1
Felbm - Birkelunden
2
Felbm - Funicular
3
Felbm - Monolocale
4
Felbm - Sternenhimmeln
5
Felbm - Bladerdek
6
Felbm - Memoirists
7
Felbm - Sakura
8
Felbm - Tandem
9
Felbm - Anderstein
10
Felbm - Birkach
11
Felbm - Herfston
12
Felbm - Maktene
13
Felbm - When It Rains
14
Felbm - Samensmelten
15
Felbm - Takumi
In the Felbm project, Dutch multi-instrumentalist Eelco Topper steps away from his previous synthesiser-laden sounds as Falco Benz, towards a much looser, simpler and sketch-like approach. Together with a number of acoustic instruments, he began experimenting with a Tascam 4-track tape recorder and allowed these sketches to flourish.
The result is Tape 1 and Tape 2, a two-part project stretching across fifteen tracks - encompassing fluttering piano melodies, subtle jazz drums, rumba rhythms and soothing ambience. The jazz element links back to Topper’s childhood. “I grew up playing drums, switched to playing piano at sixteen and in the meantime I produced hip-hop beats,” he recalls. “I went to study jazz piano at the Utrecht Conservatory, which I finished with pain and effort… I was interested more in electronic and present-day music.”
This mix of being rooted in traditional jazz composition whilst searching for something more contemporary is the perfect encapsulation of these recordings. Tape 1’s jazz roots are palpable and as things move into Tape 2, it takes on a neo-classical, psychedelic soundscape and cinematic quality.
The distinct character that the tracks emit also comes from a unique place; Felbm’s influences are not the usual and predictable lot and include Mocky, Mathieu Boogaerts, Andy Shauf, Sam Prekop, Tonbruket, Tape and Mary Lattimore. Even then he manages to extract an essence or a mood from his influences rather than emulate them. “My taste goes into all kinds of directions - the context or genre doesn’t really matter.”
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The result is Tape 1 and Tape 2, a two-part project stretching across fifteen tracks - encompassing fluttering piano melodies, subtle jazz drums, rumba rhythms and soothing ambience. The jazz element links back to Topper’s childhood. “I grew up playing drums, switched to playing piano at sixteen and in the meantime I produced hip-hop beats,” he recalls. “I went to study jazz piano at the Utrecht Conservatory, which I finished with pain and effort… I was interested more in electronic and present-day music.”
This mix of being rooted in traditional jazz composition whilst searching for something more contemporary is the perfect encapsulation of these recordings. Tape 1’s jazz roots are palpable and as things move into Tape 2, it takes on a neo-classical, psychedelic soundscape and cinematic quality.
The distinct character that the tracks emit also comes from a unique place; Felbm’s influences are not the usual and predictable lot and include Mocky, Mathieu Boogaerts, Andy Shauf, Sam Prekop, Tonbruket, Tape and Mary Lattimore. Even then he manages to extract an essence or a mood from his influences rather than emulate them. “My taste goes into all kinds of directions - the context or genre doesn’t really matter.”
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More records from Felbm
Following on from his previous debut album Tape 1/Tape 2 on Soundway, Felbm delivers Tape 3/Tape 4: an intimate, emotional, lilting and melodic solo project. These 14 lo-fi, instrumental, jazz-infused sketches were written on guitar, with cascading keyboards, vibraphone and drum machine. Possessing a restorative and soothing quality, it goes some way to balancing out a chaotic year for the world at large. With echoes of the dreamier end of 1980s English indie-pop, minimal ambient music and Brazilian bossa-nova, Topper"s musical storybook includes touches of The Durutti Column, hints of Antônio Carlos Jobim and Baden Powell, whilst all set firmly in the summer fields of Germany and the Netherlands. The recording method used for the creation and recording of Tape 3 and Tape 4 follows the same as his previous release: all sketches were initially recorded onto cassette on a 4-track tape machine. Most notably a vibraphone finds its way onto almost every track fitting Topper"s sound-palette perfectly: warm yet distinctive, a percussive as well as sustaining sound that evokes some melancholy and a certain timeless nostalgia. Features that most certainly also apply to the other "new" instrument on the tapes: mellotron flutes. Tape 3/Tape 4 navigates the space between quiet, open, meditative tunes and more solid instrumental works, reflecting his constant search for an optimal balance between stillness and movement.
Tracklist
1.1Filatelie
1.2Tartufai
1.3Tiquetonne
1.4Veluwe
1.5Herausweh
1.6Talmen
1.7Heisei
1.8Brunnengasse
1.9Colorists
1.10Langeweile
1.11Beaufort
1.12Somnambulant
1.13Regtur
1.14Midori
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Tracklist
1.1Filatelie
1.2Tartufai
1.3Tiquetonne
1.4Veluwe
1.5Herausweh
1.6Talmen
1.7Heisei
1.8Brunnengasse
1.9Colorists
1.10Langeweile
1.11Beaufort
1.12Somnambulant
1.13Regtur
1.14Midori
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1
Felbm - Cycli Infini
2
Felbm - Cycli Infini
Tracklist:
A: Cycli Infini
B: Cycli Infini
Dutch multi-instrumentalist Felbm returns with the conceptual album ‘cycli infini’ : a 38-minute composition of metamorphosing tape loops, musical patterns and instrumental sketches. Further exploring the concept is the vinyl release which features the track spread over both sides and cut to the end of each locked groove - creating an essentially never-ending piece that challenges the idea of the traditional listening process.
The idea came to fruition by way of a lifelong interest and growing awareness of the cyclical nature of the world around him - be it through observing nature, or the mathematical and mind-bending works of Dutch artist MC Escher, or minimalist composers such as Erik Satie, Laraaji and Melaine Dalibert. “The openness of Laraaji’s and Satie’s music have also been an influence to create a certain softness and feeling of comfort, as I like this piece to be a place you want to revisit”, says Felbm, real name Eelco Topper.
While Topper’s previous releases on Soundway Records comprised series of short, individual sketches, on cycli infini the tapestry is sewn seamlessly together using a step-like progression through the circle of fifths, which as the name suggests, brings the listener back to the musical key and soundscape at which they started. Should the full track be on repeat, it begins anew without being noticed.
The piece began life with a layer of drone loops using tapes and delay pedals, over which acoustic instruments such as flute, saxophone and bass trumpet would playfully but gently interpret a melody - toying with jazz, ambient, fourth world and percussive sounds. As the music evolves through the key progression, organic elements such as birdsong and wind chimes ground the piece in nature. Says Topper: “the never-ending metamorphosis of matter has always fascinated me, the idea that nothing ever really disappears and everything has already been here… just in different shapes.”
For Fans of:
Laraaji, Basil Kirchin, Gaussian Curve, Young Marco, Greg Foat, Bibio, KPM library records
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A: Cycli Infini
B: Cycli Infini
Dutch multi-instrumentalist Felbm returns with the conceptual album ‘cycli infini’ : a 38-minute composition of metamorphosing tape loops, musical patterns and instrumental sketches. Further exploring the concept is the vinyl release which features the track spread over both sides and cut to the end of each locked groove - creating an essentially never-ending piece that challenges the idea of the traditional listening process.
The idea came to fruition by way of a lifelong interest and growing awareness of the cyclical nature of the world around him - be it through observing nature, or the mathematical and mind-bending works of Dutch artist MC Escher, or minimalist composers such as Erik Satie, Laraaji and Melaine Dalibert. “The openness of Laraaji’s and Satie’s music have also been an influence to create a certain softness and feeling of comfort, as I like this piece to be a place you want to revisit”, says Felbm, real name Eelco Topper.
While Topper’s previous releases on Soundway Records comprised series of short, individual sketches, on cycli infini the tapestry is sewn seamlessly together using a step-like progression through the circle of fifths, which as the name suggests, brings the listener back to the musical key and soundscape at which they started. Should the full track be on repeat, it begins anew without being noticed.
The piece began life with a layer of drone loops using tapes and delay pedals, over which acoustic instruments such as flute, saxophone and bass trumpet would playfully but gently interpret a melody - toying with jazz, ambient, fourth world and percussive sounds. As the music evolves through the key progression, organic elements such as birdsong and wind chimes ground the piece in nature. Says Topper: “the never-ending metamorphosis of matter has always fascinated me, the idea that nothing ever really disappears and everything has already been here… just in different shapes.”
For Fans of:
Laraaji, Basil Kirchin, Gaussian Curve, Young Marco, Greg Foat, Bibio, KPM library records
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More records from Soundway Records
1
Pat Bio - Guide Us Jah
2
Don Bruce - Watiyo
3
Johnny Keslar - Wadada
4
Orits Williki - Fight The Fire
5
Majah Kungu - Wayo Nack In Town
6
Oby Onyioha - Raid Dem Jah
7
Georgy-Gold Owoghiri - Wonderful Holiday
8
B.G. and Fibre - Drunken Driver (Dub)
9
Alphonsus Idigo - Mystic World
10
Sheila & Des Majek - Mother Nature
11
Jan Blast - Reggae Rigmarole
12
Alpha Kuffa - Messiah I
13
Bob Dazzy - Abandon Nation
A collection of fourteen digital reggae, deep roots and dub rarities from the Nigerian underground, spotlighting a time when Jamaican reggae entwined with Nigerian styles, politics and consciousness, creating a bridge between Lagos and Kingston. Fight the Fire is a companion piece to Soundway"s seminal "Doing it in Lagos" and "Nigeria Special" compilations, celebrating the innovation and musical experimentation of Nigeria in the 80s. Features rare tracks from key figures of the time including Oby Onyioha (with a crucial Burning Spear cover) and Orits Williki.
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Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Roland Brival - Créole Gypsy
2
Roland Brival - ABCD
3
Roland Brival - Tan Jou Mab
4
Roland Brival - Tunji
5
Roland Brival - Chaj Mile-a
6
Roland Brival - Just For You (Eden)
Soundway presents a forgotten piece in the jigsaw puzzle of Caribbean music - a seminal work of Pan-Caribbean Spiritual Jazz. Recorded in Martinique in 1980, Roland Brival"s visionary fusion of spiritual Caribbean jazz, poetry and Creole consciousness flows through Rhodes, saxophone and traditional percussion. Recorded with a group of Martinique"s top musicians, and combining the bèlè and carnival percussion traditions of the island with free flowing saxophone, rhodes flourishes and languorous bass, the album was rejected by Roland"s label of the time, and was ultimately self released in miniscule quantities to a small local audience. Themes of créole identity and colonial injustice combined with universal ideas of love and longing sung in Créole, English and French sound like an Antillean answer to Gary Bartz and Jon Lucien, underpinned with the insistent rhythms of the ti bois percussion. Long unheralded in the English-speaking world, Créole Gypsy is a key piece of the jigsaw of Caribbean music.
Selling Points:
-Musician, poet and painter Roland Brival’s 1980 album is a lost classic of Caribbean spiritual jazz.
-Recorded with a group of Martinique’s top musicians.
-Combining the bèlè percussion traditions of the island with free flowing saxophone, rhodes flourishes and languorous bass.
-Long unheralded in the English-speaking world, Créole Gypsy is a key piece of the jigsaw of Caribbean music.
-Newly remastered and presented in a luxury flipback sleeve.
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Selling Points:
-Musician, poet and painter Roland Brival’s 1980 album is a lost classic of Caribbean spiritual jazz.
-Recorded with a group of Martinique’s top musicians.
-Combining the bèlè percussion traditions of the island with free flowing saxophone, rhodes flourishes and languorous bass.
-Long unheralded in the English-speaking world, Créole Gypsy is a key piece of the jigsaw of Caribbean music.
-Newly remastered and presented in a luxury flipback sleeve.
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
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1
Marco Bosco x Alter Disco - Ferro
2
Marco Bosco x Alter Disco - Mata
3
Marco Bosco x Alter Disco - Pau
4
Marco Bosco x Alter Disco - Camila
5
Marco Bosco x Alter Disco - Pedra
6
Marco Bosco x Alter Disco - Vento
Modern flip of Marco Bosco's classic, Metalmadeira
"In 1983, Grammy-winning Brazilian percussionist Marco Bosco released Metalmadeira — a groundbreaking fusion of hand-built percussion, early drum machines, and lush synth textures. Four decades later, celebrated Curitiba-based collective Alter Disco (Bárbara Boeing, Phil Mill, De Sena) reimagine the album for today’s dancefloors.
Working from the original stereo recordings (the master tapes long since damaged), Alter Disco preserved the organic feel of Bosco’s unquantized rhythms while infusing them with deep, modern grooves. The result is a cross-generational dialogue between Brazil’s early electronic avant-garde and contemporary club culture.
Highlights include Pedra, pulsing at 130 BPM with a vintage vocoder line nodding to Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins, and Camila, which wraps Bosco’s sharp percussion in atmospheric synths and hypnotic beats.
Metalmadeira II is raw yet refined — live instrumentation and electronic production in perfect balance, blurring the line between archive and innovation.
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"In 1983, Grammy-winning Brazilian percussionist Marco Bosco released Metalmadeira — a groundbreaking fusion of hand-built percussion, early drum machines, and lush synth textures. Four decades later, celebrated Curitiba-based collective Alter Disco (Bárbara Boeing, Phil Mill, De Sena) reimagine the album for today’s dancefloors.
Working from the original stereo recordings (the master tapes long since damaged), Alter Disco preserved the organic feel of Bosco’s unquantized rhythms while infusing them with deep, modern grooves. The result is a cross-generational dialogue between Brazil’s early electronic avant-garde and contemporary club culture.
Highlights include Pedra, pulsing at 130 BPM with a vintage vocoder line nodding to Detroit techno pioneer Juan Atkins, and Camila, which wraps Bosco’s sharp percussion in atmospheric synths and hypnotic beats.
Metalmadeira II is raw yet refined — live instrumentation and electronic production in perfect balance, blurring the line between archive and innovation.
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Germany
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1
The Ogyatanaa Show Band - You Monopolise Me
2
Honny and The Bees Band - Sisi Mbon
3
The Wellis Band - Bindiga
4
The Uhuru Dance Band - Yahia Mu
5
Sawaaba Soundz - Owuo
6
St. Peter and The Holy Men - Bofoo Beye Abowa Den
7
Asaase Ase ft. Ebo Taylor - Ohiani Sua Efir
8
Hedzoleh Soundz - Edinya Benya
9
Honny and The Bees Band - Psychedelic Woman
10
The Blackstar Sound - Nite Safari
Seminal sounds from the golden age of Ghanaian music. Highlife, rock, and soul collide and merge with tradition and culture. New styles meet old styles. A new generation renews old musical customs. New fashions meet old fashions, creating new fusions. Features rare tracks from Hedzoleh Soundz, Ogyatanaa Show Band, Honny & the Bees and early Ebo Taylor (Asaasa Sa). These tracks were originally available on vanishingly rare 70s pressings, then a highly collectible 5LP box set released in 2009.
This special vinyl edition is produced in conjunction with the James Barnor archive, featuring a previously unpublished 1976 photo from the archive of Ghana's most famous photographer
Comes with Obi-strip.
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This special vinyl edition is produced in conjunction with the James Barnor archive, featuring a previously unpublished 1976 photo from the archive of Ghana's most famous photographer
Comes with Obi-strip.
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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1
The Circling Sun - Constellation
2
The Circling Sun - Mizu
3
The Circling Sun - Sekl
4
The Circling Sun - Amina
5
The Circling Sun - Flying
6
The Circling Sun - Teeth
7
The Circling Sun - Evening
Black Vinyl! Repress!
Orbits, the sophomore LP from The Circling Sun, channels the cosmic energy of '70s spiritual jazz, filtered through synths, layered percussion, and ethereal choirs. The Aotearoa collective expand their sonic universe with nods to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Azymuth, and ambient jazz — offering deep listening for jazz heads and newcomers alike.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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Orbits, the sophomore LP from The Circling Sun, channels the cosmic energy of '70s spiritual jazz, filtered through synths, layered percussion, and ethereal choirs. The Aotearoa collective expand their sonic universe with nods to Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Azymuth, and ambient jazz — offering deep listening for jazz heads and newcomers alike.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Keyenkyen Bi Adi M'awu
2
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Gyae Mensu
3
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Yaw Barimah
4
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Susu Ne Won Nka
5
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Baabi A Obi Awuo
6
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Afe Nkyere Ba
7
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Obi Nnim
8
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Ko Foridua Nsuo
Seminal album from cult Ghanaian musician Alhaji K. Frimpong, recorded in 1976 and considered to be one of the best highlife albums ever recorded.
The Blue Album brings new arrangements to traditional Ghanaian melodies and features the masterpiece Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu (come back my love) - universally known in Ghana, covered and sampled by artists such as Chronnix, Gnarls Barkley and many more.
Backed by Vis a Vis - one of the most influential bands to come out of the Ghana Highlife / Afro Rock movement.
Although popular in Ghana at the time of the release, the albums were never distributed internationally and originalcopies of the album are extremely rare. The albums got a limited reissue in 2011 and have been unavailable since - even reissue copies sell for high prices on the second hand market
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The Blue Album brings new arrangements to traditional Ghanaian melodies and features the masterpiece Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu (come back my love) - universally known in Ghana, covered and sampled by artists such as Chronnix, Gnarls Barkley and many more.
Backed by Vis a Vis - one of the most influential bands to come out of the Ghana Highlife / Afro Rock movement.
Although popular in Ghana at the time of the release, the albums were never distributed internationally and originalcopies of the album are extremely rare. The albums got a limited reissue in 2011 and have been unavailable since - even reissue copies sell for high prices on the second hand market
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1
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena
2
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Asase Si Yo
3
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Awisia
4
K. Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas - Adam Nana
Seminal album from cult Ghanaian musician Alhaji K. Frimpong, recorded in 1977 and considered to be one of the best highlife albums ever recorded.
The Black Album expands the electronic elements and features the equally visionary Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena, although the real gem is hiding on the B side: the extended groove of “Adam Nana”. Sinuously evolving guitar lines, clavinet vamps, harmonised vocal snatches and otherworldly percussion expand and contract over a full quarter of an hour - a Ghanaian repost to the Afro Jazz experiments going on at the same time on the other side of the Atlantic.
Although popular in Ghana at the time of the release, the albums were never distributed internationally and original copies of the album are extremely rare. The albums got a limited reissue in 2011 and have been unavailable since - even reissue copies sell for high prices on the second hand market.
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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The Black Album expands the electronic elements and features the equally visionary Hwehwe Mu Na Yi Wo Mpena, although the real gem is hiding on the B side: the extended groove of “Adam Nana”. Sinuously evolving guitar lines, clavinet vamps, harmonised vocal snatches and otherworldly percussion expand and contract over a full quarter of an hour - a Ghanaian repost to the Afro Jazz experiments going on at the same time on the other side of the Atlantic.
Although popular in Ghana at the time of the release, the albums were never distributed internationally and original copies of the album are extremely rare. The albums got a limited reissue in 2011 and have been unavailable since - even reissue copies sell for high prices on the second hand market.
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1
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Got To Be Me
2
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Love Love
3
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Jam I
4
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Disco Life
5
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Too Hot
6
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Let's Get High
7
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Jam II
8
Rick Asikpo & Afro Fusion - Noin’ U
Mythical soul/boogie record recorded in Louisiana by Nigerian multi instrumentalist Rick Asikpo when he was studying in Houston.
Rick Asikpo started his musical career while studying in Houston, joining local Black Artist collective The People’s Workshop, before returning to Nigeria and releasing a run of successful albums throughout the 80s.
“Got To Be Me” was recorded at River City Studio in Baton Rouge in 1981 but was only released back in Nigeria and sold little at the time, with original copies vanishingly hard to find.
Layers of synths wash over drawn out, Earth, Wind and Fire inspired grooves, moving from the uptempo “Disco Life” and “Jam” to the languid boogie and two step soul of “Love” and Donny Hathaway-esque “Let’s Get High”. The album is shot through a Texan/Nigerian filter that stands as a missing link between the dancefloor experiments of Houston and Lagos
As featured on Soundway’s seminal “Doing It In Lagos” compilation
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Rick Asikpo started his musical career while studying in Houston, joining local Black Artist collective The People’s Workshop, before returning to Nigeria and releasing a run of successful albums throughout the 80s.
“Got To Be Me” was recorded at River City Studio in Baton Rouge in 1981 but was only released back in Nigeria and sold little at the time, with original copies vanishingly hard to find.
Layers of synths wash over drawn out, Earth, Wind and Fire inspired grooves, moving from the uptempo “Disco Life” and “Jam” to the languid boogie and two step soul of “Love” and Donny Hathaway-esque “Let’s Get High”. The album is shot through a Texan/Nigerian filter that stands as a missing link between the dancefloor experiments of Houston and Lagos
As featured on Soundway’s seminal “Doing It In Lagos” compilation
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Label:Soundway Records
Cat-No:SNDWLP183
Release-Date:09.05.2025
Genre:Electronic, Electronica
Configuration:LP
Label:Soundway Records
Cat-No:SNDWLP183
Release-Date:09.05.2025
Genre:Electronic, Electronica
Configuration:LP
1
Ransum Records - Soca Panda Riddim
2
Viral Riddims - Smash Or Pass Riddim
3
Shazdown Mmw - Bouyon Beam Riddim
4
DJ Demafidem - On Di Road Riddim
5
G6 Productions - 2 Stroke Riddim
6
Bad Sound, DJ Marfox - Both Twanche Riddim Refix
7
Veaygel Productions - Dirty Lows Riddim
8
Krome Productions - Tic Tac Toe Riddim
9
LMT Mafia - DAF Riddim
10
Viral Riddims - Heat Wave Riddim
11
Veaygel Productions - Fire Ball Riddim
12
Slaughter Arts Media - Bad Weather Riddim (part 2)
13
Ransum Records - Walk It Riddim
14
ScarnX - Midnight Fever Riddim
New Generation Carnival Riddims from St. Lucia and Dominica
A hurricane of turbo-charged, body-buzzing tracks collide on Road Fever, a compilation of razor-produced, road-tested instrumental riddims from St. Lucia, Dominica & Guadeloupe that showcases the producers forging the future of Caribbean music in 2025.
Road Fever draws together instrumental Dennery Segment and Bouyon riddims originally made for vocalists, presented for the first time as stand alone pieces of music. Distilling carnival riddims down to the bare bones, producers push minimal 150+ bpms, FL-percussion packs, DJ/vox samples & synth riffs, bridging trap, drill, dancehall, sped-up Haitian konpa & Angolan kuduro
Ricocheting at the intersection of TikTok culture, best heard blasted through walls of speakers travelled by stage-sized carnival trucks or via bluetooth car speakers, St.Lucia’s ‘Dennery Segment’ sound, (as iconic producer, G6 described in an interview), “sparks your inside; a sound you can’t hear and not move”.
Amsterdam-based, Curaçao-raised compiler Rozaly echoes G6: “Once you hear it, you can’t unhear or unfeel it. This is a musical movement with an entire history with so many relevant reasons why it still exists, and why it exists the way it exists right now”. Rozaly concludes, “there is nothing more simple, let the artists speak.”
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A hurricane of turbo-charged, body-buzzing tracks collide on Road Fever, a compilation of razor-produced, road-tested instrumental riddims from St. Lucia, Dominica & Guadeloupe that showcases the producers forging the future of Caribbean music in 2025.
Road Fever draws together instrumental Dennery Segment and Bouyon riddims originally made for vocalists, presented for the first time as stand alone pieces of music. Distilling carnival riddims down to the bare bones, producers push minimal 150+ bpms, FL-percussion packs, DJ/vox samples & synth riffs, bridging trap, drill, dancehall, sped-up Haitian konpa & Angolan kuduro
Ricocheting at the intersection of TikTok culture, best heard blasted through walls of speakers travelled by stage-sized carnival trucks or via bluetooth car speakers, St.Lucia’s ‘Dennery Segment’ sound, (as iconic producer, G6 described in an interview), “sparks your inside; a sound you can’t hear and not move”.
Amsterdam-based, Curaçao-raised compiler Rozaly echoes G6: “Once you hear it, you can’t unhear or unfeel it. This is a musical movement with an entire history with so many relevant reasons why it still exists, and why it exists the way it exists right now”. Rozaly concludes, “there is nothing more simple, let the artists speak.”
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1
Ozzobia - Ndi Oma
2
Sammy Obot - Edue Ukot Akpa Itong
3
Eppi Fanio - Farofa Dancer
4
Etiene T. Boy - Jealousy
5
Pal Sagie - Esan
6
Ayo Manuel - Do Good (Dub)
7
Chimex G. Udensity And His Afrikan Band - Okpoko Na Azo Eze
8
I.S.C.A.C. Band - Igbo Nwe Egwu
9
Jeje - Jeje
10
Dizzy K - Omoge
11
Blackman Akeeb Kareem - Oya A (Eje Kajo)
12
Mannix Okonkwo - Ka Nyi Gbaa Egwu
13
Jimi Solanke - Owo Orisa - Ancestral Respects
14
Feladey - Experience
15
Soki Ohale - Wumaya Awuma
16
Jap Band & Feladey - Japadodo
17
Sonny Okosun - Highlife (Dub)
18
B.G. and Fibre - (G#) Thanks And Praises
19
Wura Fadaka Band - Eyo
Soundway Records presents a collection of Nigerian music chronicling a time when drum machines, synthesisers, imported pop, reggae, disco and soul collided with highlife, juju and cultural music.
The late 70s saw a period of political turbulence and prompted change across the country. Following suit, musicians and producers entered a period of experimentation, adaptation, modification and innovation, using new technology to renew and refresh cultural traditions. Nigerians formed their own unique approach to the limitless creativity these new instruments offered, to reveal a distinct sound which would dominate local airwaves for the decade to come. Nigeria Special Volume 3 celebrates the rich diversity of culture and musical styles of the nation, showcasing eighteen tracks across various genres which laid foundations for the innovation of Afrobeats artists of today.
Triple Vinyl gatefold LP compiled by Miles Cleret and Jeremy Spellacey, includes a large 8 page booklet with detailed liner notes, record scans and never-seen-before photos.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
The late 70s saw a period of political turbulence and prompted change across the country. Following suit, musicians and producers entered a period of experimentation, adaptation, modification and innovation, using new technology to renew and refresh cultural traditions. Nigerians formed their own unique approach to the limitless creativity these new instruments offered, to reveal a distinct sound which would dominate local airwaves for the decade to come. Nigeria Special Volume 3 celebrates the rich diversity of culture and musical styles of the nation, showcasing eighteen tracks across various genres which laid foundations for the innovation of Afrobeats artists of today.
Triple Vinyl gatefold LP compiled by Miles Cleret and Jeremy Spellacey, includes a large 8 page booklet with detailed liner notes, record scans and never-seen-before photos.
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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Fatimah Razak - Dahaga
2
Black Brothers - Mangge Mangge
3
Marini & The Steps - Kuingin Dekatmu
4
Tian Niu - Deng Ni Zai Yu Zhong
5
The Rollies - Disco
6
Regalado - Pinoy Funk
7
John Philips & The Steps - Ayo Ke Disco
8
Aria Yunior - Salah Tingkah
9
Ahmadi Hassan - Habibi (Mari Bersatu)
10
Pongsri Woranuch - Aew...Phu Chai
Soundway Records delivers an exciting new compilation, diving ever deeper into South-East Asia. Ayo Ke Disco celebrates the musical identities emerging during the 1970s and 80s from the newly independent countries nestled around the South China Sea.
This time, Soundway’s long-time general manager Alice Whittington (aka DJ Norsicaa) steps into the limelight, embracing her Malaysian heritage and selecting music from her heavy collection of Asian records. Aside from steering the label, she is often found on international stages and radio stations playing an eclectic array of music.
For Ayo Ke Disco (meaning ‘Let’s go to the disco’ in Indonesian), 10 rare tracks of disco-funk, psychedelic funk, synth, city pop, and Hindustani-Arabic rhythms were painstakingly licensed from local labels – forming a snapshot of the vibrant discotheques and live scenes across Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
The vinyl release is also accompanied by the Ayo Ke Disco zine from Norsicaa, with extensive research on the history of music in South-East Asia, archival photos and exclusive interviews with some of the region’s most respected collectors.
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Germany
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This time, Soundway’s long-time general manager Alice Whittington (aka DJ Norsicaa) steps into the limelight, embracing her Malaysian heritage and selecting music from her heavy collection of Asian records. Aside from steering the label, she is often found on international stages and radio stations playing an eclectic array of music.
For Ayo Ke Disco (meaning ‘Let’s go to the disco’ in Indonesian), 10 rare tracks of disco-funk, psychedelic funk, synth, city pop, and Hindustani-Arabic rhythms were painstakingly licensed from local labels – forming a snapshot of the vibrant discotheques and live scenes across Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
The vinyl release is also accompanied by the Ayo Ke Disco zine from Norsicaa, with extensive research on the history of music in South-East Asia, archival photos and exclusive interviews with some of the region’s most respected collectors.
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Germany
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1
Dar Disku - Leil
2
Dar Disku - Alsutur Ft. FLANAH
3
Dar Disku - Sabir Ft. Billur Battal
4
Dar Disku - Ddayli Ft. Yacine El Khaldi
5
Dar Disku - Baar Baar Ft. Asha Puthli
6
Dar Disku - Ya Nas
7
Dar Disku - Galbi Ft. Aymen Attia
8
Dar Disku - Fajr
Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH275gX4auQ
The debut album from Bahraini-born, British-based musical duo Dar Disku is a celebration of their Arabic heritage and multicultural influences that melds golden age West Asian and North African sounds with a contemporary dance floor focus. Recorded between the UK, Algeria, Turkey and Tunisia, the album seamlessly crosses from disco to Raï, piano house to Turkish psychedelia, ambient to Bollywood and features guest artists from Algeria, Turkey and Bahrain as well as legendary Indian singer Asha Puthli.
Dar Disku is the innovative duo of Mazen Almaskati and Vish M, known for their dynamic DJ sets and eclectic mixes, into which they bring a deep-rooted passion for the rich musical traditions of the SWANA region (South West Asia and North Africa).
The self-titled album is a culmination of years of learning, listening, and creating. It serves as a transportive portal into the duo's expansive world beyond the dance floor, capturing the cosmic emotions of cinema through a meticulous analog approach to live recordings. It channels a wide range of influences, including Egyptian folk, Turkish psych, Algerian rai, Sudanese funk, Ethiopian jazz, and Khaleeji disco.
“Sonically we have tried to capture what time traveling with Dar Disku through our different influences would feel like,” they say of their recording process, “and although inspired directly some of our favourite hidden gems from the past, the sound of this record remains unmistakably rooted in our present day where current influences from electronic genres, hip hop, jazz and psychedelia also shine through.”
The pair explain that they learnt much of this through their own previously released edits of middle eastern music “which inspired us to create our own brand new original songs that draw from a similar breath. We've been able to combine this with our contemporary inspirations and bring to life something that is comfortingly nostalgic and yet refreshingly new.”
Vish and Maz have put immense effort into researching the songwriting and recording methods of the decades they draw inspiration from - utilising vintage consoles, analog synthesisers, and carefully crafted sonic spaces. This dedication is evident in every track, which combines their contemporary influences with the rich musical traditions of the region to create something that feels both timeless and innovative.
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Germany
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The debut album from Bahraini-born, British-based musical duo Dar Disku is a celebration of their Arabic heritage and multicultural influences that melds golden age West Asian and North African sounds with a contemporary dance floor focus. Recorded between the UK, Algeria, Turkey and Tunisia, the album seamlessly crosses from disco to Raï, piano house to Turkish psychedelia, ambient to Bollywood and features guest artists from Algeria, Turkey and Bahrain as well as legendary Indian singer Asha Puthli.
Dar Disku is the innovative duo of Mazen Almaskati and Vish M, known for their dynamic DJ sets and eclectic mixes, into which they bring a deep-rooted passion for the rich musical traditions of the SWANA region (South West Asia and North Africa).
The self-titled album is a culmination of years of learning, listening, and creating. It serves as a transportive portal into the duo's expansive world beyond the dance floor, capturing the cosmic emotions of cinema through a meticulous analog approach to live recordings. It channels a wide range of influences, including Egyptian folk, Turkish psych, Algerian rai, Sudanese funk, Ethiopian jazz, and Khaleeji disco.
“Sonically we have tried to capture what time traveling with Dar Disku through our different influences would feel like,” they say of their recording process, “and although inspired directly some of our favourite hidden gems from the past, the sound of this record remains unmistakably rooted in our present day where current influences from electronic genres, hip hop, jazz and psychedelia also shine through.”
The pair explain that they learnt much of this through their own previously released edits of middle eastern music “which inspired us to create our own brand new original songs that draw from a similar breath. We've been able to combine this with our contemporary inspirations and bring to life something that is comfortingly nostalgic and yet refreshingly new.”
Vish and Maz have put immense effort into researching the songwriting and recording methods of the decades they draw inspiration from - utilising vintage consoles, analog synthesisers, and carefully crafted sonic spaces. This dedication is evident in every track, which combines their contemporary influences with the rich musical traditions of the region to create something that feels both timeless and innovative.
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Germany
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Following on from his previous debut album Tape 1/Tape 2 on Soundway, Felbm delivers Tape 3/Tape 4: an intimate, emotional, lilting and melodic solo project. These 14 lo-fi, instrumental, jazz-infused sketches were written on guitar, with cascading keyboards, vibraphone and drum machine. Possessing a restorative and soothing quality, it goes some way to balancing out a chaotic year for the world at large. With echoes of the dreamier end of 1980s English indie-pop, minimal ambient music and Brazilian bossa-nova, Topper"s musical storybook includes touches of The Durutti Column, hints of Antônio Carlos Jobim and Baden Powell, whilst all set firmly in the summer fields of Germany and the Netherlands. The recording method used for the creation and recording of Tape 3 and Tape 4 follows the same as his previous release: all sketches were initially recorded onto cassette on a 4-track tape machine. Most notably a vibraphone finds its way onto almost every track fitting Topper"s sound-palette perfectly: warm yet distinctive, a percussive as well as sustaining sound that evokes some melancholy and a certain timeless nostalgia. Features that most certainly also apply to the other "new" instrument on the tapes: mellotron flutes. Tape 3/Tape 4 navigates the space between quiet, open, meditative tunes and more solid instrumental works, reflecting his constant search for an optimal balance between stillness and movement.
Tracklist
1.1Filatelie
1.2Tartufai
1.3Tiquetonne
1.4Veluwe
1.5Herausweh
1.6Talmen
1.7Heisei
1.8Brunnengasse
1.9Colorists
1.10Langeweile
1.11Beaufort
1.12Somnambulant
1.13Regtur
1.14Midori
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Tracklist
1.1Filatelie
1.2Tartufai
1.3Tiquetonne
1.4Veluwe
1.5Herausweh
1.6Talmen
1.7Heisei
1.8Brunnengasse
1.9Colorists
1.10Langeweile
1.11Beaufort
1.12Somnambulant
1.13Regtur
1.14Midori
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1
Papillon - Moulongo (Vocal)
2
Papillon - Moulongo (Dub)
3
Papillon - Moulongo (Poirier Dub)
Soundway presents Ferdinand ‘Maréchal’ Papillon’s underground club classic Moulongo - recorded in Paris in 1995 and highlighting the Zouk/dancehall/Makossa crossover sound that was then coming out of the city’s studios. Features a new remix from Canadian producer Poirier for a 2024 bassline zouk mover, cut loud and proud on 12” vinyl.
Ferdinand ‘Maréchal’ Papillon was part of the makossa wave that moved from Cameroon to France and across the African diaspora in the 80s and 90s, bringing the sounds of rhythms of Douala and Yaoundé to the clubs and dancefloors of Paris. Although best known for his Sakissa style - his own uptempo take on the makossa of Cameroon - Papillon also regularly featured zouk and reggae influenced tracks on his albums, combining Caribbean and African influences into a unique sound that has stood the test of time.
‘Moulongo’ originally appeared on Papillon’s highly sought after 1995 album “Homme fort….je suis sérieux” and was recorded at Studio de la Madeleine in Paris. The Moulongo session features a who’s who of the Paris scene of the time - Aladji Touré and Toto Guillaume from Cameroon as well as Congolese guitar greats Ngoma Lokito and Nene Tchacou - and combines dancehall, zouk and makossa elements for a pan-African dancefloor sureshot.
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Germany
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Ferdinand ‘Maréchal’ Papillon was part of the makossa wave that moved from Cameroon to France and across the African diaspora in the 80s and 90s, bringing the sounds of rhythms of Douala and Yaoundé to the clubs and dancefloors of Paris. Although best known for his Sakissa style - his own uptempo take on the makossa of Cameroon - Papillon also regularly featured zouk and reggae influenced tracks on his albums, combining Caribbean and African influences into a unique sound that has stood the test of time.
‘Moulongo’ originally appeared on Papillon’s highly sought after 1995 album “Homme fort….je suis sérieux” and was recorded at Studio de la Madeleine in Paris. The Moulongo session features a who’s who of the Paris scene of the time - Aladji Touré and Toto Guillaume from Cameroon as well as Congolese guitar greats Ngoma Lokito and Nene Tchacou - and combines dancehall, zouk and makossa elements for a pan-African dancefloor sureshot.
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DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
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1
Barbara Hernandez - All Nite Tonight (Vocal)
2
Barbara Hernandez - All Nite Tonight (Version)
Cult soca disco 12”, produced by Leston Paul and originally released in 1984 - now available for the first time in 40 years.
Barbara Hernandez was working as a backing singer for Kool and the Gang in New York at the time the track was recorded, and the session featured their horn section as well as a who’s who of the Trinidad music scene for what would be Barbara’s only solo release. Suffering from poor distribution at the time of release, the 12” failed to make waves at the time but is now lovingly remastered and cut loud, a sure fire dancefloor sure shot.
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Barbara Hernandez was working as a backing singer for Kool and the Gang in New York at the time the track was recorded, and the session featured their horn section as well as a who’s who of the Trinidad music scene for what would be Barbara’s only solo release. Suffering from poor distribution at the time of release, the 12” failed to make waves at the time but is now lovingly remastered and cut loud, a sure fire dancefloor sure shot.
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1
The Godfathers - Ebe Ye Yie Ni
2
Pat Thomas - Gye Wani
3
Pepper, Onion, Ginger & Salt - M.C. Mambo
4
Andy Vans - Adjoa Amisa
5
George Darko - Kaakyire Nua
6
Rex Gyamfi - Obiara Bewu
7
Starlite - Anoma Koro
8
Abdul Raheem - Alaiye
9
Jon K - Asafo
10
Kwasi Afari Minta - Barima Nsu
11
Marijata (feat. Ata Kak) - Otanhunu
12
Gyedu Blay Ambolley - Apple
13
Dadadi - Jigi Jigi
14
Charles Amoah - Fre Me (Call Me)
15
Ernest Honny - New Dance
16
Bessa Simons - Sii Nana
17
Nan Mayen - Mumude
18
Nana Budjei - Asobrachie
In the early 1980s, a particular alchemy between new musical technologies and significant social, cultural, and political transformations in Ghana gave rise to a new style of highlife. Drum machines and synthesisers appeared alongside lilting guitar lines and punchy horns, and the emerging Ghanaian diaspora began incorporating US disco and boogie, R&B, European new wave, and Caribbean zouk and soca into their music.
This style soundtracked the birth of a new, proud Ghanaian identity and captured the idiosyncrasies of a rapidly changing postcolonial society, marked by increased migration and wider access to global sounds and modern technology.
More than 20 years after the release of the heavy funk and Afrobeat-focused Ghana Soundz compilations, and following the success of 2009’s Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981, Soundway is now shining the spotlight on the multifaceted, diasporic sounds of the ‘80s on new compilation Ghana Special - Volume 2, a collection of 18 burger highlife, electronic afrobeat, and reggae tracks.
Though Ghanaian to its very core, burger highlife emerged mostly outside of Ghana and just as the sun was setting on the country’s musical golden age. In the 1960s and 1970s cities such as Accra, Tema, Takoradi, and Cape Coast were home to thriving music scenes, and the loud horn sections of the big highlife bands, or the simpler, socially conscious palm wine music ruled the dance halls, locals drinkeries, and airwaves.
Back then music represented a powerful force, and an artist’s endorsement or dissent could make or break a politician. Perhaps to curb this power, the incoming military regime-imposed curfews and substantial import taxes on musical instruments in the early 1980s. These measures, coupled with a profound economic downturn and shifting musical preferences that saw DJs replacing large live bands, served as the final blow to Ghana's once-thriving music scene.
Musicians left Ghana in droves, scattering across West Africa, Europe, and North America. Thanks in part to its more permissive migration policies Germany became the heart of this scene, and the movement in fact takes its name from “Bürger”, the German for “citizen”. Less confined by genres than back in Ghana, artists in the diaspora were quick to engage with the different styles, working disco, boogie, and funk into their highlife melodies. Access to state-of-the-art studios and modern musical technologies also gave birth to all sorts of mutations: burger highlife in fact is less defined by one particular sound, than by the experimental approach and global outlook of its artists.
Tracks such as Ernest Honny’s experimental cut “New Dance” are an example of just how far artists strayed from original highlife arrangements. Honny, who started his career as a keyboard player with Dr K Gyasi’s band The Noble Kings, had moved to Benin in the 1980s, where he experimented with synthesisers and drum machines at one of Cotonou’s top studios. Similarly, Nan Mayen’s “Mumude” is a slick, 80’s pop track which was recorded in Germany, with only a slight echo of highlife in its opening Fanti lyrics.
This generation of artists found inspiration in sounds that transcended geographical boundaries: singer and guitarist Nana Budjei, who was originally from central Ghana but had moved to the UK in the 1980s, says that his radiant, sun-drenched 1988 track “Asobrachie” is “influenced by reggae maestros Bob Marley and Alpha Blondy, and traditional Akan folklore music”; on “Jigi Jigi”, the Kumasi-born, Sweden transplant Delips Apo draws on soca, latin, and zouk influences.
Throughout the 1980s Ghanaian artists kept producing increasingly innovative and experimental hybrids, winning over new audiences abroad. Though back in Ghana the new sound was initially met with disapproval by purists, it slowly became a symbol of a new, worldly and modern Ghanaian identity. The creativity and open mindedness that characterised burger highlife have gone on to shape the evolution of Ghanaian music since, giving artists the freedom to explore new global sounds while preserving a proudly Ghanaian soul. Ghana Special - Volume 2 stands as a vibrant tribute to the lasting legacy of this groundbreaking musical era.
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Germany
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This style soundtracked the birth of a new, proud Ghanaian identity and captured the idiosyncrasies of a rapidly changing postcolonial society, marked by increased migration and wider access to global sounds and modern technology.
More than 20 years after the release of the heavy funk and Afrobeat-focused Ghana Soundz compilations, and following the success of 2009’s Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds & Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981, Soundway is now shining the spotlight on the multifaceted, diasporic sounds of the ‘80s on new compilation Ghana Special - Volume 2, a collection of 18 burger highlife, electronic afrobeat, and reggae tracks.
Though Ghanaian to its very core, burger highlife emerged mostly outside of Ghana and just as the sun was setting on the country’s musical golden age. In the 1960s and 1970s cities such as Accra, Tema, Takoradi, and Cape Coast were home to thriving music scenes, and the loud horn sections of the big highlife bands, or the simpler, socially conscious palm wine music ruled the dance halls, locals drinkeries, and airwaves.
Back then music represented a powerful force, and an artist’s endorsement or dissent could make or break a politician. Perhaps to curb this power, the incoming military regime-imposed curfews and substantial import taxes on musical instruments in the early 1980s. These measures, coupled with a profound economic downturn and shifting musical preferences that saw DJs replacing large live bands, served as the final blow to Ghana's once-thriving music scene.
Musicians left Ghana in droves, scattering across West Africa, Europe, and North America. Thanks in part to its more permissive migration policies Germany became the heart of this scene, and the movement in fact takes its name from “Bürger”, the German for “citizen”. Less confined by genres than back in Ghana, artists in the diaspora were quick to engage with the different styles, working disco, boogie, and funk into their highlife melodies. Access to state-of-the-art studios and modern musical technologies also gave birth to all sorts of mutations: burger highlife in fact is less defined by one particular sound, than by the experimental approach and global outlook of its artists.
Tracks such as Ernest Honny’s experimental cut “New Dance” are an example of just how far artists strayed from original highlife arrangements. Honny, who started his career as a keyboard player with Dr K Gyasi’s band The Noble Kings, had moved to Benin in the 1980s, where he experimented with synthesisers and drum machines at one of Cotonou’s top studios. Similarly, Nan Mayen’s “Mumude” is a slick, 80’s pop track which was recorded in Germany, with only a slight echo of highlife in its opening Fanti lyrics.
This generation of artists found inspiration in sounds that transcended geographical boundaries: singer and guitarist Nana Budjei, who was originally from central Ghana but had moved to the UK in the 1980s, says that his radiant, sun-drenched 1988 track “Asobrachie” is “influenced by reggae maestros Bob Marley and Alpha Blondy, and traditional Akan folklore music”; on “Jigi Jigi”, the Kumasi-born, Sweden transplant Delips Apo draws on soca, latin, and zouk influences.
Throughout the 1980s Ghanaian artists kept producing increasingly innovative and experimental hybrids, winning over new audiences abroad. Though back in Ghana the new sound was initially met with disapproval by purists, it slowly became a symbol of a new, worldly and modern Ghanaian identity. The creativity and open mindedness that characterised burger highlife have gone on to shape the evolution of Ghanaian music since, giving artists the freedom to explore new global sounds while preserving a proudly Ghanaian soul. Ghana Special - Volume 2 stands as a vibrant tribute to the lasting legacy of this groundbreaking musical era.
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1
Sai Galaxy - Sometimes It Rains (Feat. Kaivili)
2
Sai Galaxy - Okere (Feat. Bade)
3
Sai Galaxy - Rich Man, Poor Man (Feat. ROB)
4
Sai Galaxy - Hold Me Tonight (Feat. Steve Monite)
The star-studded Sai Galaxy project returns, bringing together West African legends Steve Monite and Rob with multi-instrumentalist Simon Durrington, guitar maestro Alfred Bannerman and Egypt 80 trumpet player Bade for a second EP of vital Afro Disco and Soul. The EP follows up 2022’s “Get It As You Move” EP, blending layers of vocal harmonies and synth washes with a rock solid disco base. The sound stays faithful to the analogue production techniques of the 70s and 80s, adding a modern touch informed by Simon Durrington’s Digital Afrika project.
Lead single Hold You Tonight features Nigerian disco icon Steve Monite (best known for his mega hit “Only You”), revisiting his 80s origins with a dancefloor-ready slice of dubby boogie.
Rich Man Poor Man (featuring Ghana’s very own Rob) slows down the tempo and brings the highlife influence to the fore, while Sometimes It Rains brings a neo soul bump with the Omar-esque sound of Fijian vocalist Kaivili.
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Lead single Hold You Tonight features Nigerian disco icon Steve Monite (best known for his mega hit “Only You”), revisiting his 80s origins with a dancefloor-ready slice of dubby boogie.
Rich Man Poor Man (featuring Ghana’s very own Rob) slows down the tempo and brings the highlife influence to the fore, while Sometimes It Rains brings a neo soul bump with the Omar-esque sound of Fijian vocalist Kaivili.
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1
Black Truth Rhythm Band - Ifetayo
2
Black Truth Rhythm Band - You People
3
Black Truth Rhythm Band - Save D Musician
4
Black Truth Rhythm Band - Kilimanjaro
5
Black Truth Rhythm Band - Aspire
6
Black Truth Rhythm Band - Umbala
7
Black Truth Rhythm Band - Imo
Soundway presents a long-awaited remaster and re-cut of the 1976 album ‘Ifetayo’ by Black Truth Rhythm Band, an important and overlooked chapter in Trinidad’s rich musical history that blends West African influences with jazz, funk and the social commentary of the calypso tradition.
Led by the charismatic Oluko Imo (who went on to record with Fela Kuti and perform with members of Fela’s Egypt 80 band ), the group drew on the strong connections to Yoruba culture and Orisa traditions in Trinidad, looking to Africa for inspiration and reflecting the burgeoning Black Power movement of the time.
Recorded at KH studios in Port of Spain, Ifetayo (Yoruba for ‘Love excels all’) was the group’s sole album release. Imo contributed lead vocals and played bass, kalimba, conga, flute and percussion, channelling music from both sides of the Atlantic into a distinctive and unique slice of Afro Trinidadian expression.
Includes bonus track “Imo” not included on the original LP
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Led by the charismatic Oluko Imo (who went on to record with Fela Kuti and perform with members of Fela’s Egypt 80 band ), the group drew on the strong connections to Yoruba culture and Orisa traditions in Trinidad, looking to Africa for inspiration and reflecting the burgeoning Black Power movement of the time.
Recorded at KH studios in Port of Spain, Ifetayo (Yoruba for ‘Love excels all’) was the group’s sole album release. Imo contributed lead vocals and played bass, kalimba, conga, flute and percussion, channelling music from both sides of the Atlantic into a distinctive and unique slice of Afro Trinidadian expression.
Includes bonus track “Imo” not included on the original LP
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Customers who bought this also bought this
Following on from his previous debut album Tape 1/Tape 2 on Soundway, Felbm delivers Tape 3/Tape 4: an intimate, emotional, lilting and melodic solo project. These 14 lo-fi, instrumental, jazz-infused sketches were written on guitar, with cascading keyboards, vibraphone and drum machine. Possessing a restorative and soothing quality, it goes some way to balancing out a chaotic year for the world at large. With echoes of the dreamier end of 1980s English indie-pop, minimal ambient music and Brazilian bossa-nova, Topper"s musical storybook includes touches of The Durutti Column, hints of Antônio Carlos Jobim and Baden Powell, whilst all set firmly in the summer fields of Germany and the Netherlands. The recording method used for the creation and recording of Tape 3 and Tape 4 follows the same as his previous release: all sketches were initially recorded onto cassette on a 4-track tape machine. Most notably a vibraphone finds its way onto almost every track fitting Topper"s sound-palette perfectly: warm yet distinctive, a percussive as well as sustaining sound that evokes some melancholy and a certain timeless nostalgia. Features that most certainly also apply to the other "new" instrument on the tapes: mellotron flutes. Tape 3/Tape 4 navigates the space between quiet, open, meditative tunes and more solid instrumental works, reflecting his constant search for an optimal balance between stillness and movement.
Tracklist
1.1Filatelie
1.2Tartufai
1.3Tiquetonne
1.4Veluwe
1.5Herausweh
1.6Talmen
1.7Heisei
1.8Brunnengasse
1.9Colorists
1.10Langeweile
1.11Beaufort
1.12Somnambulant
1.13Regtur
1.14Midori
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Tracklist
1.1Filatelie
1.2Tartufai
1.3Tiquetonne
1.4Veluwe
1.5Herausweh
1.6Talmen
1.7Heisei
1.8Brunnengasse
1.9Colorists
1.10Langeweile
1.11Beaufort
1.12Somnambulant
1.13Regtur
1.14Midori
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1
Felbm - Cycli Infini
2
Felbm - Cycli Infini
Tracklist:
A: Cycli Infini
B: Cycli Infini
Dutch multi-instrumentalist Felbm returns with the conceptual album ‘cycli infini’ : a 38-minute composition of metamorphosing tape loops, musical patterns and instrumental sketches. Further exploring the concept is the vinyl release which features the track spread over both sides and cut to the end of each locked groove - creating an essentially never-ending piece that challenges the idea of the traditional listening process.
The idea came to fruition by way of a lifelong interest and growing awareness of the cyclical nature of the world around him - be it through observing nature, or the mathematical and mind-bending works of Dutch artist MC Escher, or minimalist composers such as Erik Satie, Laraaji and Melaine Dalibert. “The openness of Laraaji’s and Satie’s music have also been an influence to create a certain softness and feeling of comfort, as I like this piece to be a place you want to revisit”, says Felbm, real name Eelco Topper.
While Topper’s previous releases on Soundway Records comprised series of short, individual sketches, on cycli infini the tapestry is sewn seamlessly together using a step-like progression through the circle of fifths, which as the name suggests, brings the listener back to the musical key and soundscape at which they started. Should the full track be on repeat, it begins anew without being noticed.
The piece began life with a layer of drone loops using tapes and delay pedals, over which acoustic instruments such as flute, saxophone and bass trumpet would playfully but gently interpret a melody - toying with jazz, ambient, fourth world and percussive sounds. As the music evolves through the key progression, organic elements such as birdsong and wind chimes ground the piece in nature. Says Topper: “the never-ending metamorphosis of matter has always fascinated me, the idea that nothing ever really disappears and everything has already been here… just in different shapes.”
For Fans of:
Laraaji, Basil Kirchin, Gaussian Curve, Young Marco, Greg Foat, Bibio, KPM library records
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A: Cycli Infini
B: Cycli Infini
Dutch multi-instrumentalist Felbm returns with the conceptual album ‘cycli infini’ : a 38-minute composition of metamorphosing tape loops, musical patterns and instrumental sketches. Further exploring the concept is the vinyl release which features the track spread over both sides and cut to the end of each locked groove - creating an essentially never-ending piece that challenges the idea of the traditional listening process.
The idea came to fruition by way of a lifelong interest and growing awareness of the cyclical nature of the world around him - be it through observing nature, or the mathematical and mind-bending works of Dutch artist MC Escher, or minimalist composers such as Erik Satie, Laraaji and Melaine Dalibert. “The openness of Laraaji’s and Satie’s music have also been an influence to create a certain softness and feeling of comfort, as I like this piece to be a place you want to revisit”, says Felbm, real name Eelco Topper.
While Topper’s previous releases on Soundway Records comprised series of short, individual sketches, on cycli infini the tapestry is sewn seamlessly together using a step-like progression through the circle of fifths, which as the name suggests, brings the listener back to the musical key and soundscape at which they started. Should the full track be on repeat, it begins anew without being noticed.
The piece began life with a layer of drone loops using tapes and delay pedals, over which acoustic instruments such as flute, saxophone and bass trumpet would playfully but gently interpret a melody - toying with jazz, ambient, fourth world and percussive sounds. As the music evolves through the key progression, organic elements such as birdsong and wind chimes ground the piece in nature. Says Topper: “the never-ending metamorphosis of matter has always fascinated me, the idea that nothing ever really disappears and everything has already been here… just in different shapes.”
For Fans of:
Laraaji, Basil Kirchin, Gaussian Curve, Young Marco, Greg Foat, Bibio, KPM library records
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1
Franck Roger - Part Of My Soul
2
Franck Roger - The Music
3
Franck Roger - Radik'Hall
4
Franck Roger - Cosmic Funk
Parisian producer Franck Roger lands on Nu Groove with Cosmic Tree EP, a four-track outing of deep house perfectly at home on the legendary NYC label. An established DJ, crate digger and label boss of Real Tone Records, Franck is known for his loop-based approach to sound, with his focus on beats earning the respect of house heads and underground selectors worldwide. This latest offering demonstrates his distinct style flawlessly; ‘Part Of My Soul’ features Detroit tastemaker and radio stalwart Rimarkable, showing two trusted authorities at their best as Rimarkable’s vocals, combined with Franck’s production, add a cool downtown feel to the future classic. Franck goes solo for the next three, with ‘The Music’ carrying deep club weight, while ‘Radik’Hall’ brings with it a certain percussive groove as only Franck can. ‘Cosmic Funk’ is a love letter to the genre with synthy basslines, vocoder rhythms and spacey trebles combining in hypnotic bliss, completing this collection of modern deep house excellence with flair.
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Label:Inhale Exhale Records
Cat-No:inex015
Release-Date:22.09.2023
Genre:Deephouse
Configuration:12" Excl
Label:Inhale Exhale Records
Cat-No:inex015
Release-Date:22.09.2023
Genre:Deephouse
Configuration:12" Excl
1
Raoul - Vae Victis (Luvless Remix)
2
Marc Brauner - The Feelings (Tilmans Atmospheric Mix)
3
Max Telaer - Running (Soela Module One Remix)
4
Sebastian Gummersbach - Heads Up High ( Eddie C Remix)
5
Shaka - Overminded (Denyl Brook Remix)
GENRE/S: House, Deep House, Garage, Disco, Funky
TRACKLISTS:
A1. Raoul – Vae Victis (Luvless Remix)
A2. Marc Brauner – The Feelings (Tilmans Atmospheric Mix)
A3. Max Telaer – Running (Soela Module One Remix)
B1. Sebastian Gummersbach – Heads Up High ( Eddie C Remix)
B2. Shaka – Overminded (Denyl Brook Remix)
SHORT INFO:
The second remix EP (015) from Inhale Exhale Records is a compilation for everyone who's into House!
Raouls „Vae Victis“ gets a facelift by Luvless.
Vae Victis 2.0 combines the dreamy oldschool vibes with contemporary twists. Luvless knows, how to do it!
Tilman teaches us how to fly. His Atmospheric Mix of Marc Brauners „The Feeling“ is a 90s shaker and takes you straight to the stars - What a feeling, what a rocket!
The A-Side ends with a solid groover. Soela teams up with her partner in crime Module One. They deliver a classy interpretation of Max Taelers „Running“. You like it deep? - this one is for you!?
On the flip side waits for you Eddie C. He maximized the Funkyness of „Heads Up High“ without losing sight of its origins. King Eddie does royal things!
Last but not least Denyl Brooks interpretation of Shakas „Overminded“ is a peak time dance floor shaper. This belter goes in the ears, stays in the legs - for sure!
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TRACKLISTS:
A1. Raoul – Vae Victis (Luvless Remix)
A2. Marc Brauner – The Feelings (Tilmans Atmospheric Mix)
A3. Max Telaer – Running (Soela Module One Remix)
B1. Sebastian Gummersbach – Heads Up High ( Eddie C Remix)
B2. Shaka – Overminded (Denyl Brook Remix)
SHORT INFO:
The second remix EP (015) from Inhale Exhale Records is a compilation for everyone who's into House!
Raouls „Vae Victis“ gets a facelift by Luvless.
Vae Victis 2.0 combines the dreamy oldschool vibes with contemporary twists. Luvless knows, how to do it!
Tilman teaches us how to fly. His Atmospheric Mix of Marc Brauners „The Feeling“ is a 90s shaker and takes you straight to the stars - What a feeling, what a rocket!
The A-Side ends with a solid groover. Soela teams up with her partner in crime Module One. They deliver a classy interpretation of Max Taelers „Running“. You like it deep? - this one is for you!?
On the flip side waits for you Eddie C. He maximized the Funkyness of „Heads Up High“ without losing sight of its origins. King Eddie does royal things!
Last but not least Denyl Brooks interpretation of Shakas „Overminded“ is a peak time dance floor shaper. This belter goes in the ears, stays in the legs - for sure!
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1
Pepe Maina - The Infinite (Manu Archeo Remix)
2
Roberto Aglieri feat. Stefano Farave - Danza N. 1 (Feel Fly Meditan'Tripp)
3
Radio Band - Radio Rap (Radiomarc Remix)
4
Futuro Antico - Pan Tuning (Mushrooms Project Danza Mix Part 1, 2, 3)
Old, lost, obscure and forgotten gems and a boundless focus on the new Balearic scene for a wider audience of collectors, Dus and music lovers. All releases are limited edition.This release is the first in a series of EPs on which the label's favourite contemporaries pay homage to past masters.
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1
Franck Roger - Deeper
2
Don Swing - Your My Wing
3
Franck Roger - I'm Waitin
4
Franck Roger - Whispers
DJ Support from the full Deep House crew.
Real Tone Classics, a limited-edition vinyl collection featuring four timeless tracks from the legendary Real Tone Records vaults.
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Real Tone Classics, a limited-edition vinyl collection featuring four timeless tracks from the legendary Real Tone Records vaults.
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1
Sweely - Stronger Than Me
2
Sweely - You Don't Really Want Me
3
Sweely - Raw Thoughts
4
Sweely - Acid City
5
Sweely - You Do
Tracklisting:
A1 Sweely - Stronger Than Me
A2 Sweely - You Don't Really Want Me
B1 Sweely - Raw Thoughts
B2 Sweely - Acid City
B3 Sweely - You Do
Sales Note
- repress -
Sweely caps off a massive 2017 with a bumper 5-tracker EP of pure heaters.
Pressed on the classic "LT Records" centres, Nice Archive Traxx Vol. 1 is a lesson in raw, hissing house from the Concrete resident and one of France's finest new talents.
Stronger Than Me has been bothering mixes & radio for a good year now and takes pride of place on the A1. Skipped snares, wailing sax and clear vocal hits slot together around an NY house core. You Don't Really Want Me heats up the production just that bit more on the grill and adds in some serious Chi-town acidic flavour. 303's running riot from the midway.
On the B, Raw Thoughts takes a similarly blown-out production sensibility and drives it straight into laid-back electro territory. Elements of boogie spliced with sultry synth soloing and glacial pad ripples. Ice cream parlour chill jams.
Rounding out the EP are Acid City - a soulful deep house number overrun with grumpy, growling acid lines - and hyper beat-snippet You Do - a breaks-y beat track showcasing the other side of Sweely's enormous talent. Proper dredgin' beats from the raw!
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A1 Sweely - Stronger Than Me
A2 Sweely - You Don't Really Want Me
B1 Sweely - Raw Thoughts
B2 Sweely - Acid City
B3 Sweely - You Do
Sales Note
- repress -
Sweely caps off a massive 2017 with a bumper 5-tracker EP of pure heaters.
Pressed on the classic "LT Records" centres, Nice Archive Traxx Vol. 1 is a lesson in raw, hissing house from the Concrete resident and one of France's finest new talents.
Stronger Than Me has been bothering mixes & radio for a good year now and takes pride of place on the A1. Skipped snares, wailing sax and clear vocal hits slot together around an NY house core. You Don't Really Want Me heats up the production just that bit more on the grill and adds in some serious Chi-town acidic flavour. 303's running riot from the midway.
On the B, Raw Thoughts takes a similarly blown-out production sensibility and drives it straight into laid-back electro territory. Elements of boogie spliced with sultry synth soloing and glacial pad ripples. Ice cream parlour chill jams.
Rounding out the EP are Acid City - a soulful deep house number overrun with grumpy, growling acid lines - and hyper beat-snippet You Do - a breaks-y beat track showcasing the other side of Sweely's enormous talent. Proper dredgin' beats from the raw!
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1
Chlär - Dopamine Rush
2
Chlär - Intrinsic Drive
3
Chlär - For Marco
4
Chlär - Steady Pace
5
Chlär - Greedy Man
Tracklisting:
A1 Chlär - Dopamine Rush
A2 Chlär - Intrinsic Drive
B1 Chlär - For Marco
B2 Chlär - Steady Pace
B3 Chlär - Greedy Man
Sales Note
Mutual Rytm welcome back Swiss DJ/producer Chlär for a bustling, high-octane return as he unveils his latest six-track EP, 'Intrinsic Drive'.
Swiss artist and mastering engineer Chlär's last outing on Mutual Rytm, his 'Optimized Grooves' EP, was a standout success that made an impact far and wide across the techno realm. It was another big step for the fast-rising producer, who is also a dexterous DJ that plays across three and even four decks in the club. A craftsman of sounds, his take on techno is full throttle and has come on labels like Iceland's NIX and Stranger's Self Reflektion imprint. Always looking to improve his sounds, he hits a perfect sweet spot with a fresh and visionary approach across six fresh productions with his 'Intrinsic Drive' EP, again showcasing exemplary creative progression in his ever-impressing production skills.
Up first is 'Dopamine Rush', a quickened techno pumper with synths peeling off the straight-ahead drums and locking you into a state of hypnosis. The title track 'Intrinsic Drive' is a tightly woven mix of drums, hits and bass that never lets up, while the supple rhythm is overlaid with alien sound designs to up the intensity. 'For Marco' takes a heavier path with darkened and more weighty kick drums under eerie synth loops. There is a real swing in the drums of 'Steady Pace' as the crisp hits and vocal fragments all up the ante, before 'Greedy Man' delivers a tough panel beater with skewed synths and an industrial undertone. Digital bonus 'May I Dance?' rounds things out with raw textures and unhinged loops that take you to the heart of a strobe-lit dance floor, shaping up another
mighty fine statement of intent from the ever more vital Swiss native.
Chlär 'Intrinsic Drive' drops via Mutual Rytm on 4th August 2023.
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A1 Chlär - Dopamine Rush
A2 Chlär - Intrinsic Drive
B1 Chlär - For Marco
B2 Chlär - Steady Pace
B3 Chlär - Greedy Man
Sales Note
Mutual Rytm welcome back Swiss DJ/producer Chlär for a bustling, high-octane return as he unveils his latest six-track EP, 'Intrinsic Drive'.
Swiss artist and mastering engineer Chlär's last outing on Mutual Rytm, his 'Optimized Grooves' EP, was a standout success that made an impact far and wide across the techno realm. It was another big step for the fast-rising producer, who is also a dexterous DJ that plays across three and even four decks in the club. A craftsman of sounds, his take on techno is full throttle and has come on labels like Iceland's NIX and Stranger's Self Reflektion imprint. Always looking to improve his sounds, he hits a perfect sweet spot with a fresh and visionary approach across six fresh productions with his 'Intrinsic Drive' EP, again showcasing exemplary creative progression in his ever-impressing production skills.
Up first is 'Dopamine Rush', a quickened techno pumper with synths peeling off the straight-ahead drums and locking you into a state of hypnosis. The title track 'Intrinsic Drive' is a tightly woven mix of drums, hits and bass that never lets up, while the supple rhythm is overlaid with alien sound designs to up the intensity. 'For Marco' takes a heavier path with darkened and more weighty kick drums under eerie synth loops. There is a real swing in the drums of 'Steady Pace' as the crisp hits and vocal fragments all up the ante, before 'Greedy Man' delivers a tough panel beater with skewed synths and an industrial undertone. Digital bonus 'May I Dance?' rounds things out with raw textures and unhinged loops that take you to the heart of a strobe-lit dance floor, shaping up another
mighty fine statement of intent from the ever more vital Swiss native.
Chlär 'Intrinsic Drive' drops via Mutual Rytm on 4th August 2023.
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Endlessness is a deep dive into the cycle of existence. The 45-minute album delicately spans 10 tracks with a continuous arpeggio playing throughout, creating an expansive, mesmerising celebration of life cycles and rebirth. Following Sinephro’s critically acclaimed 2021 debut album Space 1.8, Endlessness further elevates her as a transcendent and multi-dimensional composer, beautifully morphing jazz, orchestral, and electronic music.
The album was composed, produced, arranged, and engineered by Sinephro. Performing on the album are Sheila Maurice-Grey, Morgan Simpson, James Mollison, Lyle Barton, Nubya Garcia, Natcyet Wakili, and Dwayne Kilvington, joined by Orchestrate’s 21 string players.
The album will be available on black 2LP vinyl with d-side etching as well as CD.
- Specs Black 2LP vinyl with etching to d-side in printed inner sleeves in 5mm spine sleeve. Housed in PVC wallet with flap.
Tracklist:
A1. Continuum 1
A2. Continuum 2
B1. Continuum 3
B2. Continuum 4
B3. Continuum 5
B4. Continuum 6
B5. Continuum 7
B6. Continuum 8
C1. Continuum 9
C2. Continuum 10
Praise for Space 1.8:
"An ambient jazz classic" - The Guardian
"A benchmark in ambient jazz featuring outstanding players and delicately woven arrangements." - 8.3 ‘Best New Music’ Pitchfork
"Music so vast could feel lonely, but the sense of smallness one feels listening to Nala’s music is humbling and reassuring; the magnitudes of beauty we can create are unbound." - Jazzwise
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The album was composed, produced, arranged, and engineered by Sinephro. Performing on the album are Sheila Maurice-Grey, Morgan Simpson, James Mollison, Lyle Barton, Nubya Garcia, Natcyet Wakili, and Dwayne Kilvington, joined by Orchestrate’s 21 string players.
The album will be available on black 2LP vinyl with d-side etching as well as CD.
- Specs Black 2LP vinyl with etching to d-side in printed inner sleeves in 5mm spine sleeve. Housed in PVC wallet with flap.
Tracklist:
A1. Continuum 1
A2. Continuum 2
B1. Continuum 3
B2. Continuum 4
B3. Continuum 5
B4. Continuum 6
B5. Continuum 7
B6. Continuum 8
C1. Continuum 9
C2. Continuum 10
Praise for Space 1.8:
"An ambient jazz classic" - The Guardian
"A benchmark in ambient jazz featuring outstanding players and delicately woven arrangements." - 8.3 ‘Best New Music’ Pitchfork
"Music so vast could feel lonely, but the sense of smallness one feels listening to Nala’s music is humbling and reassuring; the magnitudes of beauty we can create are unbound." - Jazzwise
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1
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - A1 : Flying High (3:35)
2
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - A2 : Going Home (2:46)
3
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - A3 : Walking In The Dark (4:42)
4
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - A4 : Fighting For Life (3:37)
5
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - A5 : Feeling Tense (4:05)
6
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - B1 : Running Fast (4:42)
7
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - B2 : Loving Tenderly (3:27)
8
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - B3 : Fearing Much (3:35)
9
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - B4 : Being Friendly (2:54)
10
Jay Richford and Gary Stevan - B5 : Having Fun (4:00)
2025 repress
Format Notes: 140g vinyl, remastered from the original tapes
Territories:
Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Flying High (3:35)
A2 : Going Home (2:46)
A3 : Walking In The Dark (4:42)
A4 : Fighting For Life (3:37)
A5 : Feeling Tense (4:05)
B1 : Running Fast (4:42)
B2 : Loving Tenderly (3:27)
B3 : Fearing Much (3:35)
B4 : Being Friendly (2:54)
B5 : Having Fun (4:00)
Release Notes:
More than once Jay Richford and Gary Stevan’s Feelings has been described as the greatest library record ever released. Of course Be With can’t be seen to be playing favourites, but we have to admit, it’s pretty good. Insanely rare and immensely sought-after, it’s a tough funk, street jazz masterpiece coveted for many years by collectors of all musical genres.
Since its original release on Italian label Carosello in 1974, Feelings has appeared on several labels with different sleeves and even under a different artist. Indeed cult library label Conroy put it out in one of their iconic red sleeves in 1976 and yes, Feelings has indeed had more than one modern re-issue since these “original” releases. But a record this special deserves to be kept in press and we think it deserves the Be With treatment.
No, Jay Richford and Gary Stevan aren’t two of the most Italian sounding names. As the story goes these were the pseudonyms adopted by Stefano Torossi and Giancarlo Gazzani who wrote the album but couldn’t use their real names on the original release for legal reasons. But Stefano Torossi himself later both clarified and confused the tale further by explaining that Feelings was the work of four people not just Gazzani and himself. Fellow composers and musicians Sandro Brugnolini and Puccio Roelens also worked on the album and as Torossi himself explained “we all worked together”, with all four gents “dividing the royalties in equal parts… that’s the story.” Right, so, with that all sorted out let’s get back to talking about the music. And what music it is.
Long hailed as a holy grail of library music, Feelings is the epitome of the sort of cinematic orchestral jazzy funk that is “that 70s library music sound”. Infectiously funky, deliciously melodic and with impeccible, elegant production, this record is the showcase for a stunning set of compositions and arrangements and with performances that are nothing short of virtuoso.
The record’s first side lifts off with “Flying High”, soaring brilliant and shimmering. Funk licks, menacing strings and swaggering horns combine for an ice-cold intro groove that Isaac Hayes would surely have envied, before the steady-paced drums deliver the slo-mo TKO. The string-drenched cop-funk of “Going Home” raises the tempo. All funky quick-fire bass lines and killer electric guitar soloing. A real thriller.
“Walking In The Dark” positively drips in blaxploitation-funk drama strings and horn struts, all laced with delicate drums, velvet piano and more filthy wah-wah. “Fighting For Life” is another funk-fuelled workout built around an effortlessly relentless drum track that refuses to give up until even the stiffest-necked head is nodding.
The loping, open drum break that guides the much-loved “Feeling Tense” through its early stages would be good enough on its own. The heavy bass gloss, swirling strings and ominous horns that follow take things to the next level.
The second side opens with another favourite “Running Fast”, and the track does precisely that. This is one fine rollicking chase theme underpinned by frenetic (yet funky) Fender Rhodes and skipping bass and drums. Those sweeping strings are a gorgeous extra. It’s a deliciously feel-good groove that sets the heart racing.
“Loving Tenderly” envelops us in warm, velvety night-time vibes with easy listening horns and slinky strings dialing up the seduction. Definitely one for the lithe lovers out there. The pace picks up on the electrifying “Fearing Much” where strings dart around deep bass, buzzing guitars and another funky drum break. The lush, melancholic “Being Friendly” is another easy beauty, all warm Rhodes and strings. Majestic stuff that puts an aural arm around you. The climactic “Having Fun” rides a pulsating, bass-heavy drum break with snatches of a funky guitar refrain, some luxurious keys, sweeping strings and triumphant horns. Sensational.
“Feelings” is a profoundly appropriate title for such an emotionally funky and genuinely affecting record. Groove-laden bass, irrepressible horns, sweet flute lines, warm Rhodes, lush string arrangements, blaxploitation-styled wah-wah guitars and so, so much more make this one of the finest instrumental soul LPs of the 70s, if not of all time.
The audio for this re-issue of Feelings comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman. The same care has been taken by the Be With team to restore that glorious original Carosello sleeve. Feelings is almost too good to be true. Feels good all over.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Format Notes: 140g vinyl, remastered from the original tapes
Territories:
Worldwide no restrictions
Track List:
A1 : Flying High (3:35)
A2 : Going Home (2:46)
A3 : Walking In The Dark (4:42)
A4 : Fighting For Life (3:37)
A5 : Feeling Tense (4:05)
B1 : Running Fast (4:42)
B2 : Loving Tenderly (3:27)
B3 : Fearing Much (3:35)
B4 : Being Friendly (2:54)
B5 : Having Fun (4:00)
Release Notes:
More than once Jay Richford and Gary Stevan’s Feelings has been described as the greatest library record ever released. Of course Be With can’t be seen to be playing favourites, but we have to admit, it’s pretty good. Insanely rare and immensely sought-after, it’s a tough funk, street jazz masterpiece coveted for many years by collectors of all musical genres.
Since its original release on Italian label Carosello in 1974, Feelings has appeared on several labels with different sleeves and even under a different artist. Indeed cult library label Conroy put it out in one of their iconic red sleeves in 1976 and yes, Feelings has indeed had more than one modern re-issue since these “original” releases. But a record this special deserves to be kept in press and we think it deserves the Be With treatment.
No, Jay Richford and Gary Stevan aren’t two of the most Italian sounding names. As the story goes these were the pseudonyms adopted by Stefano Torossi and Giancarlo Gazzani who wrote the album but couldn’t use their real names on the original release for legal reasons. But Stefano Torossi himself later both clarified and confused the tale further by explaining that Feelings was the work of four people not just Gazzani and himself. Fellow composers and musicians Sandro Brugnolini and Puccio Roelens also worked on the album and as Torossi himself explained “we all worked together”, with all four gents “dividing the royalties in equal parts… that’s the story.” Right, so, with that all sorted out let’s get back to talking about the music. And what music it is.
Long hailed as a holy grail of library music, Feelings is the epitome of the sort of cinematic orchestral jazzy funk that is “that 70s library music sound”. Infectiously funky, deliciously melodic and with impeccible, elegant production, this record is the showcase for a stunning set of compositions and arrangements and with performances that are nothing short of virtuoso.
The record’s first side lifts off with “Flying High”, soaring brilliant and shimmering. Funk licks, menacing strings and swaggering horns combine for an ice-cold intro groove that Isaac Hayes would surely have envied, before the steady-paced drums deliver the slo-mo TKO. The string-drenched cop-funk of “Going Home” raises the tempo. All funky quick-fire bass lines and killer electric guitar soloing. A real thriller.
“Walking In The Dark” positively drips in blaxploitation-funk drama strings and horn struts, all laced with delicate drums, velvet piano and more filthy wah-wah. “Fighting For Life” is another funk-fuelled workout built around an effortlessly relentless drum track that refuses to give up until even the stiffest-necked head is nodding.
The loping, open drum break that guides the much-loved “Feeling Tense” through its early stages would be good enough on its own. The heavy bass gloss, swirling strings and ominous horns that follow take things to the next level.
The second side opens with another favourite “Running Fast”, and the track does precisely that. This is one fine rollicking chase theme underpinned by frenetic (yet funky) Fender Rhodes and skipping bass and drums. Those sweeping strings are a gorgeous extra. It’s a deliciously feel-good groove that sets the heart racing.
“Loving Tenderly” envelops us in warm, velvety night-time vibes with easy listening horns and slinky strings dialing up the seduction. Definitely one for the lithe lovers out there. The pace picks up on the electrifying “Fearing Much” where strings dart around deep bass, buzzing guitars and another funky drum break. The lush, melancholic “Being Friendly” is another easy beauty, all warm Rhodes and strings. Majestic stuff that puts an aural arm around you. The climactic “Having Fun” rides a pulsating, bass-heavy drum break with snatches of a funky guitar refrain, some luxurious keys, sweeping strings and triumphant horns. Sensational.
“Feelings” is a profoundly appropriate title for such an emotionally funky and genuinely affecting record. Groove-laden bass, irrepressible horns, sweet flute lines, warm Rhodes, lush string arrangements, blaxploitation-styled wah-wah guitars and so, so much more make this one of the finest instrumental soul LPs of the 70s, if not of all time.
The audio for this re-issue of Feelings comes from the original analogue tapes and has been remastered for vinyl by Be With regular Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman. The same care has been taken by the Be With team to restore that glorious original Carosello sleeve. Feelings is almost too good to be true. Feels good all over.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
1
Jonathan Bockelmann - Aoneko No Torso (02:15 min)
2
Jonathan Bockelmann - Dream (01:15 min)
3
Jonathan Bockelmann - Bibo No Aozora (03:19 min)
4
Jonathan Bockelmann - Blu (02:59 min)
5
Jonathan Bockelmann - A Flower Is Not a Flower (03:12 min)
6
Jonathan Bockelmann - 20220302 (02:42 min)
7
Jonathan Bockelmann - Opus (05:21 min)
8
Jonathan Bockelmann - Dancing in the Sky (01:04 min)
9
Jonathan Bockelmann - Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement I. (06:30 min)
10
Jonathan Bockelmann - Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement II. (07:10 min)
11
Jonathan Bockelmann - Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement III. (05:14 min)
LP
Special remarks: 180g
Tracklist:
A1) Aoneko No Torso 02:15 min
A2) Dream 01:15 min
A3) Bibo No Aozora 03:19 min
A4) Blu 02:59 min
A5) A Flower Is Not a Flower 03:12 min
A6) 20220302 02:42 min
A7) Opus 05:21 min
A8) Dancing in the Sky 01:04 min
B1) Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement I. 06:30 min
B2) Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement II. 07:10 min
B3) Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement III. 05:14 min
Info:
Jonathan Bockelmann is a classical guitarist and composer based in Munich who first made waves in 2023 with his debut album ‘Childish Mind’. His entry into composing were arrangements he had made of pieces by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Some of these have been released digitally in three editions and are now available on vinyl for the first time. The record comes in high quality packaging with an embossed art print and features both some of Sakamoto’s lesser-known works like the ‘Suite for Krug’ as well as iconic pieces like ‘Bibo No Aozora’.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More
Special remarks: 180g
Tracklist:
A1) Aoneko No Torso 02:15 min
A2) Dream 01:15 min
A3) Bibo No Aozora 03:19 min
A4) Blu 02:59 min
A5) A Flower Is Not a Flower 03:12 min
A6) 20220302 02:42 min
A7) Opus 05:21 min
A8) Dancing in the Sky 01:04 min
B1) Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement I. 06:30 min
B2) Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement II. 07:10 min
B3) Suite for Krug in 2008: Movement III. 05:14 min
Info:
Jonathan Bockelmann is a classical guitarist and composer based in Munich who first made waves in 2023 with his debut album ‘Childish Mind’. His entry into composing were arrangements he had made of pieces by Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. Some of these have been released digitally in three editions and are now available on vinyl for the first time. The record comes in high quality packaging with an embossed art print and features both some of Sakamoto’s lesser-known works like the ‘Suite for Krug’ as well as iconic pieces like ‘Bibo No Aozora’.
Sicherheits- und Herstellerinformationen / safety and manufacturer info (GPSR)
WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More