time. High Jazz Travel on C2 continues this trip to lofty spaces, speeding up the pace but holding on to Larson’s well crafted dream universe, with its mellow aura almost turning into a debonair lullaby for grown-ups.
Adding another layer to the cake is Chris ‘Funk’ Ferreira, the C12 resident DJ and ½ Senga Ferreira. Also active as the mixing engineer of this double 12”, on the D1 the Brussels based producer takes up the role as remixer with his stomping and energy building ‘Magic Force’ version of Hi Scores, contributing the single vocal sample to the EP. Things come to an end with Souvenir d’Enfance, a playful and innocent conga driven house track, cherished as a safe and sound childhood memory, forever in our hearts just as this excellent debut by Larson.
CREDITS
Music: Nick Moinet
Remix: Chris “Funk” Ferreira
Mixing: Chris “Funk” Ferreira at The Sword-Hall studio, Brussels
Mastering: Wouter Brandenburg
Graphic design vinyl: Léonard Dufois
Graphic design label: Léo Fouan
Hi Scores
Made in Belgium, 2022.
LARSON BIO
Belgian dj and producer Larson is one of those artists whose name you see popping up more frequently on line-ups these days. Based in Liège, promoter for Telefunk, Excursion & Unrhythmic, regular on Kiosk Radio, former co-owner of the House Running label & curator for the La Nature Festival, Larson has been multiplying roles and experiences on the music scene for 15 years, bringing over Rick Whilhite, Hunee, Masalo, Mendel, Vincent Floyd, AliA, San Soda or Jakob Korn to the city famous for its meat balls!
Inspired by the true deep house sound courtesy of a bunch of American artists based in Detroit, Chicago and New York and created in the second half of the eighties and the nineties, Larson aims to add his own touch to the culture, pushing forward his unique blend of atmospheric and hypnotizing house music to dance floors such as C12 in Brussels, La Cadran in Liège, L'international in Paris, Mauke Club in Wuppertal, Cube in Dusseldorf and many more. He holds a residency at online radio Kiosk in Brussels as well.
Together with his friend Flo, Larson has founded House Running, a label responsible for releasing 12 inches by Belgian and French producers such as Baltra, Flabaire and Kiani & His Legion. Lately he has been spending countless hours in the studio, resulting in releases on C12’s label, Bardouin Music and his upcoming debut 2x12” EP on Kong DJ’s new label Hi Scores.
HI SCORES BIO
Founded by Kong DJ in 2022 in Brussels, Hi Scores is a love letter to house music, a soul search in a fantasy world and a nightly quest for the zenith. Each release crafted with an extensive eye for detail in the analog and digital world, the label pushes forward both new talents and established names, all united by a devoted and idiosyncratic interpretation of electronic dance music. More
TRACKLIST
A1 Larson - Our Inner Sun 06:57
A2 Larson - Hi Scores 06:08
B1 Larson - Slack Breeze (Club mix) 05:40
B2 Larson - Slack Breeze (Sensual mix) 05:22
C1 Larson - Lethal Dance 06:33
C2 Larson - High Jazz Travel 06:44
D1 Larson - Hi Scores (Chris Ferreira’s Magic Force Remix) 06:53
D2 Larson - Souvenir d'Enfance 04:22
INFO
A true love letter to house music, Larson presents his account of the ubiquitous dance music genre diving deep into its origins. Connecting the dots with some of the genre’s most beloved innovators such as Larry Heard, Boo Williams, Ron Trent, Chez Damier or Chris Brann, the Belgian producer pays tribute by adding his own emphases. Setting a bright mood, at times aiming for the dance floor, at others comforting the listener into a casual vibe, Larson is not seeking, but spontaneously drawing attention with his graceful sounds, stripped to the bone and built on an intuitive factor.
Larson hails from Liège, the South Belgian city known for its meat balls and the mighty river La Meuse, and works as a sound editor in movie production. Recognised by those-who-know as one of the most quintessential figures of Liège’s burgeoning underground nightlife scene, the time is now for Larson to step forward. His 2x12” debut release dubbed ‘Interlace Joy Motions’ is one for the house heads, shifting between 121 and 130 BPM and showcasing the diverse sounds the producer has in store.
Opening track Our Inner Sun has smiles written all over. A simple yet effective piano loop, warm strings and a delicately running acid baseline are all Larson needs to set the standard for the beauty that is yet to come. Effortlessly entertaining for close to seven minutes, here is the essence of timeless house music at work.
Pushing up the speed up to 129 BPM, A2 brings the brand new label’s title track, Larson’s take on the many meanings the name may represent. Designed for jubilant dance floor action, Hi Scores is punchy and elegant at the same time.
On the flip side, Slack Breeze is an eleven-minutes-long breezy electro trip paying homage to Detroit music pioneer Juan Atkins and offers two mixes, nicely manufactured as one auditive whole on the vinyl record with a useful visual marker in between. Be aware of the slight tempo drop between the bold Club mix and the more laid back Sensual mix.
In a cultured and charming manner, Lethal Dance opens the second 12”. Driven by a fab bassline and soft as silk string arrangements, here is a slow burner for moments lost track of time. High Jazz Travel on C2 continues this trip to lofty spaces, speeding up the pace but holding on to Larson’s well crafted dream universe, with its mellow aura almost turning into a debonair lullaby for grown-ups.
Adding another layer to the cake is Chris ‘Funk’ Ferreira, the C12 resident DJ and ½ Senga Ferreira. Also active as the mixing engineer of this double 12”, on the D1 the Brussels based producer takes up the role as remixer with his stomping and energy building ‘Magic Force’ version of Hi Scores, contributing the single vocal sample to the EP. Things come to an end with Souvenir d’Enfance, a playful and innocent conga driven house track, cherished as a safe and sound childhood memory, forever in our hearts just as this excellent debut by Larson.
CREDITS
Music: Nick Moinet
Remix: Chris “Funk” Ferreira
Mixing: Chris “Funk” Ferreira at The Sword-Hall studio, Brussels
Mastering: Wouter Brandenburg
Graphic design vinyl: Léonard Dufois
Graphic design label: Léo Fouan
Hi Scores
Made in Belgium, 2022.
LARSON BIO
Belgian dj and producer Larson is one of those artists whose name you see popping up more frequently on line-ups these days. Based in Liège, promoter for Telefunk, Excursion & Unrhythmic, regular on Kiosk Radio, former co-owner of the House Running label & curator for the La Nature Festival, Larson has been multiplying roles and experiences on the music scene for 15 years, bringing over Rick Whilhite, Hunee, Masalo, Mendel, Vincent Floyd, AliA, San Soda or Jakob Korn to the city famous for its meat balls!
Inspired by the true deep house sound courtesy of a bunch of American artists based in Detroit, Chicago and New York and created in the second half of the eighties and the nineties, Larson aims to add his own touch to the culture, pushing forward his unique blend of atmospheric and hypnotizing house music to dance floors such as C12 in Brussels, La Cadran in Liège, L'international in Paris, Mauke Club in Wuppertal, Cube in Dusseldorf and many more. He holds a residency at online radio Kiosk in Brussels as well.
Together with his friend Flo, Larson has founded House Running, a label responsible for releasing 12 inches by Belgian and French producers such as Baltra, Flabaire and Kiani & His Legion. Lately he has been spending countless hours in the studio, resulting in releases on C12’s label, Bardouin Music and his upcoming debut 2x12” EP on Kong DJ’s new label Hi Scores.
HI SCORES BIO
Founded by Kong DJ in 2022 in Brussels, Hi Scores is a love letter to house music, a soul search in a fantasy world and a nightly quest for the zenith. Each release crafted with an extensive eye for detail in the analog and digital world, the label pushes forward both new talents and established names, all united by a devoted and idiosyncratic interpretation of electronic dance music. More
Customers who bought this also bought this
1
CJ Bolland - Camargue
2
CJ Bolland - Tokyo
1992 was a wild year. For planet earth. For humanity. People desired for escapism, and some producers just had the jive they yearned for. Endless kick drum excitement under a roof of strings. Up there in clap heaven, the chords fly candid, and all that hi-hat suspense fashions bliss. These dancers met an angel, circulating eternally towards the strobe. Oh, how they wished all that trance never ends in 1993, when CJ Bolland, one of the most influential and successful producers Belgium created in the nineties, dropped “Camargue”. An instant trance techno classic. Atemporal, abnormal, amoral. Raved together with British producer Cisco Ferreira for Belgium’s finest R&S records. Both worked on many sensual club music artworks together. Like “Tokyo”, the B-Site with an A-Note. Tripping fast, more hi-hat ecstasy, techno kicks, somewhere Goa is in there. Those where the 1990ees. Those days in fast pace. Blissed with trance of techno glam.
More
More
1
Disco Revisited - Tonights The Night
2
Disco Revisited - When Loves The Feelin (Tps 2015 Unreleased Reedit)
3
Disco Revisited - Gonna Roc U All Nite
4
Disco Revisited - Gonna Roc U All Nite (Instrumental)
1
Wallace - Papertrip
2
Wallace - BB
3
Wallace - The Function
4
Wallace - Backwaters
Repress!
Following the success of his last RS release, 'Ripples,' the enigmatic Wallace returns to Rhythm Section after a series of stellar releases with a highly anticipated follow-up - ‘Papertrip’ that is destined to once again set the dance music community ablaze.
Wallace's impact on the scene has been nothing short of extraordinary, since Ripples he has gone on to play in the iconic Panorama bar, tour Japan and release a double LP on Mule musiq.Wallace continues to cultivate a dedicated following among discerning listeners and industry tastemakers alike. Now, with the forthcoming release, Wallace is poised to ascend to new heights, continuing the undeniable Wallace-maina. More
Following the success of his last RS release, 'Ripples,' the enigmatic Wallace returns to Rhythm Section after a series of stellar releases with a highly anticipated follow-up - ‘Papertrip’ that is destined to once again set the dance music community ablaze.
Wallace's impact on the scene has been nothing short of extraordinary, since Ripples he has gone on to play in the iconic Panorama bar, tour Japan and release a double LP on Mule musiq.Wallace continues to cultivate a dedicated following among discerning listeners and industry tastemakers alike. Now, with the forthcoming release, Wallace is poised to ascend to new heights, continuing the undeniable Wallace-maina. More
1
Fireground - Glare
2
Fireground - Stand
3
Fireground - Spin
4
Fireground - Red Night
Delectable Crafty Explosive Headspins
More
1
Geoff Bastow - The Rough With The Smooth
2
Geoff Bastow - Beautiful People
3
Geoff Bastow - Tumbleweed
4
Geoff Bastow - Bits And Bats
5
Geoff Bastow - A Change Of Pace
6
Geoff Bastow - Janelle
7
Geoff Bastow - Time And A Half
8
Geoff Bastow - Supersplash
9
Geoff Bastow - Fillet Of Soul
10
Geoff Bastow - Well Above Average
11
Geoff Bastow - The Clan
12
Geoff Bastow - Sing Song
Format Notes: 2024 first time vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 The Rough With The Smooth
A2 Beautiful People
A3 Tumbleweed
A4 Bits And Bats
A5 A Change Of Pace
A6 Janelle
B1 Time And A Half
B2 Supersplash
B3 Fillet Of Soul
B4 Well Above Average
B5 The Clan
B6 Sing Song
Release Notes:
Music To Varnish Owls By. Does Geoff Bastow have a claim for the best album title of all time? It's certainly up there. It's also one of the hardest to find library funk records. But don't let the eye-catching name fool you into thinking this isn't serious business.
As a key member of Giorgio Moroder's team, the legendary Geoff Bastow shouldn't need any introduction. You'll be familiar with his singular brilliance as the brains behind the much-sampled boogie/disco classics "You Don't Like My Music (Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!)" and "Don't Stop", released by his group, K.I.D.
But 1975's Music To Varnish Owls By is where it all began for our hero.
It's packed with incredibly soulful, soothing music that - despite being utilised a few times by Knxwledge - remains still largely un-mined. So, beat-makers, get cracking. And instead of that hyper-rare original, spend that £300 on something else.
Born in 1949, Bastow was a Munich-based English songwriter and record producer. Originally working as a guitarist and pianist in dance bands around his home county of Yorkshire, he moved to London in the early 1970s and then Munich in around 1976. He was one of the main architects of the Munich disco sound of electronic innovator Giorgio Moroder and also released heaps of killer library records for legendary labels like Bruton (with brother Trevor), Impress, JW Music Library and the Munich-based Sonoton between the 1970s-2000s. Bastow died tragically young, in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 2007, at the age of just 57. But he left behind a truly incredible electronic music legacy. He deserves to be much better known and this reissue should bring him to a fair few more ears. Let's see why...
Light-hearted opener "The Rough With The Smooth" contains a killer open drum break and is basically guitar-drenched flute-laced piano-funk. However, the first genuine highlight, "Beautiful People", is just majestic. Reflective, pastoral and silky smooth - as the title suggests, it's just straight beautiful; a chiming, deeply soulful instrumental that has to be heard to be believed. Sampled by Knxwledge but nobody else of note, which is crazy. Slo-mo soul beat "Tumbleweed" is another stone cold track just desperate to be laced by a skilled MC. Laconic, lysergic funk with nostalgic overtones, the guitar is prominent but the flute and glock really elevate it to perfection.
"Bits And Bats" is clav-enhanced Blaxploitation-esque street-funk with tough bass and crunchy drums that, despite its hardness, manages to flirt with breeziness. All in all, sumptuous, pounding wah-wah brilliance. Another huge one, up next. The insistent piano-funk head-nodder "A Change Of Pace" is a total sleuth-funk jammer, with a wonderfully soft snare and more hypnotic, melancholic flute lines. Man, we'd love to hear Alchemist chop this up. It even sounds a bit like Bastow was keeping things thoro with this one. Closing out Side A, the bright and breezy Bossa of "Janelle" makes it a perfect run of six untouchable gems. As elegant as it is sleazy, it sounds like it could've been on the classic KPM greensleeve, Piano Viberations.
Side B opens with the Ramsey Lewis-inspired "Time And A Half", a deceptively simple bass, drums and piano workout, decorated with stylish percussion with some great chord changes and hints of drama via a great bass solo. The heavy "Supersplash" is a doped-out drama suite with fuzzy wah-wah guitars, electric piano and glock. "Fillet Of Soul" is a catchy wah-wah propelled shuffle with piano and vibes, super dynamic but also incredibly chill.
"Well Above Average" is exactly that, a funky instrumental that serves as a straight ahead guitar-soul workout. Oozing bass-driven class, it gets better with every listen. Some open drums for your delectation, too. The fuzzy clav-and-vibes funk of "The Clan" - also understandably sampled by Knxwledge - is a monster head-nod slow jam whilst, seeing us out, the uber-relaxed "Sing Song" rounds things off in bright fashion with its slow but insistent clav, electric piano and glock greatness. Swoon.
As ever, the audio for Music To Varnish Owls By has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
More
Track List:
A1 The Rough With The Smooth
A2 Beautiful People
A3 Tumbleweed
A4 Bits And Bats
A5 A Change Of Pace
A6 Janelle
B1 Time And A Half
B2 Supersplash
B3 Fillet Of Soul
B4 Well Above Average
B5 The Clan
B6 Sing Song
Release Notes:
Music To Varnish Owls By. Does Geoff Bastow have a claim for the best album title of all time? It's certainly up there. It's also one of the hardest to find library funk records. But don't let the eye-catching name fool you into thinking this isn't serious business.
As a key member of Giorgio Moroder's team, the legendary Geoff Bastow shouldn't need any introduction. You'll be familiar with his singular brilliance as the brains behind the much-sampled boogie/disco classics "You Don't Like My Music (Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!)" and "Don't Stop", released by his group, K.I.D.
But 1975's Music To Varnish Owls By is where it all began for our hero.
It's packed with incredibly soulful, soothing music that - despite being utilised a few times by Knxwledge - remains still largely un-mined. So, beat-makers, get cracking. And instead of that hyper-rare original, spend that £300 on something else.
Born in 1949, Bastow was a Munich-based English songwriter and record producer. Originally working as a guitarist and pianist in dance bands around his home county of Yorkshire, he moved to London in the early 1970s and then Munich in around 1976. He was one of the main architects of the Munich disco sound of electronic innovator Giorgio Moroder and also released heaps of killer library records for legendary labels like Bruton (with brother Trevor), Impress, JW Music Library and the Munich-based Sonoton between the 1970s-2000s. Bastow died tragically young, in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 2007, at the age of just 57. But he left behind a truly incredible electronic music legacy. He deserves to be much better known and this reissue should bring him to a fair few more ears. Let's see why...
Light-hearted opener "The Rough With The Smooth" contains a killer open drum break and is basically guitar-drenched flute-laced piano-funk. However, the first genuine highlight, "Beautiful People", is just majestic. Reflective, pastoral and silky smooth - as the title suggests, it's just straight beautiful; a chiming, deeply soulful instrumental that has to be heard to be believed. Sampled by Knxwledge but nobody else of note, which is crazy. Slo-mo soul beat "Tumbleweed" is another stone cold track just desperate to be laced by a skilled MC. Laconic, lysergic funk with nostalgic overtones, the guitar is prominent but the flute and glock really elevate it to perfection.
"Bits And Bats" is clav-enhanced Blaxploitation-esque street-funk with tough bass and crunchy drums that, despite its hardness, manages to flirt with breeziness. All in all, sumptuous, pounding wah-wah brilliance. Another huge one, up next. The insistent piano-funk head-nodder "A Change Of Pace" is a total sleuth-funk jammer, with a wonderfully soft snare and more hypnotic, melancholic flute lines. Man, we'd love to hear Alchemist chop this up. It even sounds a bit like Bastow was keeping things thoro with this one. Closing out Side A, the bright and breezy Bossa of "Janelle" makes it a perfect run of six untouchable gems. As elegant as it is sleazy, it sounds like it could've been on the classic KPM greensleeve, Piano Viberations.
Side B opens with the Ramsey Lewis-inspired "Time And A Half", a deceptively simple bass, drums and piano workout, decorated with stylish percussion with some great chord changes and hints of drama via a great bass solo. The heavy "Supersplash" is a doped-out drama suite with fuzzy wah-wah guitars, electric piano and glock. "Fillet Of Soul" is a catchy wah-wah propelled shuffle with piano and vibes, super dynamic but also incredibly chill.
"Well Above Average" is exactly that, a funky instrumental that serves as a straight ahead guitar-soul workout. Oozing bass-driven class, it gets better with every listen. Some open drums for your delectation, too. The fuzzy clav-and-vibes funk of "The Clan" - also understandably sampled by Knxwledge - is a monster head-nod slow jam whilst, seeing us out, the uber-relaxed "Sing Song" rounds things off in bright fashion with its slow but insistent clav, electric piano and glock greatness. Swoon.
As ever, the audio for Music To Varnish Owls By has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
More
Coki's 'Goblin' celebrates 15 years since it's original release, and with the alignment around UKF's 15th birthday, it seemed a perfect match to release the 2024 remaster as part of the UKF15 series. Alongside this, rising star Hamdi provides his remix - an essential weapon in his sets as of late.
More
xploring late-night, after-hours meditations on sound; ‘Everything Above The Sky (Astral Travelling with Luke Una)’ is a new compilation by the titular DJ, promoter and enigmatic cultural curator. Off the back of the E Soul Cultura phenomena, this compilation comes at a timely point in Luke’s rich career as he soars the heights of playing all over the world. Avoiding any chance of his sound being pigeonholed, Luke has put together a tracklist of songs and music that have a transcendental feel, after coming off the grid, going back to source, outside the city walls .
Music has long been believed to aid out of body experiences and many of us have searched long and hard for a combination of those elusive ingredients that might alleviate some of the monotony of everyday life, our daily routines and obligations, and those things that seem to block us from the spirit of the universe. In this collection, Luke selects music with all the right ingredients in just the right quantities, allowing the listener to engage in an esoteric journey of enlightenment through sound. Being a prolific collector of music, Luke initially delivered enough tracks to compile several compilations, making the licensing process the biggest effort to date for the label. The music moves softly and slowly, never becoming too intrusive, exemplifying the wonderful elevating properties of simple songs played from the heart.
Luke’s Everything Above The Sky manifesto reads, “Astral Travelling in the meadowlands with acid folk, spiritual jazz, around midnight hocus pocus, cosmic psychedelic soul, magical spellbound whirling swirling love songs, Brazilian ballads of light into machine soul gospel utopia dreaming, Balearic bossa, Outer Space ancient African drum, the breath of trees, escaping the big bad modern world, gathering round winter fires, walking amongst the bracken in Padley Gorge in late summer twilight, overlooking the Hope Valley, escaping ego, detaching and finally letting go amongst the stars with the slowly floating people. It’s beautiful beyond. Everything above the Sky”.
Beginning his career as an original Sheffield house young blood in the mid 1980s, Luke’s move to Manchester and partnership with Justin Crawford saw the birth of Electric Chair, a cornerstone cult night in the UK underground club scene. Then came Electric Elephant, a Croatian festival paying homage to their wild eclecticism from Balearic to Brazilian to É Soul, house, disco and techno. Luke’s much loved, long-running Homoelectric night and more recently Homobloc sell out festival for 10,000 souls has been at the forefront of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ cultural landscape. Luke’s Friday evening show on Worldwide FM captured imaginations and became a cult four-hour must-listen monthly journey for fans all over the world. Today, Luke remains, as ever, at the forefront of a changing milieu, pairing the momentous legacy of Manchester’s 80s and 90s scene with the delivery of what today’s club communities need to get down.
TRACKLISTING
1. John Martyn - Small Hours
2. Stephen Whynott – A Better Way
3. April Fulladosa - Sunlit Horizon
4. Sylvain Kassap - Plancoët
5. Manu Dibango - Night In Zeralda
6. Henri Texier - Hocoka Time
7. Nivaldo Orneleas - O Que Ha
8. 808 State – Pacific State (Massey’s Conga Mix)
9. Magma - Eliphas Levi
10. Homelife - Stranger
11. Michael Gregory Jackson - Unspoken Magic
12. Dora Morelenbaum - Avermelhar
13. Simone - Tudo Que Você Podia Ser
14. Experience Unlimited – People
15. Otis G. Johnson - I Got It
16. Mel & Tim - Keep The Faith More
Music has long been believed to aid out of body experiences and many of us have searched long and hard for a combination of those elusive ingredients that might alleviate some of the monotony of everyday life, our daily routines and obligations, and those things that seem to block us from the spirit of the universe. In this collection, Luke selects music with all the right ingredients in just the right quantities, allowing the listener to engage in an esoteric journey of enlightenment through sound. Being a prolific collector of music, Luke initially delivered enough tracks to compile several compilations, making the licensing process the biggest effort to date for the label. The music moves softly and slowly, never becoming too intrusive, exemplifying the wonderful elevating properties of simple songs played from the heart.
Luke’s Everything Above The Sky manifesto reads, “Astral Travelling in the meadowlands with acid folk, spiritual jazz, around midnight hocus pocus, cosmic psychedelic soul, magical spellbound whirling swirling love songs, Brazilian ballads of light into machine soul gospel utopia dreaming, Balearic bossa, Outer Space ancient African drum, the breath of trees, escaping the big bad modern world, gathering round winter fires, walking amongst the bracken in Padley Gorge in late summer twilight, overlooking the Hope Valley, escaping ego, detaching and finally letting go amongst the stars with the slowly floating people. It’s beautiful beyond. Everything above the Sky”.
Beginning his career as an original Sheffield house young blood in the mid 1980s, Luke’s move to Manchester and partnership with Justin Crawford saw the birth of Electric Chair, a cornerstone cult night in the UK underground club scene. Then came Electric Elephant, a Croatian festival paying homage to their wild eclecticism from Balearic to Brazilian to É Soul, house, disco and techno. Luke’s much loved, long-running Homoelectric night and more recently Homobloc sell out festival for 10,000 souls has been at the forefront of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ cultural landscape. Luke’s Friday evening show on Worldwide FM captured imaginations and became a cult four-hour must-listen monthly journey for fans all over the world. Today, Luke remains, as ever, at the forefront of a changing milieu, pairing the momentous legacy of Manchester’s 80s and 90s scene with the delivery of what today’s club communities need to get down.
TRACKLISTING
1. John Martyn - Small Hours
2. Stephen Whynott – A Better Way
3. April Fulladosa - Sunlit Horizon
4. Sylvain Kassap - Plancoët
5. Manu Dibango - Night In Zeralda
6. Henri Texier - Hocoka Time
7. Nivaldo Orneleas - O Que Ha
8. 808 State – Pacific State (Massey’s Conga Mix)
9. Magma - Eliphas Levi
10. Homelife - Stranger
11. Michael Gregory Jackson - Unspoken Magic
12. Dora Morelenbaum - Avermelhar
13. Simone - Tudo Que Você Podia Ser
14. Experience Unlimited – People
15. Otis G. Johnson - I Got It
16. Mel & Tim - Keep The Faith More
1
Mance - Passing the Impassable (come Rudeboy remix)
2
Mance - Hornet's Nest
3
Mance - Can I? (Oxide remix)
4
Mance - Verbal Glock
Tracklisting
A1 Mance - Passing the Impassable (come Rudeboy remix)
A2 Mance - Hornet's Nest
B1 Mance - Can I? (Oxide remix)
B2 Mance - Verbal Glock
Sales Note
mance joins the Time Is Now family, fresh off the back of a killer EP for Interplanetary Criminal & Main Phase's ATW label.
Passing the Impassable EP is modern day UKG at its finest, bass warpers meet rolling breaks and dub sirens, blending to create a four tracker of dancefloor weapons!
Passing the Impassable EP drops November 29th via Time Is Now. More
A1 Mance - Passing the Impassable (come Rudeboy remix)
A2 Mance - Hornet's Nest
B1 Mance - Can I? (Oxide remix)
B2 Mance - Verbal Glock
Sales Note
mance joins the Time Is Now family, fresh off the back of a killer EP for Interplanetary Criminal & Main Phase's ATW label.
Passing the Impassable EP is modern day UKG at its finest, bass warpers meet rolling breaks and dub sirens, blending to create a four tracker of dancefloor weapons!
Passing the Impassable EP drops November 29th via Time Is Now. More
1
C-thru - Awake (In A Dream)
2
C-thru - Geodesic Visions
3
C-thru - Time Being
4
C-thru - Slow Dive Thru The 7th Plane
5
C-thru - The Otherworld
6
C-thru - Therianthropes In A Floating Pyramid
7
C-thru - Glimpses Of Concentric Realities
8
C-thru - Vivid Voyage
Originally released in 2023 via a humble run of 100 cassette tapes, c-thru's debut album “The Otherworld” is now available on black vinyl with a full colour jacket designed by Vancouver based illustrator Tylor Macmillan.
C-thru - The Otherworld is a collection of introspective cosmic-leaning dance music that gives a healthy nod to the golden era of trance, ambient, and downtempo from Austin, Texas-based producer Jesse Edwards. Inactive for several years, these 10 tracks mark a new chapter for Jesse Edwards. Previous works include his well-received psychedelic project, Red Morning Chorus, that included Boards of Canada amongst its fans. Edwards began his musical journey in the late 90s playing shoegaze and experimental music with Jessica Bailiff (Kranky). The pair collaborated on several albums together, including works with Flying Saucer Attack, His Name is Alive, and Odd Nosdam (Anticon).
Essential listening for anyone enamoured with the golden era of futuristic audio. More
C-thru - The Otherworld is a collection of introspective cosmic-leaning dance music that gives a healthy nod to the golden era of trance, ambient, and downtempo from Austin, Texas-based producer Jesse Edwards. Inactive for several years, these 10 tracks mark a new chapter for Jesse Edwards. Previous works include his well-received psychedelic project, Red Morning Chorus, that included Boards of Canada amongst its fans. Edwards began his musical journey in the late 90s playing shoegaze and experimental music with Jessica Bailiff (Kranky). The pair collaborated on several albums together, including works with Flying Saucer Attack, His Name is Alive, and Odd Nosdam (Anticon).
Essential listening for anyone enamoured with the golden era of futuristic audio. More
1
Spooky Bizzle - March Forward
2
Spooky Bizzle - Dub Shack
3
Spooky Bizzle - Meryless Dub
4
Spooky Bizzle - House Of Cards
5
Spooky Bizzle - Herbman
6
Spooky Bizzle - Rum Punch Dub
NO RETURNS!
6 track 12" EP, Strictly limited to 360 copies, Bundled with 2 bonus tracks, only for vinyl
purchasers, and details for purchase of a ultra limited 3 track poly cut (With an additional
bonus VIP only on the poly).
Spooky has long been one of the hardest working soundmen in East London. At any given time
you can see him streaming sets on Insta, blasting out tunes, and being the OG cat he always
has been, with a reverence for the roots of Dub, from the Jamaican roots to US Garage and
back to his backyard via his Grime/Dubstep/UKG cuts, which are always full of raw depth and
swing.
This is why it was more a matter of what to fit on his first EP on LoDubs, given when the
conversation was started about RAS Riddims a whole deluge of tracks came our way. Clarty
Steppers is not only 6 of the best of those, but 2 bonus tracks in the accompanying DL, and
the option to get those 2, and a extra VIP of one of those tunes which will only ever be
available via the companion Poly Cut of this release (Details are once again in the DL file). More
6 track 12" EP, Strictly limited to 360 copies, Bundled with 2 bonus tracks, only for vinyl
purchasers, and details for purchase of a ultra limited 3 track poly cut (With an additional
bonus VIP only on the poly).
Spooky has long been one of the hardest working soundmen in East London. At any given time
you can see him streaming sets on Insta, blasting out tunes, and being the OG cat he always
has been, with a reverence for the roots of Dub, from the Jamaican roots to US Garage and
back to his backyard via his Grime/Dubstep/UKG cuts, which are always full of raw depth and
swing.
This is why it was more a matter of what to fit on his first EP on LoDubs, given when the
conversation was started about RAS Riddims a whole deluge of tracks came our way. Clarty
Steppers is not only 6 of the best of those, but 2 bonus tracks in the accompanying DL, and
the option to get those 2, and a extra VIP of one of those tunes which will only ever be
available via the companion Poly Cut of this release (Details are once again in the DL file). More
1
ATA Records & The Sorcerers - Kaunas Baltic Connect
2
ATA Records & The Sorcerers - Baby, I Don't Care
Sounds like Lalo Schifrin and Quincy Jones on a night out" DJ Smoove ATA Records are proud to release their latest 7" single, Kaunas Baltic Connect feat. The Sorcerers/Baby, I Don't Care. Three albums in, the Library Archiveseries are an honest and forthright homage to the golden age of library recording, and this new release is no exception – a brooding cut of 70s Euro-crime soundtrack for the cognoscenti, backed with a gleeful Hammond romp. Kaunas Baltic Connect feat. The Sorcerers harks back to the dynamic, brooding menace of Poliziotteschi and Euro-crime movies – popping toms punctuate a martial-sounding 60s beat, with an insistent and recurring piano motif. ATA Ethio-jazz influences are never far from the surface, and this track is chock full of quirky synths and keyboards, as well as the massive-soundingSorcerershorn section. Fans of Ennio Morricone's score to Pontecorvo's Battle of Algiers will also find a lot to enjoy here. Baby, I Don't Care is reminiscent of shamelessly groovy releases from The Lewis Express, featuring a joyful slice of Hammond organ blues dancing away over the funkiest drums this side of Clyde Stubblefield – replete with congas and bongos from ATA Studios stalwart, Danny Templeman. Intended in the tradition of upbeat Hammond tracks from KPM etc, this track just evolved into pure organ soul. Baby, I Don't Care has all the hallmarks of a new club favourite – will strongly appeal to all Jimmy Smith/McGriff and Shirley Scott fans, as well as purveyors of the next wave of organ soul from The Filthy Six etc.
More
1
Gari Romalis Electronix - Club Land (Soul Nite Mix)
2
Gari Romalis Electronix - Journey
3
Gari Romalis Electronix - Itz On (Prange Door Door Mix)
4
Gari Romalis Electronix - M.O.D. (Masterz Of Destiny) Mind Body And Soul
5
Gari Romalis Electronix - 4
We are proud to present the next chapter of the Sakskøbing series by the producer who has been making some uproar not just in his native Detroit, but rather around the whole globe that is constantly spinning together with all of us. Gari Romalis is an established name due to his hard work and relentless sound output within our scene. This five track EP is filled with different moods from the classic house uplifters to profound works raging from deep house to electro.
The release is titled “Producer Life”, it is here to shine the light on the life on the path of the sound creator, the challenges and rewards that it brings and the process which it takes to get from point A to point B. The described process has led to the creation of this release and brought it to life for us to enjoy. Great deal of respect and admiration to the maestro of this story, here on this label we hope it will repeat again as soon as possible. More
The release is titled “Producer Life”, it is here to shine the light on the life on the path of the sound creator, the challenges and rewards that it brings and the process which it takes to get from point A to point B. The described process has led to the creation of this release and brought it to life for us to enjoy. Great deal of respect and admiration to the maestro of this story, here on this label we hope it will repeat again as soon as possible. More