1
Parchi Pubblici - Clogged Key
2
Parchi Pubblici - Cautela Feat. Delia Derbyshire
3
Parchi Pubblici - Error504
4
Parchi Pubblici - HTSG
Twenty-four strikes on Exarde with Parchi Pubblici, the hardware analog act from Italy who records his songs in one take and have been laying it heavily and steadily for a while, henceforth we can hear the result of it with our own ears. The release consists of four original works by the man himself with first three ready for peak time club cuts with the help of roaring analog machines. They are produced to ready to sweat the dance floor, these stories are followed by a great outro track to conclude this EP. “Pressed Trouble” which is the name of this disc describes the content of it perfectly, because sure as hell this body of work is on the mission to create trouble and trouble sometimes needed to construct the top-level audio trips. Having produced digital contents for the respected labels that you can look up, this is a debut physical vinyl release by the artist and it is a great honour to host him on the label and hopefully to many more to come in the future.
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More records from Exarde
1
Mysterious Dirty D - Acid-Maniak
2
Mysterious Dirty D - Tchoin2020
3
Mysterious Dirty D - Sputnik
4
Mysterious Dirty D - Transatlantik
5
Mysterious Dirty D - No War, No Peace
6
Mysterious Dirty D - Psyclone
7
Mysterious Dirty D - The Force Is With You (Use The Force Luke...)
8
Mysterious Dirty D - ???
9
Mysterious Dirty D - E-H
To continue our LP series, this time we are welcoming back ? which will mark a second full album on the label. The mysterious dirty D has prepared a 9-track LP to once again showcase his ability to be able to immerse himself in the mystic of the electronic groove. To have this artist come up for the label once again with the biggest work to date is an incredible honor and the testament to the synergy of older sound and newer that aims be a powerful tale on the modern dancefloor. “Garbage World” is what the story is about, provoking a thought of the population that made it this way with their over consumption, greed and neglection of the beautiful things that deserve love and care in life. Our globe that induced a great level of pain due to its inhabitants and still manages to hold it together despite bleeding profoundly. This has been illustrated by the art of our visual guru Geka in the style of the art of tattoo. The LP is not guaranteed to fix it, but for sure should make it a little bit better in right hands and minds.
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1
Mariiin - Después de la Fiesta
2
Mariiin - La Notte
3
Mariiin - Un Poco Oscuro
4
Mariiin - Trust The Unknown
If you haven’t been living under the rock you certainly know who Marilin is. Marinella is an Italian-born, London-based artist who with her utmost professionalism is no stranger to the powers of light and darkness, that depends on the mood of the party she is performing at. However here we will leave the light alone and focus on the darkness. Favoured by sir Craig Richards himself, Mariiin has toured the globe playing at the most different and unique events that has given her the edge and insightful knowledge she possesses. Whether she takes people on the musical journeys by herself or with her partner in crime Bobby, it is always an experience that is impossible to forget with the burning desire to repeat and repeat infinite number of times.
Her solo EP “La Notte” has a very unique and defined dark character which has landed on the label with absolutely in sync with its vision. More
Her solo EP “La Notte” has a very unique and defined dark character which has landed on the label with absolutely in sync with its vision. More
1
Rufo - Abducción
2
Rufo - Casa Matusita
3
Rufo - La Década De 1990
4
Rufo - Operación Chavín De Huántar
For the next edition under the number twenty-two we have Peruvian mastermind Rufo, coming up to steer the spaceship into the right direction as he always does. Currently based in Barcelona being the resident of the legendary project Mad Radio that is expanding rapidly with the clear vision of electronic underground music. Therefore, our artist has learnt and studied the ancient methods of best of the best. The extend play is called chronicles of past millennium and explores the sound of the past with a modern twist on it. It’s sounds splendidly fresh now and with full confidence could be said it will sound fresh in all the upcoming future millenniums. The record features a vast range of sounds which shows the maestro is very versatile at the executing stunning audio puzzle pieces that are ready to blast the dancefloors of big clubs, illegal raves or the afterparties all over the globe.
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1
Adria - Malson
2
Adria - Crónica Del Inframundo
3
Adria / Torrent - El Triángulo Maldito
4
Adria / Torrent - Éxodo
Two producers Adria & Torrent are gathered together from their musical hub in sunny city Barcelona to present us the new release. The tale of friendship and the pursuit of them nonstandard sounds have resulted in this body of work under the name “Cicatrices De La Noche”. To translate it in English, it means scars of the night. On A side we can witness theirs solo works and their unique approach to sound design. While on the B side the maestros have gathered together in a collaborative volcano of production.
This shall mark the 3rd split EP on the label and it’s an absolutely weighty one. From acidic dancefloor thoughtfulness of Adría’s Malson to the inferno creation of Torrent’s Cro´nica Del Inframundo we going on the B side where the producers have put together their skill and expertise which resulted in two others serious groovers. The vocoder strong El Tria´ngulo Maldito and peak time + an afterparty ready E´xodo that has concluded this extended play for your ears and your soul. More
This shall mark the 3rd split EP on the label and it’s an absolutely weighty one. From acidic dancefloor thoughtfulness of Adría’s Malson to the inferno creation of Torrent’s Cro´nica Del Inframundo we going on the B side where the producers have put together their skill and expertise which resulted in two others serious groovers. The vocoder strong El Tria´ngulo Maldito and peak time + an afterparty ready E´xodo that has concluded this extended play for your ears and your soul. More
1
Ter Bandits - The Witching Hour
2
Ter Bandits - 5am
3
Ter Bandits - Our Minds
4
Ter Bandits - Factory Defect
The trio we are hearing right now have emerged from Ecuador, Ter Bandits are here for an audio story which is filled with the unprecedented frequencies that has come together for this mission to take shape in the matter that it did. Therefore, without further ado let’s begin. Going to be using some letters typed up which in reality will not describe what is needed as deep to the point it deserves, everything already has been portrayed and created with the music you can hear. To unveil our heroes one by one this extended play is made by Santìí from Router Music, the project and the man behind it has gathered big traction not only at the homebase in Quito but also have been roaring all over the globe with some absolute heavyweights of the electronic groove appearing on the line-ups of this mission. Santìí together with the brothers in arms called Cohema makes this alias we are witnessing come to life. So, let’s help ourselves dive in deep for the moment, for the duration of this musical stopover which helps us to see again our world of sound, it has been interpreted by these artists in the one-of-a-kind matter, filled with haunted beats and eerie rhythms. It is a big pleasure and an absolute pride to announce this fantastic group - Ter Bandits as our twentieth release.
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1
Ildec - Trainspotting
2
Ildec - Trainspotting (Otis & Paul Lution Remix)
3
Ildec - Solo Para Adultos
4
Ildec - Koala
Petit Koala. The truly magnificent creatures that roam our planet and who knows, maybe some others too. Could be a koala bunch of aliens which come to the earth to study our species if that’s so, there is hardly a better way to communicate with them than with interstellar music. This release is crafted in a spaceship located in sunny city called Barcelona by a Spanish producer Ildec. Ildec has presented 3 original tracks specially for Exarde exploring his darker side which he flawlessly executes. The A2 of the vinyl record is gracing with the remix. On the remix duties we have two Italian stallions, an outstanding liveact and friendship formed between Otis and Paul Lution who have contributed a pronounced sound manipulation resulting in an outstanding audio piece.
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1
Jesse You - X-Mod
2
Jesse You - Organic FM
3
Jesse You - 2000 Chants
4
Jesse You - 2000 Chants (Z@p Remix)
Hailing from South Korea, the mind & body trained on the raves of Seoul, and across the country we have Jesse You. The gifted producer has embodied 3 original cuts which are showcasing a hefty range of electronic sound. Describing it using standard words would be too banal, so would prefer to say it is interstellar, from dark to funk and served at absolutely correct temperature. Because it is important not to melt the vinyl but to melt the gooey part inside the head. Jesse is no stranger to sound production and have proved this with “Tone Select” a disc that requires shoes which can stand the test of time on the dancefloor.
On the remix duties its Z@P, resident of many prestigious electronic music communities all over the world and one of the hardest working producers of our time. He has applied a deep burner vision on the original track which allows to dissolve in space time continuum given a correct, as well as an incorrect setting. This 12” Vinyl performs many tasks, some of those you know and some of those you have yet to discover, just select the tone. More
On the remix duties its Z@P, resident of many prestigious electronic music communities all over the world and one of the hardest working producers of our time. He has applied a deep burner vision on the original track which allows to dissolve in space time continuum given a correct, as well as an incorrect setting. This 12” Vinyl performs many tasks, some of those you know and some of those you have yet to discover, just select the tone. More
1
Lewis - Extra Creamy
2
Carriego - Bad Mantra
3
? - Le De´but Du Rave (Pti'dej Mix)
4
Alejo - 40º
5
Charlou - Psycho 91
6
Gianluca Pellarano - Raverz
7
DJ Gamba, Adria - Sarcofago
8
Nuclear Waste - Finding The Way Out
The VA theme on the LP series under the name Untitled || continues to explore the subject of 8 different minds from different corner of the globe connected by the principle and love for the audio frequencies in line with Exarde. Featuring two artists which already dear to label due to the fact of past releases on it and six new ones who have become instant people of love and admiration for me. From the more deep and mellow to the higher pressure for the brain this double disc shall meet your demands. The art theme of this one is blobs & globs from space, whether they are emerging, fighting with their own shadow, or just simply floating and co-existing. This shall conclude my rambling for this body of work as I go and put these eight essences through my ear canals once again. Great deal of thanks for the hard work and dedication of these talented conductors.
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1
Muten / Flhez - Sentido Creol
2
Muten / Flhez - La Danza De Jair
3
Muten / Flhez - Sentido Contrario
4
Muten / Flhez - Espía De After
“In search of an afterparty” the name of this split EP we are witnessing coming straight from a miraculous country called Uruguay. The story of a teacher and a student, the tale of different senses and perspectives, the dance of elusive, fictional Jair himself and the spies of the afterparty which can be on either way of self-data collection or when levels of paranoia have come to a boiling point and sense that the eyes are watching doesn’t go away that easily. The A side is taken by Muten, an artist who has already made a lot of noise not just in his native country but all over the world too whether it’s with an outstanding liveset, flawless dj set or a timeless record that he has crafted. The B side is a story of a rising and promising producer Flhez, and his quest of frequency manipulation + sound perfection. True honor to have these Uruguayan performers to join Exarde and deliver this outstanding body of work for it.
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1
Fakk - Detector De Sueños
2
Fakk - Efimero Reflejo Del Pasado
3
Fakk - La muerte De La Moral
4
Fakk - La Traición
5
Fakk - Phillips En El Club
6
Fakk - Suspiros
7
Fakk - Nacimiento Del Miedo
8
Fakk - Poder Del Underground
We are proud to release first full length album on the series by FAKK, the boss of “under.time”, a label and event series running in Rosario, Argentina. The album is named “El cementerio de las maquinas parlantes” which translates to “The graveyard of speakers” and have a mystical, ghostly feel to it. This project was a while in the making with an idea to be full club ready release with 8 tracks ranging through a specific spectrum of electronic music through the worldview of the artist resulting in this 2x12”. This marks an official pathway for more albums on the label in the future but that’s another topic. It is a joy to see it turn out how it did with a super high chance sending some speakers to beyond repair state in the world that we are living in.
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1
ffrvnco - Systematic Action
2
ffrvnco - Melted Discotheque
3
ffrvnco - Systematic Action (Aymeric Remix)
4
ffrvnco - Kill & Die
Ladies and Gentlemen here are the Night Situations created by the young and promising producer Franco aka ffrvnco. Hailing from the beautiful country called Argentina he already managed to make enough noise for a lot of us music lovers to notice and keeping attention on this man’s sound output. The 3 original tracks by him and a remix by an also admirable artist are all kicking on this piece of wax. It is setting off the roof making the paint of the walls melt off and the ceilings drip whether you are at a club or at home or at friendly kitchens or at family gatherings which went rogue.
Starting with a real energetic action blast called “Systematic Action” ready for anytime to go off waiting and wanting to get airtime. The remix gracing on side B is by the French maestro Aymeric who is like a family to this label and had done some serious body of work on it before. When Franco named this monsieur as the person who he would like to remix “Systematic Action” it was evident it is going to turn out great and strong just like it did. With A2 your ears and soul will receive some lighter twisted discotheque style number while B2 with its dark tool like qualities will really put things into perspective Exarde style. If you read that far, I would like to say thank you to the artist and to the listener because you living organisms are an absolute excitement! More
Starting with a real energetic action blast called “Systematic Action” ready for anytime to go off waiting and wanting to get airtime. The remix gracing on side B is by the French maestro Aymeric who is like a family to this label and had done some serious body of work on it before. When Franco named this monsieur as the person who he would like to remix “Systematic Action” it was evident it is going to turn out great and strong just like it did. With A2 your ears and soul will receive some lighter twisted discotheque style number while B2 with its dark tool like qualities will really put things into perspective Exarde style. If you read that far, I would like to say thank you to the artist and to the listener because you living organisms are an absolute excitement! More
1
Zuul - The Devil's Wanted Here
2
Zuul - Phazer Quest
3
Zuul - Talkatron
4
Zuul - Nieur Acid
The Exarde’s patented style is more and more revealed with each release. There seems to be no more suitable villainous night music and the label proves it time and time again. So now you know - who u gonna call? And now get ready for vibes straight from England, hidden in the impenetrable fog.
Based in Leeds in the UK, Zuul explores acid music with darker textures and sounds, designed to be played late in the dance pit. All made with analogue synthesizers and sequencers tied together with warped vocal samples to lose yourself in. This busy man also runs More
Based in Leeds in the UK, Zuul explores acid music with darker textures and sounds, designed to be played late in the dance pit. All made with analogue synthesizers and sequencers tied together with warped vocal samples to lose yourself in. This busy man also runs More
1
mar.c - Tranceformative
2
mar.c - Get Ready
3
mar.c - Crossing Over
4
mar.c - Crossing Over (P.O Remix)
Exarde’s just keep it spinnin’. This time our protagonist was originally born in Transylvania, so he knows something about the dancing vampires you often see at parties. This is confirmed by the fact that his release also contributed a lot to the gothic side of the dancefloor.
MAR.C is obsessed with dark sounds but specifically loves a guitar, acid and weirdly uplifting electro sounds. So, by his words this EP is exactly concentrated on frequencies between these two spectrums. On the remix duty’s we got P.O with his interpretation which gives an even more unique vibe as a groover for the closing scene. More
MAR.C is obsessed with dark sounds but specifically loves a guitar, acid and weirdly uplifting electro sounds. So, by his words this EP is exactly concentrated on frequencies between these two spectrums. On the remix duty’s we got P.O with his interpretation which gives an even more unique vibe as a groover for the closing scene. More
1
Mysterious Drity D - K?T?TT?K
2
Mysterious Drity D - C?????ViRUS
3
Mysterious Drity D - Drop The Bomb!
4
Mysterious Drity D - Enter
Repress!
Not even a couple of months have passed since the first release on the Moscow’s label by Orbet & Sorv, but apparently fans of powerful dance music will have no time to rest even during a global pandemic. Because Exarde is not planning to slow down and now the crew is gradually revealing the details of the upcoming series of vinyl releases.
Who is behind the triangle, we are unlikely to find out. Since the ancient times, all similar symbols means a close relationship with the divine spirits. Will it be possible to establish communication with the sun through vinyl? It is hard to say, but the fire for the dance floor has already been prepared on this four track EP. More
Not even a couple of months have passed since the first release on the Moscow’s label by Orbet & Sorv, but apparently fans of powerful dance music will have no time to rest even during a global pandemic. Because Exarde is not planning to slow down and now the crew is gradually revealing the details of the upcoming series of vinyl releases.
Who is behind the triangle, we are unlikely to find out. Since the ancient times, all similar symbols means a close relationship with the divine spirits. Will it be possible to establish communication with the sun through vinyl? It is hard to say, but the fire for the dance floor has already been prepared on this four track EP. More
1
NND - Prototype (NND & Vivaldi)
2
NND - Nightmare Voyage
3
NND - Plutone
4
NND - Terrorist
With the next number on its list, Exarde has brought to you the new blood from Italy. NND is carrying a robust warehouse vibe through the whole EP and this time it is even stronger than before. All simply because this one is an excellent reminder about dark nights from back in the day. Since 2016 Mr. Moretti stepped in the game of his own music production and now he is presenting a 3rd solo release.
With all our pride we can say that it is a dance proof piece of plastic. The man started to attending clubs since he was a teenager, so he knows a thing or two about the electronic music culture. Be ready for groovy basslines and warm synthetic passages with a bit of acid here and there, so you will heat up those decks right on time. More
With all our pride we can say that it is a dance proof piece of plastic. The man started to attending clubs since he was a teenager, so he knows a thing or two about the electronic music culture. Be ready for groovy basslines and warm synthetic passages with a bit of acid here and there, so you will heat up those decks right on time. More
1
Moray - Ghosting Flecher
2
Buraye - Frequency Chart
3
Elias Sternin - Metalic Delay
4
Aymeric - Not Techy Enough
5
Lamalice - Poplet
6
Estef - Ditzlo
7
Eliaz - NDVC
8
SINM - Diskotech
Looks like stuff is getting pretty serious, so let’s get ready for the sudden move from Exarde. The label launches these series to feature lengthier projects on the imprint because you don't see often many LP’s from mainly DJ-oriented labels, but not this time. The release is guiding you through the dark & rough night with all tastes packed in it created by 8 artists from different corners of the globe. Get funky and sweaty so then you can lose yourself in a thick black fog. These series kick off with exceptionally rude and trusty prime-time warhorses, which are waiting for you on this double. Just clean your dirty needles y'all vinyl junkies.
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1
Riku Sugimoto - Try To Make It
2
Riku Sugimoto - Many Troubles
3
Riku Sugimoto - To Do 428
4
Riku Sugimoto - Escape Mutation
Label’s family tree is getting bigger and bigger, and looks like soon we will have a fully packed roster from all corners of the world. But for now, to celebrate a full dozen of records from Exarde, we wanted to get in touch with our new brother from the land of the rising sun. Mr. Sugimoto is not a newcomer to the electronic scene but only recently he started to release his own music.
Looks like Riku has his own delicate world, where he fuses and juggles with a lot of personal representations of the dancefloor “styles” if we may say. Sugimoto's record is balancing on a razor blade between a full-blown party and that feeling of some peculiar hi-fi nostalgia. We are welcoming everybody under his private curtains where air is filled with accurate melodies and raw mechanical grooves. More
Looks like Riku has his own delicate world, where he fuses and juggles with a lot of personal representations of the dancefloor “styles” if we may say. Sugimoto's record is balancing on a razor blade between a full-blown party and that feeling of some peculiar hi-fi nostalgia. We are welcoming everybody under his private curtains where air is filled with accurate melodies and raw mechanical grooves. More
1
Thomas Barnett - Motorize
2
Thomas Barnett - Dirty Bounce
3
Thomas Barnett - Overlords
Extremely rude, extremely powerful, extremely Detroit. You will never miss this one if you are on the dance floor. The boss of Visillusion records was one of the first music producers and DJ’s who dipped his toes into the deep black pond of techno. Actually, that was so long ago that nobody knew the name of this genre at the time. From 1987 he has appeared under different monikers around the globe for many occasions and he is definitely cannot be stopped.
Fresh three-tracker from Thomas Barnett is a gold horse. Moscow-based Exarde has got you covered if you are one of those DJ’s who like lifting heavy weights. Just pop the A-side on the deck without even looking and let this warehouse bounce. But don’t forget to flip it in a few minutes because the B-side has a more experimental feel if we might say and just can’t be missed by any electronic music aficionado. More
Fresh three-tracker from Thomas Barnett is a gold horse. Moscow-based Exarde has got you covered if you are one of those DJ’s who like lifting heavy weights. Just pop the A-side on the deck without even looking and let this warehouse bounce. But don’t forget to flip it in a few minutes because the B-side has a more experimental feel if we might say and just can’t be missed by any electronic music aficionado. More
Customers who bought this also bought this
1
Geoff Bastow - The Rough With The Smooth
2
Geoff Bastow - Beautiful People
3
Geoff Bastow - Tumbleweed
4
Geoff Bastow - Bits And Bats
5
Geoff Bastow - A Change Of Pace
6
Geoff Bastow - Janelle
7
Geoff Bastow - Time And A Half
8
Geoff Bastow - Supersplash
9
Geoff Bastow - Fillet Of Soul
10
Geoff Bastow - Well Above Average
11
Geoff Bastow - The Clan
12
Geoff Bastow - Sing Song
Format Notes: 2024 first time vinyl reissue, 140g vinyl
Track List:
A1 The Rough With The Smooth
A2 Beautiful People
A3 Tumbleweed
A4 Bits And Bats
A5 A Change Of Pace
A6 Janelle
B1 Time And A Half
B2 Supersplash
B3 Fillet Of Soul
B4 Well Above Average
B5 The Clan
B6 Sing Song
Release Notes:
Music To Varnish Owls By. Does Geoff Bastow have a claim for the best album title of all time? It's certainly up there. It's also one of the hardest to find library funk records. But don't let the eye-catching name fool you into thinking this isn't serious business.
As a key member of Giorgio Moroder's team, the legendary Geoff Bastow shouldn't need any introduction. You'll be familiar with his singular brilliance as the brains behind the much-sampled boogie/disco classics "You Don't Like My Music (Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!)" and "Don't Stop", released by his group, K.I.D.
But 1975's Music To Varnish Owls By is where it all began for our hero.
It's packed with incredibly soulful, soothing music that - despite being utilised a few times by Knxwledge - remains still largely un-mined. So, beat-makers, get cracking. And instead of that hyper-rare original, spend that £300 on something else.
Born in 1949, Bastow was a Munich-based English songwriter and record producer. Originally working as a guitarist and pianist in dance bands around his home county of Yorkshire, he moved to London in the early 1970s and then Munich in around 1976. He was one of the main architects of the Munich disco sound of electronic innovator Giorgio Moroder and also released heaps of killer library records for legendary labels like Bruton (with brother Trevor), Impress, JW Music Library and the Munich-based Sonoton between the 1970s-2000s. Bastow died tragically young, in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 2007, at the age of just 57. But he left behind a truly incredible electronic music legacy. He deserves to be much better known and this reissue should bring him to a fair few more ears. Let's see why...
Light-hearted opener "The Rough With The Smooth" contains a killer open drum break and is basically guitar-drenched flute-laced piano-funk. However, the first genuine highlight, "Beautiful People", is just majestic. Reflective, pastoral and silky smooth - as the title suggests, it's just straight beautiful; a chiming, deeply soulful instrumental that has to be heard to be believed. Sampled by Knxwledge but nobody else of note, which is crazy. Slo-mo soul beat "Tumbleweed" is another stone cold track just desperate to be laced by a skilled MC. Laconic, lysergic funk with nostalgic overtones, the guitar is prominent but the flute and glock really elevate it to perfection.
"Bits And Bats" is clav-enhanced Blaxploitation-esque street-funk with tough bass and crunchy drums that, despite its hardness, manages to flirt with breeziness. All in all, sumptuous, pounding wah-wah brilliance. Another huge one, up next. The insistent piano-funk head-nodder "A Change Of Pace" is a total sleuth-funk jammer, with a wonderfully soft snare and more hypnotic, melancholic flute lines. Man, we'd love to hear Alchemist chop this up. It even sounds a bit like Bastow was keeping things thoro with this one. Closing out Side A, the bright and breezy Bossa of "Janelle" makes it a perfect run of six untouchable gems. As elegant as it is sleazy, it sounds like it could've been on the classic KPM greensleeve, Piano Viberations.
Side B opens with the Ramsey Lewis-inspired "Time And A Half", a deceptively simple bass, drums and piano workout, decorated with stylish percussion with some great chord changes and hints of drama via a great bass solo. The heavy "Supersplash" is a doped-out drama suite with fuzzy wah-wah guitars, electric piano and glock. "Fillet Of Soul" is a catchy wah-wah propelled shuffle with piano and vibes, super dynamic but also incredibly chill.
"Well Above Average" is exactly that, a funky instrumental that serves as a straight ahead guitar-soul workout. Oozing bass-driven class, it gets better with every listen. Some open drums for your delectation, too. The fuzzy clav-and-vibes funk of "The Clan" - also understandably sampled by Knxwledge - is a monster head-nod slow jam whilst, seeing us out, the uber-relaxed "Sing Song" rounds things off in bright fashion with its slow but insistent clav, electric piano and glock greatness. Swoon.
As ever, the audio for Music To Varnish Owls By has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
More
Track List:
A1 The Rough With The Smooth
A2 Beautiful People
A3 Tumbleweed
A4 Bits And Bats
A5 A Change Of Pace
A6 Janelle
B1 Time And A Half
B2 Supersplash
B3 Fillet Of Soul
B4 Well Above Average
B5 The Clan
B6 Sing Song
Release Notes:
Music To Varnish Owls By. Does Geoff Bastow have a claim for the best album title of all time? It's certainly up there. It's also one of the hardest to find library funk records. But don't let the eye-catching name fool you into thinking this isn't serious business.
As a key member of Giorgio Moroder's team, the legendary Geoff Bastow shouldn't need any introduction. You'll be familiar with his singular brilliance as the brains behind the much-sampled boogie/disco classics "You Don't Like My Music (Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!)" and "Don't Stop", released by his group, K.I.D.
But 1975's Music To Varnish Owls By is where it all began for our hero.
It's packed with incredibly soulful, soothing music that - despite being utilised a few times by Knxwledge - remains still largely un-mined. So, beat-makers, get cracking. And instead of that hyper-rare original, spend that £300 on something else.
Born in 1949, Bastow was a Munich-based English songwriter and record producer. Originally working as a guitarist and pianist in dance bands around his home county of Yorkshire, he moved to London in the early 1970s and then Munich in around 1976. He was one of the main architects of the Munich disco sound of electronic innovator Giorgio Moroder and also released heaps of killer library records for legendary labels like Bruton (with brother Trevor), Impress, JW Music Library and the Munich-based Sonoton between the 1970s-2000s. Bastow died tragically young, in Berlin, Germany on 16 March 2007, at the age of just 57. But he left behind a truly incredible electronic music legacy. He deserves to be much better known and this reissue should bring him to a fair few more ears. Let's see why...
Light-hearted opener "The Rough With The Smooth" contains a killer open drum break and is basically guitar-drenched flute-laced piano-funk. However, the first genuine highlight, "Beautiful People", is just majestic. Reflective, pastoral and silky smooth - as the title suggests, it's just straight beautiful; a chiming, deeply soulful instrumental that has to be heard to be believed. Sampled by Knxwledge but nobody else of note, which is crazy. Slo-mo soul beat "Tumbleweed" is another stone cold track just desperate to be laced by a skilled MC. Laconic, lysergic funk with nostalgic overtones, the guitar is prominent but the flute and glock really elevate it to perfection.
"Bits And Bats" is clav-enhanced Blaxploitation-esque street-funk with tough bass and crunchy drums that, despite its hardness, manages to flirt with breeziness. All in all, sumptuous, pounding wah-wah brilliance. Another huge one, up next. The insistent piano-funk head-nodder "A Change Of Pace" is a total sleuth-funk jammer, with a wonderfully soft snare and more hypnotic, melancholic flute lines. Man, we'd love to hear Alchemist chop this up. It even sounds a bit like Bastow was keeping things thoro with this one. Closing out Side A, the bright and breezy Bossa of "Janelle" makes it a perfect run of six untouchable gems. As elegant as it is sleazy, it sounds like it could've been on the classic KPM greensleeve, Piano Viberations.
Side B opens with the Ramsey Lewis-inspired "Time And A Half", a deceptively simple bass, drums and piano workout, decorated with stylish percussion with some great chord changes and hints of drama via a great bass solo. The heavy "Supersplash" is a doped-out drama suite with fuzzy wah-wah guitars, electric piano and glock. "Fillet Of Soul" is a catchy wah-wah propelled shuffle with piano and vibes, super dynamic but also incredibly chill.
"Well Above Average" is exactly that, a funky instrumental that serves as a straight ahead guitar-soul workout. Oozing bass-driven class, it gets better with every listen. Some open drums for your delectation, too. The fuzzy clav-and-vibes funk of "The Clan" - also understandably sampled by Knxwledge - is a monster head-nod slow jam whilst, seeing us out, the uber-relaxed "Sing Song" rounds things off in bright fashion with its slow but insistent clav, electric piano and glock greatness. Swoon.
As ever, the audio for Music To Varnish Owls By has been carefully remastered by Be With regular Simon Francis, ensuring it sounds better than ever. Cicely Balston's expert skills have made sure nothing is lost in the cut whilst the records have been pressed to the highest possible standard at Record Industry in Holland. The original, iconic sleeve has been restored here at Be With HQ as the finishing touch to this long overdue re-issue.
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