non-exclusive

The Pool, Jazzanova’s most mature and musical album yet, welcomes a host of talented collaborators including Jamie Cullum, Ben Westbeech, Pete Josef, Rachel Sermanni, Olivier St Louis, Paul Randolph, Charlotte OC, and more. All bring their own distinctive flavours while retaining a real sense of Jazzanova’s musical identity—something that combines neo-soul, jazz, and pop songwriting with a unique knack for sampling and skills on everything from synth to piano, vibes to trombone, flugelhorn to guitar. The album flows from one track to the next, mixing up synthesised sounds, samples and acoustic instrumentation to paint a captivating picture.

A1. Now (L.O.V.E. and You & I - Part 2) feat. Oddisee
A2. Rain Makes The River feat. Rachel Sermanni
A3. Follow Your Feet feat. Pete Josef
B1. No. 9 feat. KPTN
B2. Slow Rise feat. David Lemaitre
B3. Let‘s Live Well feat. Jamie Cullum
C1. Everything I Wanted feat. Charlotte OC
C2. Heatwave feat. Olivier St. Louis
D1. It‘s Beautiful feat. Paul Randolph
D2. I‘m Still Here feat. Edward Vanzet
D3. Summer Keeps On Passing Me By feat. Ben Westbeech

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

non-exclusive

The Pool, Jazzanova’s most mature and musical album yet, welcomes a host of talented collaborators including Jamie Cullum, Ben Westbeech, Pete Josef, Rachel Sermanni, Olivier St Louis, Paul Randolph, Charlotte OC, and more. All bring their own distinctive flavours while retaining a real sense of Jazzanova’s musical identity—something that combines neo-soul, jazz, and pop songwriting with a unique knack for sampling and skills on everything from synth to piano, vibes to trombone, flugelhorn to guitar. The album flows from one track to the next, mixing up synthesised sounds, samples and acoustic instrumentation to paint a captivating picture.

A1. Now (L.O.V.E. and You & I - Part 2) feat. Oddisee
A2. Rain Makes The River feat. Rachel Sermanni
A3. Follow Your Feet feat. Pete Josef
B1. No. 9 feat. KPTN
B2. Slow Rise feat. David Lemaitre
B3. Let‘s Live Well feat. Jamie Cullum
C1. Everything I Wanted feat. Charlotte OC
C2. Heatwave feat. Olivier St. Louis
D1. It‘s Beautiful feat. Paul Randolph
D2. I‘m Still Here feat. Edward Vanzet
D3. Summer Keeps On Passing Me By feat. Ben Westbeech

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

non-exclusive

The Pool, Jazzanova’s most mature and musical album yet, welcomes a host of talented collaborators including Jamie Cullum, Ben Westbeech, Pete Josef, Rachel Sermanni, Olivier St Louis, Paul Randolph, Charlotte OC, and more. All bring their own distinctive flavours while retaining a real sense of Jazzanova’s musical identity—something that combines neo-soul, jazz, and pop songwriting with a unique knack for sampling and skills on everything from synth to piano, vibes to trombone, flugelhorn to guitar. The album flows from one track to the next, mixing up synthesised sounds, samples and acoustic instrumentation to paint a captivating picture.

A1. Now (L.O.V.E. and You & I - Part 2) feat. Oddisee
A2. Rain Makes The River feat. Rachel Sermanni
A3. Follow Your Feet feat. Pete Josef
B1. No. 9 feat. KPTN
B2. Slow Rise feat. David Lemaitre
B3. Let‘s Live Well feat. Jamie Cullum
C1. Everything I Wanted feat. Charlotte OC
C2. Heatwave feat. Olivier St. Louis
D1. It‘s Beautiful feat. Paul Randolph
D2. I‘m Still Here feat. Edward Vanzet
D3. Summer Keeps On Passing Me By feat. Ben Westbeech

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

Worldwide, Shops only Release.

There's not a lot to tell about the project Glow In The Dark by a certain Harry Miller. Only perhaps we can state that with these eight tracks at hand Harry Miller accomplished probably the most enchanting album of the still quite young year. Just when we wanted to dismiss the short-dated genre of Chillwave wistfully, “Future Bliss” comes along with a bewitching sound hailing from an optimistic but cranky future. Already the opening track “step ONE” with its vocal samples and its spoken word intro is futuristic soul full of affirmation of life pillowed on a synth bedding smoothed to the max up to its edges. But also the following seven tracks spread infectious positive vibes all around.
The magic of Glow In The Dark's tracks is energized mostly by Miller's delicate way of treating his various samples, a wary manner one usually only shows when picking up a guitar. And unlike sample based music feeding from Hiphop his tracks are completely free from any sort of nostalgia, because all of his songs are designed for the future through and
through.
“Future Bliss” is one hell of a joy ride, from the first note to the last tone. The neon funk of “1987”, the broken beat of “7 Billion = 1”, the synth pop of “The Last Dance” and in general, all of the eight tracks could be little, but great hymns on their own. But only in its entirety they sparkle this fathomless ingeniousness hidden in Glow In The Dark. In the end it seems to be wiser that one has as little background information as possible to be able to lose oneself fully in this “Future Bliss”.

TRACKLISTING:
A1. step ONE, A2. 7 Billion = 1 , A3. Kaleidoscopic Hue , A4. Future Bliss
B1. Screams Under Stars, B2. The Last Dance, B3. 1987, B4. Absolute Zero

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

First ever reissue of highly collectible Funk / Boogie album from 1984!

We are proud to present a true gem on our label: the first-ever vinyl reissue of the highly collectible Shake It - Make It Loose LP by J.D. (Puma) Lewis. Originally released on the infamous Metrovynil label in 1984, it stands as the best and most authentic boogie/80s funk album ever produced in Germany.

However, little is known about this legendary release, and the credits are sparse and often confusing. In reality, Shake It - Make It Loose was a collaboration between just two musicians: John Davis (R.I.P., later one of the real voices behind Milli Vanilli for producer Frank Farian) and Reginald Hudson (of Hudson People). Both were first-class, highly talented musicians and composers from the U.S., who spent most of their lives living and working in Southern Germany.

Hudson describes their creative process: "It was just me and Johnny, playing all the instruments. Johnny handled the bass, guitar, and vocals, and we programmed the drum machine together. Most everything else was keyboards." He recalls that Genre: Funk / Boogie / Disco

- they spent only six or seven days recording the album at Hartmann Digital Studio.
- Contains 2 previously unissued bonus tracks
- Deluxe gatefold sleeve


The combination of their musicianship and the cutting-edge technology at the studio resulted in a masterpiece of pure, state-of-the-art funk and boogie. The album features all the hallmarks of great 80s music: fresh synths, drum machines, and powerful lead vocals from John Davis. Upbeat tracks like "The Cat (Puma)" and the title track sit comfortably alongside more soulful songs like "Tears" and "Hearts of Gold," while "Dancing Shoes" remains one of the era's catchiest dance tracks.

Still, Shake It - Make It Loose holds a few mysteries. Why was it released under the unusual name J.D. (Puma) Lewis? And what's the story behind tracks like "The Cat"? While J.D. Lewis stood for John Davis Lewis's full legal name, Hudson sheds light on the "Puma" connection: "At the time, I was working as a promotions manager for Puma sportswear. Jörg Dassler, son of Puma founder Rudolf Dassler, was a friend of mine and financed our studio sessions." As said, these sessions took place at Hartmann Digital, a state-of-the-art studio in Untertrubach, Bavaria, where iconic artists like Nena, Yello, Visage, DAF, and Soft Cell recorded.

The use of such an expensive studio would have been out of reach for the two musicians without Puma's backing, which also explains why there is a title like "Dancing Shoes." When we had licensed the track for the Boogie On The Mainline compilation in 2018, we had the chance to speak with John Davis (who sadly passed away in May 2021 due to COVID-19). Davis revealed that there were plans to make a video for the song in collaboration with Puma, but those plans fell through. In the end, the album was signed to the Deggendorf-based Metrovynil label.

Interestingly, the original contract reveals that the first version of the album only contained six tracks. Metrovynil added two more: "Sexy Highschool Lady," a track Davis recorded solo, and "Party Rap" by The Dynamite Two, which had no connection to Davis or Hudson at all. The album's credits also list a "Fred Fiore" as the person "who made all of this possible." Hudson, who sees himself as the producer, has no idea who Fiore was - likely another fabrication from the label. "That's just the kind of thing Metrovynil did," Hudson comments with some regret.

Despite the behind-the-scenes confusion, the music spoke for itself. The original pressing looked and sounded fantastic, featuring a stylish cover shot of John Davis in a sharp suit. Now, with this first-ever vinyl reissue, we're thrilled to include additional photos and more background information in a deluxe gatefold sleeve.

This reissue includes all six tracks from the original Hartmann Digital sessions, plus two bonus tracks. From the original reel tapes, we unearthed additional material that Hudson and Davis produced together in the early to mid-80s. We're excited to share the previously unreleased tracks "Life's A Party," and "Walk Out On Me." The digital version of the reissue will also feature two more songs: "Red Drops" and "Pick It Up Off The Ground."

Shake It - Make It Loose is a classic boogie-funk album that belongs in every serious funk and disco collection. It showcases the undeniable talent of two true musicians and stands as a testament to the friendship between Reg Hudson and John Davis.

Tracklist:
Side A
The Cat (Puma)
Dancing Shoes
Tears
Life's A Party (Bonus Track)

Side B
Shake It - Make It Loose
Hearts Of Gold
Automatic Woman
Walk Out On Me (Bonus Track)



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

Special remarks : Full-colour reverse-card sleeve, postcard

Tracklist
A1 Poet's Recollection
A2 Whispering Sand
A3 The Womb It Wanders
A4 Serra Cantica
B1 Lune River
B2 Nocturnal House
B3 Hallow
B4 Shepherd's Hill

Shortinfo:
Debut collaborative album from Troth, the Nipaluna-based duo of Amelia Besseny and Cooper Bowman, and kindred spirit and legendary Mancunian free-form guitarist Jon Collin. A lavish dreamscape conjuring the dramatic beauty of uncharted mountains and streams, it documents both the crystilisation of ideas first shared during an Australian encounter in early 2023 and years of mutual appreciation.

Troth’s sonic universe, a constellation of drifting atmospherics, bedroom pop impulse and modern classical motifs, is deeply intimate and never rushed. Recent sides Forget The Curse and Idle Easel and live performances supporting the likes of Maxine Funke and Treasury of Puppies have seen Besseny’s soaring, celestial voice take centre stage, delicately adorned with Bowman’s synthesiser flourishes and homespun instrumentation. At their heart lies Bowman’s tireless collaborative instinct: his decade-long involvement in the Australian underground and his countless musical outfits (including contemporary trio Th Blisks, with Besseny and Yuta Matsumura).

Summer 2023 saw the duo host two shows for Collin in their former home of Mulubinba, regional New South Wales. Collin is perhaps best known for his playing, deconstructing and reconfiguring of the guitar and other stringed instruments, realised in solo works on his own Early Music and Winebox Press imprints, and collaborations on a trio of albums with Demdike Stare and live sessions with Sarah Hughes and Bill Nace. His unique style of playing, sometimes delicate, at other times frictional, refutes expectations of traditional instruments and fits perfectly within both Troth’s ethos and their lush sonic mise-en-scène.

The objects of devotion perhaps symbolise the group’s devotion towards each other during their music-making process, and the fruits from which they are borne. “I think, any music I have a hand in, is a dialogue with by the people I'm making it with. It's an ongoing conversation between people and sound”, reflects Bowman. The sacredness and ominousness of remote Tasmania is just as affecting, the interplay of Besseny’s haunting vocal washes, Bowman’s sparse instrumentation and Collin’s ritualistic strum evoking the eeriness that lurks beneath the seemingly limitless Australian landscape. “When I think about it, it sounds like being together at the bottom of the Earth. Watching, listening and playing together with no-one else in sight."



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