Konkolo Orchestra is a Zürich/Switzerland based project initiated by multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Alexis Malefakis. With strong jazzy afrobeat and highlife references, Konkolo Orchestra pays homage to musical innovators such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony Oladipo Allen, Ebo Taylor and many more. This first album continues the warm, vibrant, percussive motif of the hugely popular "Blue G." single of 2022. For those who like their music to inspire journey and movement, this album is the equivalent of gatecrashing a wedding party where even granny can get her groove on. Malefakis is hardly rewriting the afrobeat textbook here, but his production charms the listener with a confident mastery of the genre. His compositions have a distinct personality and a tight structure, and are peppered with a talented array of guest vocalists: Nongoma (South Africa), Sir Frank Karikari (Ghana) and Kitio Batola (Congo); alongside Eric Owusu (Ghana) on percussion. The uplifting lyrics and joyful melodies are held together by a powerhouse horn section bearing all the swinging hallmarks of a highlife fanfare. Deeply funky and syncopated, Malefakis has produced a motivational winter warmer for both feet and spirit.

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With this third edition of "Cumbia Sabrosa," we add the Codiscos / Zeida / Costeño legacy to our series of tropical sound system bangers from the vaults, paying homage to the label's vintage vinyl output and placing it within the pantheon of Mexican sonidero hits of yesteryear as well as reissuing it for today's fans of cumbia on 45.

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Konkolo Orchestra is a Zürich/Switzerland based project initiated by multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Alexis Malefakis. With strong jazzy afrobeat and highlife references, Konkolo Orchestra pays homage to musical innovators such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony Oladipo Allen, Ebo Taylor and many more. This first album continues the warm, vibrant, percussive motif of the hugely popular "Blue G." single of 2022. For those who like their music to inspire journey and movement, this album is the equivalent of gatecrashing a wedding party where even granny can get her groove on. Malefakis is hardly rewriting the afrobeat textbook here, but his production charms the listener with a confident mastery of the genre. His compositions have a distinct personality and a tight structure, and are peppered with a talented array of guest vocalists: Nongoma (South Africa), Sir Frank Karikari (Ghana) and Kitio Batola (Congo); alongside Eric Owusu (Ghana) on percussion. The uplifting lyrics and joyful melodies are held together by a powerhouse horn section bearing all the swinging hallmarks of a highlife fanfare. Deeply funky and syncopated, Malefakis has produced a motivational winter warmer for both feet and spirit.

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Mampön are back! unleashing their Afrobeat enchantment on a new 45 release. Crafted for the dancefloor, "Si Algún Dia Has De Caer" combines party beats with Spanish lyrics. Hectór Rodriguez, the band's guitarist and lead singer, creates a deep connection between celebration and introspection on an enchanting vocal-rhodes introduction before the rhythm takes you for a dance. On the B-side, Mampön maintains the Afrobeat tradition as more than just dance music—it's a protest, a resistance. "Papeles Rotos" portrays people as slaves with rights on wet, torn paper, urging listeners to forge their path regardless of the cost. Mampön emerges as a true soft power, destined for every dance floor, spreading Afrobeat magic.

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Last summer we took a record trip to California and when in LA, we had the chance to meet Dan Ubick, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, DJ and one of the nicests guys you'll ever meet. We met on a friday night in North Hollywood around tacos and Micheladas and discussed music, his tour experiences with De La Soul, and talked about records and more records. We had been following Dan's work since the early 2000s as he was an original member of the legendary Breakestra, brain child of Connie Price & The Keystones and founding member of reggae bands The Lions and Night Owls. After a while into our conversation it was clear that we spoke the same language musically so a collaboration between us seemed logical. He suggested recording a couple of instrumentals which morphed into the funky, Brazilian-inspired hip-hop 7" you hold in your hands. To enhance the flavor Dan brought in his good friend and ace percussion player Bobby Easton, singer Diana Purim (daughter of Brazilian luminaries Airto Moreira and Flora Purim) to help sing the hook and the one-and-only Sadat X from NYC's legendary Brand Nubian, whom he's been lucky enough to work with a few times over the years. The result is a funky, moody, psychedelic mid-tempo vehicle for Sadat X's poignant verses about the similarities between living in to the projects of New York City and the favelas of Rio de Janeiro - the good, the bad and everything in between which graces Side A. Side B features the Instrumental for listeners to hone in on Connie Price's funky drums, Julius Augustus' slinky bassline, Richard Donovan's haunting organ and synth parts, and Bobby Easton's saturnine and expressive berimbau, cuica, caxixi and reco-reco.

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PURPLE HAZE COLOURED VINYL. DOWNLOAD CODE INCLUDED
Introducing Biel Solsona: A Barcelona pianist with a vibrant musical background. His debut solo album, "· i · ", showcases a fusion of jazz, electronic, and cinematic sounds. Featuring Ferran Puertas on double bass and Eudald Font on drums, they weave a mesmerizing tapestry of original compositions where piano harmonies blend seamlessly with synthesizers and rhythmic beats, revealing a unique musical landscape. Their rendition of "Sunday Disco Dawn", an original composition of spanish disco dons Fundación Tony Manero, stands out, taking things into a more spacy direction. Experience the synergy of melodies, discover new textures, and immerse yourself in Biel Solsona's musical universe.

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The Barcelona trio behind the excellent Isla Fantasia from a few years ago are back to enliven another summer season with an anthemic, Ibiza-esque dance floor filler. Reminiscent of an early 90s Euro-house stomper, the production does what it says on the tin: solid four to the floor action, enchanting female vocals(courtesy of Brigitte Emaga), and a refrain that will have 'the brightest light' still lodged in your brain way into autumn. The flip side, Mistura Magica, is a percussively-driven instrumental that feels like dancing through a tropical rainforest. With just the right amount of rise and fall to keep the rhythmic tension tight with anticipation, it's a journey of Brazilian beats peppered with exotica electronica. Sandwiched between a heavy pounding drums is the sweetest flute (courtesy of Irene Reig), taking the limelight like a bird in flight. A synesthetic track that has you listening in full colour!

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Building on the success of their first releases featuring Cornel Campbell, the Swiss producer duo "The Circle of Confusion" is set to drop a new single on Rocafort Records, featuring none other than English old-school reggae singer Wayne Paul. Active in the 90's and 2000's within the London label Big Dada, the artist of Jamaican origin sank into alcohol and drugs, before rising from his ashes fifteen years later. Now he's back with a powerful message of hope on this track called " Soul Of A Lion ". Wayne's soulful voice blends perfectly with the modern reggae feel created by The Circle Of Confusion. An 80s roots-oriented sound mixed with a crusty digital edge backed with a dope dub track makes the perfect 45 for reggae heads.

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This compilation takes us on a journey to the Colombian coast where the passion for African music burns bright.It's impossible to understand this love affair without first looking to San Basilio de Palenque - the first free town in colonial Latin America, established in 1691 as a place of refuge and autonomy for black slaves. It's a place where pride in African heritage and culture could be kept alive, just 50 km away from Cartagena de Indias. The Afro Caribbeans' connection to their roots gave rise to the "picós" - artisanal, high-powered sound systems akin to those found in Jamaica. These music aficionados have a keen ear for African melodies, leading to a vibrant collector's scene that brought Afro sounds to the streets of Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta. This compilation showcases the best of Kenyan Benga music - a unique style with a distinct guitar-picking method that draws from traditional instruments like the nyatiti and orutu. Learn everything about the history and stories behind these African tracks, from the carefully guarded "exclusives" to the piconema - the practice of renaming songs in Spanish based on their lyrics or the reaction of the dancefloor. The project has been led by Spanish vinyl collector Joan Pujol aka Golfo De Guinea surrounded by a team of passionate music lovers including Don Alirio, a musicologist from Barranquilla who offered a coastal perspective, and George Ouma, a Kenyan DJ, collector, and Benga advocate who helped with track selection and securing rights. The result is a compilation that captures the joy and energy of sub-Saharan polyrhythm, bringing together a vibrant mix of genres that are sure to move your feet. So sit back, turn up the volume, and let yourself be transported to the vibrant streets of the Colombian coast and the shores of Lake Victoria.

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Back in 2013 we took ourselves on a discographic adventure without really knowing what we were doing! Who would have thought that 10 years later, we'd be releasing our 50th 45 RPM record? As luck would have it, we are happy to announce our new release, in collab with one of the flagship bands from today's funk scene, Germany's own "Mighty Mocambos", who have been delivering their instrumental groove and Caribbean vibes via their alter ego, "Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band" across Europe for more than fifteen years. So, what better way to immortalize the raw and intense live sound that they're famous for than releasing a record on our favourite format? Two sides recorded live on tape during the "Queen 16 B-Girl battle" in Berlin in 2022. Somewhat reminiscent of Can's "Vitamin C", the A side "International Cypher" has an oriental funk feel thanks to the use of the sharp sound of an electric Phin (Thai guitar), while thestraight up percussive funk instrumental "Queen 16 theme" pays tribute to the B-Girls onlyfestival, of which the soundtrackwas designed for the occasion.

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The Beat Bronco Organ Trio are back with 10 heavy-weight instrumental tracks of the finest quality. "Another Shape of Essential Sounds" sees the Madrid trio stick to their winning formula: sublime Hammond organ grooves, nifty guitar work and dynamic drums combine to produce a rich, uplifting, and vintage sound. Straight to the point, no fillers, and no messing around with the longest cut just over 4 mins, these are irresistible, foot-tapping tunes which sound as good on the dance floor as at a dinner party.

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Not to be confused with the 80s heavy rock/funk band from the US, this Living Color track was written, produced and released by Tony Kalangis on his Sophisticated Funk label in 1974. Kalangis, who sadly passed away in 2017, was a man of many talents who could not only write a great tune but also novels, poems, and film scripts. 'Plastic People' has one of those faultless grooves that goes where you want it to go and does what you want it to do. Small but perfectly formed, somewhere between mellow funk and a mid tempo 2 stepper. A great niche if ever there was one. The clavinet riff is gently twangy and instantly funky, the horns punctuate an uplifting melody, while the backing vocals float in and out celestially. The relevant lyrics are carried off with a vocal style full of emotional urgency. Pure joy. "Plastic people, better make some changes soon, or you'll never find a dancer for your tune". Thankfully not the case on this groove! Clavinet freaks will love the instrumental on the B side.

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This Geneva-based band have finely honed their instrumental "post-internet groove", creating the perfect blend of old-school funk, afro-beat, 70s soundtrack fusion, always adding a pinch of futuristic production and a touch of modernity aimed at bring the groove genre to new generations. Side A, 'Funky Splash' is an original composition, understated in its groove but with the punch and crunch falling in all the right places, hence can be enjoyed either stewing in the background or as a dancefloor filler. The wah-wah and off-the-wall synths are both used to great rhythmic effect. Side B, 'O Caminho do Bem', is a cover version of the Brazilian musical heavyweight Tim Maia. Always hard to revisit a classic, but L'Eclair's tight musicianship, perfect pacing and futuristic twist all add an extra layer of groove onto the mellow funk of the original. Another slice of immaculate sounds for the ears and feet from Switzerland's finest export, Rocafort Records.

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Ever since jazz took its bop and free turn, each generation solved this eternal equation: how do you reconcile serious music and simple pleasure? On each of these occasions opinion was divided between orthodoxy and hedonism. Trained in the theoretical rigours of classical music and jazz, experts on their instruments, and brought up on hip-hop culture, techno and house club scenes, Matthieu Llodra and Arthur Donnot - composers of KUMA – go against the conventional rules because they like to challenge their musical boundaries. "Honey & Groat" is just like a bear (KUMA in Japanese, emblem of the band): behind the sweetness and apparent placidity, plenty of power. The resulting urban groove is reminiscent of 70's soul jazz with a contemporary sound: where instrumental talent meets pop simplicity.

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With the band's first single pressed on wax, Rocafort Records and Say It Loud join forces to bring the sound of Barcelona's finest street brass band to the dancefloors. 'Thunder' is a fresh and energetic tune with jazz and funk arrangements based on a groove that hip-hop music lovers will quickly recognize. On the B-side, "Marathon Runner" takes the form of a modern New Orleans brass band and its raw sound with all the groove and horn solos you would expect.

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SABROSA pays tribute to the BEASTIE BOYS with two instro-mental cuts that borrow elements from "Sure Shot" out of their classic album, "Ill Communication". Sure Pow is a great fuzzy, wah wah guitar Grant Green-on-steroids soundtrack approach to "Pow" from "Check Your Head", while Tangerine Shot is a cover of Suco De Tangerina, an instrumental track out of their "Mix-Up" Lp that takes a twist into Dub territoire…Pure fiyah!

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Papa Orbe has been rocking the latin scene with his dynamite shows for more than three decades. He started his career in the legendary Felix Chappottín's cuban Son band and shortly after he moved to Colombia where he joined Totó La Momposina's band and worked for the Fuentes label. By the late 90's, he toured Europe several times and decided to settle in Barcelona where he recorded, arranged and played for numerous bands and LP's such as Radio Malanga's Joff Tongor and Playing For Change. We introduce Orbe's debut album under his own name, going back to his roots with a strong combination of cubop, latin rhythms and a heavy 70's salsa and jazz influence.

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Rocafort Records is back with a third volume of sabrosura from New York City! This time we are digging deep into the vaults of the fabled Ansonia label to bring you some dance floor gems. Extended liner notes on the back cover by DJ Bongohead (of Peace & Rhythm). All tracks remastered from the original master tapes.

3 x 7" Vinyl

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Konkolo Orchestra is a Zürich/Switzerland based project initiated by multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer Alexis Malefakis. With strong jazzy afrobeat and highlife references, Konkolo Orchestra pays homage to musical innovators such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Tony Oladipo Allen, Ebo Taylor and many more. This first album continues the warm, vibrant, percussive motif of the hugely popular "Blue G." single of 2022. For those who like their music to inspire journey and movement, this album is the equivalent of gatecrashing a wedding party where even granny can get her groove on. Malefakis is hardly rewriting the afrobeat textbook here, but his production charms the listener with a confident mastery of the genre. His compositions have a distinct personality and a tight structure, and are peppered with a talented array of guest vocalists: Nongoma (South Africa), Sir Frank Karikari (Ghana) and Kitio Batola (Congo); alongside Eric Owusu (Ghana) on percussion. The uplifting lyrics and joyful melodies are held together by a powerhouse horn section bearing all the swinging hallmarks of a highlife fanfare. Deeply funky and syncopated, Malefakis has produced a motivational winter warmer for both feet and spirit.

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No one has lived a life quite like Marcos Valle. He became an overnight international sensation, fled a military dictatorship, dodged the Vietnam war draft, had his music sung by Homer Simpson, made enemies with Marlon Brando, and became an unsuspecting fitness guru for multiple generations. But to truly understand the great Brazilian composer, arranger, singer and multi instrumentalist, one must listen to his music.

Between the release of his first album in 1962 and today, Marcos Valle has released twenty-two studio albums traversing definitive bossa nova, classic samba, iconic disco pop, psychedelic rock, nineties dance and orchestral music. He has also had his songs recorded by some of the all time greats, including Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughn, Sergio Mendes, Elis Regina, and (last but not least), Emma Button of the Spice Girls. He has also had his music sampled by Jay-Z, Kanye West, Pusha T and many more.


With his twenty-third studio album Túnel Acustico, Valle set out to bring it all together.

“I believe my music is many things. It goes in different directions. I have many different ways of writing music, sometimes it’s melodies and harmony, sometimes the groove is the focus. But all the music I have made over my sixty year career is unified. It is all natural and it is all sincere. And this is what I wanted to bring to my new album.”

A prominent feature of Valle’s career has been his dual residence between Brazil and the USA. Originally moving over in the mid-sixties on the back of bossa nova’s international proliferation, Valle toured with Sergio Mendes and became hugely in demand as a composer and arranger. But the Vietnam War loomed and the threat of being drafted saw him return to Brazil. He spent the following years in Rio writing music for TV and film, as well as four cult favourite albums in collaboration with some of Brazil’s most groundbreaking musicians including Milton Nascimento, Azymuth, Som Imaginario and O Terco.

By 1975, Brazil's military dictatorship was at its most oppressive, making living and working increasingly difficult. Valle moved back to the US where he would reside in LA, writing songs for, and collaborating with the likes of Eumir Deodato, Airto Moreira, Chicago, Sarah Vaughn and Leon Ware, amongst others.

Túnel Acústico features two songs originally conceived during Valle’s time on the West Coast: “Feels So Good”, a stirring two-step soul triumph written in 1979 with soul icon Leon Ware, and the sublime AOR disco track “Life Is What It Is”, composed around the same time, with percussionist Laudir De Oliveira from the group Chicago.

Built around an unfinished demo Marcos found on a shelf in his house 44 years after it was made, the “Feels So Good” demo was restored with the help of producer Daniel Maunick, who also utilised AI stem-separation to remove the placeholder vocal ad-libs. Valle added Portuguese lyrics to sit alongside Ware’s vocal hook, as well as extra keyboards and percussion.

Also written in late seventies LA, “Life Is What Is It” was co-penned by Laudir De Oliveira from the band Chicago and first released on the bands’ Chicago 13 album with lyrics by Robert Lamb. Another nod to his good times in LA, Valle recorded his own version for Túnel Acústico, upping the tempo and deepening the groove for a blast of irresistible summer soul.

On Túnel Acústico, Valle's core band features two members of the renowned Brazilian jazz-funk group Azymuth: Alex Malheiros on bass and Renato Massa on drums. The rhythm section is completed by percussionist Ian Moreira, with additional contributions from guitarist Paulinho Guitarra and trumpeter Jesse Sadoc.

The contemporarily composed music on Túnel Acústico features an impressive lineup of guest lyricists, including renowned Brazilian artists: Joyce Moreno (Bora Meu Vem), Céu (Nao Sei), and Moreno Veloso (Palavras Tão Gentis) as well as Valle's brother Paulo Sergio Valle (Tem Que Ser Feliz).

The album closes with "Thank You Burt (For Bacharach)", a tribute to the legendary composer who passed away in 2023.



Credits:

Todo Dia Santo
(Marcos Valle)

Composition and Lyrics by Marcos Valle
Keys & Vocals: Marcos Valle
Drums: Renato Massa
Bass: Alex Malheiros
Percussion: Ian Moreira
Additional Percussion & FX: Daniel Maunick



Life Is What It Is
(Marcos Valle/Laudir de Oliveira)

Composition and Lyrics by Marcos Valle & Laudir De Oliveira
Keys & Vocals: Marcos Valle
Drums: Renato Massa
Bass: Alex Malheiros
Percussion: Ian Moreira
Guitar: Paulinho Guitarra



Assim Não Dá
(Marcos Valle)

Composition and Lyrics by Marcos Valle
Marcos Valle: Keys & Vocals
Patricia Alvi: Vocals
Drums: Renato Massa
Bass: Alex Malheiros
Percussion: Ian Moreira
Guitar: Paulinho Guitarra

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Repress!

An awe-inspiring showcase of a young man´s staggering musical ability. Greeted with swoons of delight and vast mountains of fawning praise from the press on its release, its heart-meltingly lysergic melodies, with everything from bellchimes to backwards vocals weaving a thick gauze of sound around the tunes, slayed practically anyone who heard it.

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Unequal cycles searching for synchronous experiences: On his new album »Pounding«, Frank Bretschneider tells of distance, convergence and congruence in a continuous, ever-changing flow of events. What is often considered to be an unquestionable dogma in club music (for which Bretschneider has provided significant impetus since the 1990s) – the groove – appears precarious, unstable, and in motion. Pulse and accent are volatile encounters and have to be found again and again for short, delightful moments. Music becomes a constant process of negotiation.

In search of new sound spaces, Bretschneider has recently worked a lot with modular synthesizers, both solo (for example on »abtasten_halten«, 2020) and in collaborations, including the project Beispiel together with Jan Jelinek. »Pounding« was created using similar means – conceived in 2020 for the Pochen Biennale in Chemnitz, subsequently developed further and recorded in March and April 2023 on a sample-based modular system. And in fact, Bretschneider is once again exemplarily scanning his own sound material, for example Dub effects that listen to themselves crumbling. But also the human voice, or more precisely: the stuttering of fragments of speech, far in the distance but omnipresent, like a mysterious narration. Aesthetically, the eleven pieces form part of a series of works with a focus on percussion. Bretschneider has already perfected this approach with albums like »Rhythm« (2007) and has been shifting the perspective ever since, for ever new results.

Shifting is the basic principle of »Pounding«. Bretschneider combines elements that are in different aggregate states, changing their relationship to each other and thus ensuring the complex overall movement. He lets one to two-bar loops run against each other and through manipulations, develops a network of rhythms that creates a hypnotic state in the counterplay of repetition and mutation, between clearly recognizable meter and disorientation. There are comparable approaches in aleatoric music. Bretschneider combines them with sounds and patterns that are reminiscent of step sequencer logic and at the same time go far beyond it. The result is relational techno. Never clear, constantly restless and exciting.

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South-London, British-Bengali musician Tara Lily shares her debut album 'Speak In The Dark'. The LP is about "speaking your truth" and combines alternative R&B, jazz, electronica and traditional Indian sounds into a unique fusion. The record, produced by Dom Valentino, features American jazz trumpeter Theo Croker, UK rapper Surya Sen, and Archy Marshall (aka King Krule) on guitar.
Growing up in Peckham as part of a British Bengali family has given Tara Lily a unique perspective on music and global culture. She has spent her life absorbing a multitude of sounds and genres from her surroundings, ranging from electronica to jazz and RnB to traditional Bengali folk music. From training at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music (where she studied jazz piano and voice) to learning Indian classical music and being the first act signed to Motown Records UK. Tara is a musical anomaly.

Debut album from South-London, British-Bengali musician and rising star Tara Lily, featuring American trumpeter Theo Croker & UK rapper Surya Sen
LP produced by Dom Valentino with additional contributions from Bad Sounds, Jaz Lee, Archy Marshall, Chiranjeeb Chakraborty, Akash Parekar, Mei Kerby, Ian Stratford
European Tour supporting JP Cooper (1st week of October, 2024)
UK Tour w/ Juabi - Manchester, Barbican (London) - Sept 2024
Artwork by Jay Vaz (Dreaming Vinyl)
"No Way Out" video shot in association with The North Face in the Himalayas, Nepal. Directed by Siddanth Ghosh
Press support - The Guardian, Evening Standard - "One to watch", Wonderland, ID, Notion, Clash
Radio support - 'Double Time' was track of the week on BBC Radio 1, other spots plays - BBC 6Music, Jazz FM (playlisting), BBC Asian Network, NTS
Recipient of the FAC x Amazon Music - Step Up Fund
Tours - UK, India (Echos Of Earth / Vh1 Supersonic festival / Jazz
Weekender), Nepal, Bangkok, Hong Kong, EU
Festivals - Glastonbury (3 sets - BBC introducing - Televised / Leftfield B2B Billy Bragg / PRS), We Out Here, Shambala, Daytimer Dialled In, Wilderness, Cross The Tracks
Career highlights - SHAKTI JAZZ NTS show, joined King Krule on stage at Apollo Theatre and supported RAYE at the Royal Albert Hall, Jazz Cafe w/ Mahalia, playing live on TV on BBC2 (The Kia Oval)
“Spellbinding”
The Guardian —

“Beautiful, melancholic”
Jamie Cullum — BBC Radio 2

“One to watch!”
Jamz Supernova — BBC 6Music

“We just love Tara Lily!”
Jess Iszatt — BBC Introducing / Radio 1

“An all-star jazz collaboration”
Clash —

“One to watch for 2024”
Simon Phillips — Jazz FM

“Soulful and heartfelt”
Jack Saunders — BBC Radio 1

“Incredible…I fucking adore it!”
RAYE —

“Authenticity personified!”
Femi Koleoso — Ezra Collective

“Tara makes something glow in the darkness”
King Krule —

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Tracklisting
A1 SND & RTN - Stampersgat
A2 SND & RTN - D55
A3 SND & RTN - Black Sun
B1 SND & RTN - Stardust
B2 SND & RTN - Rhydonium
B3 SND & RTN - 1309

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Field Records proudly presents the first complete vinyl edition of Monolake’s seminal excursion into experimental dub techno, Hongkong. Originally released on the now-classic Chain Reaction label in 1997, this collection of early singles by Robert Henke and Gerhard Behles has gone on to become a vital listening experience in its own right - a genre classic alongside the other groundbreaking works from the likes of Porter Ricks and Vladislav Delay.

The tracks which make up Hongkong were made while Henke and Behles studied computer science and immersed themselves in Berlin’s techno scene. Their early forays into computer-based music production were enabled by the use of the Max/MSP programming environment, forming a backdrop to the landmark work they would undertake in developing the Ableton Live DAW. Henke and Behles travelled to Hong Kong in 1996 to attend the annual International Computer Music Conference, and while there recorded extensive field recordings. These recordings became the glue that pieced together their collaborative tracks into a fluid listening experience for a CD-compilation at Chain Reaction’s request.

While absolutely rooted in the embryonic sound of European dub techno, Monolake’s early work possesses a back room, headphone-ready demeanour which lends itself to the album listening experience. In the cascade of rhythms created by precision engineered delays and subliminal, expansive spatial world building occurring throughout Hongkong, the stage is set for a full and thorough immersion. Before the Monolake sound progressed into a more pointillist form of computer music as Henke’s solo project, Hongkong presented a gritty, grainy sonic still tied in some way to the traditional methods of techno production, even as the artists’ ideas were sending the sequencing and arranging in exciting new directions.

Remastered and presented for the first time as a complete double 12” package, this is the definitive edition of an essential work in the evolution of experimental techno. As Henke himself explains, “twenty-five years later, this record still holds immense value to me in many ways.”

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WAS - Word and Sound Medien GmbH
Liebigstrasse 2-20
DE - 22113 Hamburg
Germany
Contact: [email protected]More

A 12" outing for the Ø:'s excellent Fermionit + the unreleased Kulmamomentti coming in the form of edits from members of the sähkö recordings crew (Kaukolampi & Jimi Tenor). Huge Tip!

Mika Vainio was recording a new Ø-album since 2014. He almost got it ready before his too early passing in 2017. Mika's girlfriend Rikke Lundgreen from Oslo has been going through Mika's notes, numerous versions and takes of the album tracks. Now the collection of the tracks is completed, there were two tracks that Mika thought should not be included the album. They make this release. The shoter track Kulmamomentti is edited slightly longer by Jimi Tenor and Timo Kaukolampi.

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

With memories of 2022’s ‘Serendipia’ still at the forefront of many minds, Oath are proud to offer up a fresh perspective on the John Beltran produced LP, with some stellar names featuring that will help the musical love affair continue onwards and upwards…

The art of the remix is certainly alive and well, and is often the final piece of the jigsaw on records where a alternative perspective sits alongside original tunes – a mirrored yet respectful sound that adds to the overall musical narrative. It often helps when the source material has so much to take in, and on ‘Serendipia’ the sonic ideas that John Beltran conjured up are a treasure trove for artists to work with. A breezy, Brazilian love affair, ‘Serendipia’ is the kind of record to take around in your pocket, a sound that nurtures the body and soul with its delicate rhythms and enriching, mellow yet captivating melodic sequences. From the walking pace through to the rhythms of life, Beltran captured something truly extraordinary on this record, such is what we have come to expect from his finger tips. Sunrises, sunsets, orange hued afternoons and deep blue seas, it is a record for the pastoral times, to riding back and soaking up the goodness – music that maintains smiles in abundance, no matter where or when.

The revisit to ‘Serendipia’ saw Oath approach some top notch producers, who provided a bountiful array of alternative styles and takes on the hazy rhythms and gorgeous melodic features of Beltran’s original tracks. In doing so, the artists involved managed to capture the core essence of the original LP, and that is of the broad diversity of feel which Beltran provided, with tracks swinging from genre and style with ease and intuition. What is perhaps handled the best is the balance between the original cuts and the musical personality of the music makers involved, and that makes for a truly feel good experience.

Danilo Plessow’s remix of ‘Sa Coma Blue’ slides into view as the record’s opener. Plessow turbo charges the core melodic drivers of the original, moving the atmosphere into a club environment with high line drumming patterns, driving synth sequences and a firm hand on controlling the shifts in energy and mood. Kareem Ali is up next with his spin on ‘Cachaca’, with a house leaning twist put on this rhythmically enriching palette. Ali draws focus on a piano riff found within the original, which acts as the melodic cornerstone of the track as it weaves and grooves into the night.

Melodiesfonie turns up next with their take on ’Suenos Soleados’, as the light starts to pour in on the dance floor. Slow, sultry and easy going, this track breezes along with a gentle whisper, with plenty of space available for a glorious array of instrumentation. Guitar and keys are given plenty of time to breathe, particularly in those dreamy breakdown moments. Session Victim then present their take on ‘Ask Anlari’, with this reworking spreading out the relatively short original cut and adding a fresh heap of drums whilst incorporating the original melodic density expertly. This one unravels like the freshest sunset going, its one to dip your head into. ‘Em Trancoso’, which lands next, is flipped from sun kissed to night time groover with some class by Em Trancoso. The rhythm and melody is spread out, with a hefty dosage of space added into the blend which creates a rhythmic work of art. Lastly, we have Xique’s remix of ‘Yangu Milele’, which stays true to the original in all the best ways. Similar tempo, similar thuds and a spread of rhythmic notions that will get the heart skipping, a perfect way to see out the record.

‘Serendipia’ provided a rich insight into John Beltran’s musical universe, and this remix record helps to add further to that album’s rich legacy. All the artists involved throw their hats into the ring, providing enlightening and characterful reworkings which are as dynamic as they are diverse. Each track flows into one another, capturing the musical dexterity of the original music and in turn contributing to a wholesome, rewarding musical experience. A record with many moments, and Oath couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with the world.

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