Favorite Recordings proudly presents this new official single reissue of Music Madness by Beckie Bell: A killer disco anthem produced in 1980 by famous French producer, Pierre “Berjot” Jaubert. Pierre Jaubert has been one of the great producers from the Funk and Disco French music scene during the 70s and 80s, mostly known for his work with the group ICE, who he then transformed into Lafayette Afro Rock Band. During his long and prolific career, he’s been involved with many artists and labels, including Motown, Chantal Curtis (Brenda Mitchell, Michelle), Leroy Gomes (Santa Esmeralda), or Robert Helms to name just a few. “Music Madness” is a brilliant disco track from Beckie Bell’s rare album, In Need Of… After highlighting it in an extended version, on the compilation French Disco Boogie Sounds (2015), Favorite Recordings decided to reissue this killer song on a proper 12inch single. The package including the original album version and two hot remixes by Tom Noble and Voilaaa.

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Absolute killer official reissue from the legendary and sort after album "In Need Of..." Breathtaking vocal, emotionally rich and a melody to seduce any dancefloor. I adore this record with all of my heart.

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Strut present a new single vinyl reissue of Vambe"s sought-after privately pressed album from 1982, Drumland Dreamland. A self-taught drummer, inventor, and sonic experimentalist, Vambe holds a unique place in British music. The creator of his own instrument, the drumgita (pronounced "drumguitar") or string-drum, he aimed to create music that had never been previously made to pursue access to the fourth dimension and forge a radical new musical language - intuitive, polyrhythmic and metaphysical. Drumland Dreamland is deep and haunting; a dense tapestry of layered percussion, time-warped tape loops, and spiralling drumgita figures, all underpinned by hypnotic improvisations from Brazilian pianist Rafael Dos Santos. It is both ecstatic and unsettling, a landmark recording in black British experimental music.

Tracklist
1.1Drumsong (One)
1.2Drumsong (Two)
1.3Drumsong (Three)
1.4Strumelody
1.5Drumelody (One)
1.6Drumelody (Two)
1.7Ydolemurd
1.8Hum Drum Dring (One)
1.9Hum Drum Dring (Two) The Freedrum Song

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Strut now present a new single vinyl reissue of Vambe"s privately pressed original album from 1982, Drumgita Solo. A self-taught drummer, inventor, and sonic experimentalist, Vambe is a unique figure in British music. The creator of his own instrument, the drumgita (pronounced "drum-guitar") or string-drum, Vambe intended to create a kind of music that had never been made in order to pursue access to the fourth dimension. The album plays with time, mixing hypnotic, trance-like drumgita pieces with the same segments played backwards. You can hear echoes of African drumming traditions, minimalist repetition, and tape-manipulated musique concrète - but ultimately, the album defies genre. It is a solitary voyage, spiritual and futuristic.

Tracklist
1.1Intro
1.2Drumgita
1.3Ancient Boogie (Mantra)
1.4Artnam
1.5Mantra
1.6(One) Boogie Home Going
1.7Going Home Boogie (One)
1.8Un Minuto (One)
1.9Un Minuto (Two)
1.10Going Home Boogie (Two)
1.11Going Home Boogie (Three)

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Strut proudly presents a new edition of one of Sun Ra's most celebrated albums, Sleeping Beauty, reissued in its original artwork for the first time.

Tracklist:

A1. Springtime Again 9:12

A2. Door of the Cosmos 8:53

B1/B2. Sleeping Beauty 11:48

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In 1975, the late DJ / producer and jazz distributor Jimmy Gray and James "Plunky" Branch joined a musical revolution, founding Black Fire Records and releasing the label"s debut album, the classic African Rhythms by Oneness of Juju. This July, Plunky brings this important musical relationship full circle with Made Through Ritual, produced by Plunky"s son Jamiah "Fire" Branch and Jimmy"s son Jamal Gray. The resulting album is a fascinating listen. Opening with the meditative soul chant "Share This Love" voiced by regular Oneness vocalist Charlayne "Chyp" Green, the album opens out into a series of jazz vignettes including the title track, "In Due Time" and "Free Spirit". The powerful album closer, "Children Of The Drum" celebrates black culture and legacy through the poetry of Roscoe Burnem.

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Matthew Herbert and drummer/vocalist Momoko Gill announce the release of new album Clay, via Strut Records in collaboration with Accidental.
A soulful, elastic collaboration, Clay treads nimbly between the dancefloor and the more introspective moods of the early hours, both reminiscent of Herbert’s iconic album Around The House while taking off in a compelling new direction. Agile and open-hearted, Clay is a thrilling, sonically adventurous record from two of the UK’s most forward-thinking artists.

Tracklist:
A1. CALM WATER
A2. NEED TO RUN
A3. MOWING
A4. MORE AND MORE
A5. HEART
A6. ANIMALS
B1. FALLEN AGAIN
B2. BABYSTAR
B3. SHOW ME
B4. SOMEONE LIKE YOU

Listen: listen.k7.com/97599f47-9f5f-4c87-ae52-111f6740d1a4

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Berlin-based Colombian DJ, producer, and curator Edna Martinez presents a sonic journey into the electrifying world of Picó—the vibrant and dynamic sound system culture that has defined the streets of Cartagena and Barranquilla for decades. More than just a musical movement, Picó is a way of life, a bold expression of identity, community, and resistance.

Tracklist
1.1Wulomei - Takoradi
1.2Conjunto Ana N'Gola - Puxa Odoette
1.3Zeal Onyia & His Music - Egbe Ne Lueli
1.4Los Corraleros De Majagual - Remanga
1.5Aquí Suena - Abel Llinas
1.6Peacocks International Highlife Band - Igbala Oso
1.7Pedro Lima Et L'Orchestre Os Leonenses - Philomene
1.8The Shoe Laces - Isitha Somunthu
1.9Claudio Y Su Combo - Como Sea
1.10Pa' Entro Mi Gente - Angelo El Auténtico
2.1Zaire - I'm Tired Of Living In The Shack
2.2Afous - Anavdhou (Edna Martinez Extended Edit)
2.3Zaïko Langa Langa - La Tout Neige (Edna Martinez Edit)
2.4Erick Cosaque Et Les Voltage
2.5Pico Sin Fronteras - Abel Llinas
2.6La Calandria - Como Duele Una Traicion
2.7African System International - Amina
2.8Carlos Díaz Y Su Orquesta - Tres Meses De Vida
2.9No Puedes Conmigo - Angelo El Auténtico

Listen: https://listen.k7.com/1675649d-ff05-4d34-b5d8-d12fd73fe97e

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A cosmic fusion of deep funk, interstellar jazz, and avant-garde soundscapes, On Jupiter stands as one of Sun Ra’s most iconic releases. Recorded in 1979 during a prolific period at Variety Arts Studios in New York, this album captures the Arkestra at the height of their creative powers, blending futuristic improvisation with infectious rhythms and otherworldly textures.

Listen: listen.k7.com/78f6879e-8431-498c-b3fb-4fa6cea8b2e7

Track list:
A1. On Jupiter (03:58)
A2. UFO (08:30)

B1. Seductive Fantasy (17:08)

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6LP Box Set, 24-page booklet & Original programme housed in a hardboard box
Sun Ra’s Nuits de la Fondation Maeght recordings are legendary within his extensive canon. Across two nights in August 1970, these were the first concerts Ra and the Arkestra had performed outside North America and formed part of a stellar festival line-up alongside Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, LaMonte Young and Marian Zazeela.



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In honour of fifty years in the performing arts—dating back to the founding of the legendary band The Pyramids in 1972—Idris Ackamoor proudly presents “Artistic Being” for Record Store Day 2025. This special recording features celebrated San Francisco actor, activist, and author Danny Glover, alongside renowned stage actress Rhodessa Jones.

TRACKLIST
A1. AFRO FUTURISTIC DREAMS 13.10
A2. IN GOD’S COUNTRY 4:42
B1. CHINA LANE SUITE 17:36
C1. TEMBEKA 7:50
C2. GRANDMA COLE STORY 10:44
D1. NOW! 8:49
D2. MOONLIGHT AND SUNSHINE 9:41


Listen: https://listen.k7.com/47891699-1332-4a17-bc6b-cdfe1c0ad93d

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Originally released in 2014, Strut re-introduces Hardcore Traxx: Dance Mania Records 1986-1997, the highly sought-after definitive retrospective of one of Chicago’s most important and innovative house music labels.



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Strut Records is proud to announce a new official reissue of Simigwa by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, launching a series of releases on Strut celebrating the legendary Ghanaian label Essiebons. Essiebons, founded by Ghanaian music producer Dick Essilfie-Bondzie in 1959, is one of Ghana"s most important independent labels featuring prominent artists such as Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, C.K. Mann, and Ebo Taylor. Ambolley"s Simigwa is a groundbreaking album, recognised as a Ghanaian classic and boasting one of the most iconic covers of the 1970s. Originally released in 1975, the album introduced Ambolley"s unique "Simigwa" style, which combined highlife with funk and soul, influencing the evolution of a new generation of Ghanaian artists. This new Strut LP reissue features an exclusive interview with Ambolley himself, offering fresh insights into the creation of this classic album.

TRACKLIST
Side 1
Kwaakwaa (5:19)
Akoko Ba (5:23)
This Hustling World (4:14)
Side 2
Toffie (6:49)
Adwoa (4:08)
Fa No Dem Ara (4:33)

Listening Link - https://listen.k7.com/8b2c844a-72e6-4214-ab35-b391d0238f0b

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Strut introduces the highly anticipated third volume in the Disques Debs International series, diving deeper into the archives of one of the greatest French Caribbean labels, Disques Debs, based in Guadeloupe. Founded by the visionary Henri Debs in the late ‘50s, the label and studio operated for over 50 years, releasing more than 300 7” singles and 200 LPs, making it a cornerstone of Caribbean music history.

Tracklist
1.1Sadi Lancreot - Dou Se Vou Ki Siwo
1.2Max Et Henri - Sé Pou Demen
1.3Dominique Panol - Come On Baby
1.4Mariz - Si On Jou
1.5Jocelyn Mocka Et Kassav - Mizik Maladi
1.6Christian Yéyé - Misyé Zanndo
1.7Ramon Pyrmée - An Mwe
1.8Expérience
2.1Ka Lévé - Apre Nou Byen Cheche
2.2Horizon - Neg Mawon
2.3Ti Celeste - Testaman
2.4Yo - Fo'w Maye
2.5Alex Rosa - L'Appel Des Champions
2.6Gwo Siwo - Bèlè

Listening Link -https://listen.k7.com/272e528a-d568-4927-8726-a14ddd538b08

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Strut introduces the highly anticipated third volume in the Disques Debs International series, diving deeper into the archives of one of the greatest French Caribbean labels, Disques Debs, based in Guadeloupe. Founded by the visionary Henri Debs in the late ‘50s, the label and studio operated for over 50 years, releasing more than 300 7” singles and 200 LPs, making it a cornerstone of Caribbean music history.

Tracklist
1.1Sadi Lancreot - Dou Se Vou Ki Siwo
1.2Max Et Henri - Sé Pou Demen
1.3Dominique Panol - Come On Baby
1.4Mariz - Si On Jou
1.5Jocelyn Mocka Et Kassav - Mizik Maladi
1.6Christian Yéyé - Misyé Zanndo
1.7Ramon Pyrmée - An Mwe
1.8Expérience
2.1Ka Lévé - Apre Nou Byen Cheche
2.2Horizon - Neg Mawon
2.3Ti Celeste - Testaman
2.4Yo - Fo'w Maye
2.5Alex Rosa - L'Appel Des Champions
2.6Gwo Siwo - Bèlè

Listening Link -https://listen.k7.com/272e528a-d568-4927-8726-a14ddd538b08

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Strut proudly reintroduces a classic from the Topomic catalogue, Ice’s ‘Each Man Makes His Destiny’, officially available on vinyl for the first time.

Tracklist
1.1Too Little Room
1.2Suicide
1.3One Chance
1.4Love Can
1.5There's Time To Change
1.6Put An X On The Spot (In The Sky)
1.7Losin'
1.8Dgunji


Listen: listen.k7.com/ebb673d1-436f-4601-af63-077b3488dec9

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Strut is celebrating the holiday season with an exclusive reissue of The Qualities’ 1961 single, “It’s Christmas Time” b/w “Happy New Year To You!” Originally released on Sun Ra’s Saturn label, this mysterious harmony group 45 captures a unique moment in music history.

Listen: listen.k7.com/e0fa2242-9db7-4671-9ec1-85303cead98f

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Tracklist

A1. Spiral Deluxe - Society's Man
A2. Spiral Deluxe - The Soloist

B. Spiral Deluxe - Paris Roulette (Long Mix)

C1. Spiral Deluxe - Shapeshifters
C2. Spiral Deluxe - Uptown

D. Spiral Deluxe - The Drive


Demonstrating the poignant power of experience + human connection + innate musicality + operating in the present moment, Jeff Mills' Spiral Deluxe collective unveil their second album - The Love Pretender. Driven by the free expression and creativity of improvised performance, Spiral Deluxe is an electronic jazz fusion project comprised electronic music visionary Jeff, along with legendary keyboardist Gerald Mitchell (Underground Resistance/ Los Hermanos), Japanese rocker Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter/Cornelius) on Moog synthesizer and the Japanese bassist, adopted New Yorker, Kenji "Jino" Hino - son of Terumasa Hino, the world famous jazz trumpeter. Together, the four key players formed a band centred around completely improvised journeys through sound.

During their unrestrained performances, what Jeff describes as sonic "conversations" arose between the musicians, as they each contributed to full-length live shows, and studio sessions. Within the boundless parameters of freeform spontaneity, they developed an unspoken understanding of one another, finding balance and poise within the unplanned performances. The resulting recordings have been used for three releases so far: Two EPs, Kobe Session (2016) and Tathata (2017), and their debut album Voodoo Magic in 2018. With The Love Pretender, we're presented with another stunning collection of "tracks" extracted from one long improv session.

With each musician proficient in their specialism and, of course, an all-out music lover, the communication between the group members became almost telepathic. Very little preparation was needed, and their performances flowed naturally and organically. This can be heard, and felt, throughout The Love Pretender. Tracks like 'The Soloist' evolve effortlessly, each new shift subtly influenced by one of the musicians nudging the conversation into a different phase, and the rest responding accordingly, or vice versa. It's music that embodies the true nature of mindfulness and letting go of fear. In their unstructured, liberated cocoon the artists thrive and create musical moments that have, fortunately, been captured for us all to immerse ourselves in. Jazzy notes fill the air, combined with electronic bass, synthesised beats, sparkling keys and an all-round warm and welcoming atmosphere, with the slight edge you can only get from improvised performance.

Sylvain Luc's posthumous appearance on the album is of significance too. The French guitarist died in March 2024 at the age of 59. His natural flair adds another dimension to the album, bringing a touch of that laid back 1980s American California Coast feeling to tracks such as 'Society's Man'. These contributions to the LP, recorded separately, add character - a final sprinkling of humanity to complement the aliveness and presence of this body of work. Three other musicians also added their creative energy to the project. They were; TOKU, a Japanese jazz musician who specialises in wind instruments, especially the cornet, trumpet and flugel horn. And there's Masa Shimizu, who also has wide-ranging with the guitar, as well as being a producer.

Themes on the album include the optimism one can have by simply trusting the process and trusting that everything will work out in the end. By playing together in the way they do, Spiral Deluxe place their trust in the mystery of what will happen next. Getting comfortable with not knowing is key to a sense of peace with regard to the future and this energy is vital to their collective musical output. By embracing the notion of the unknown, you become an eternal optimist, living in the moment, rather than projecting into the future. This cultivates excitement, an antidote to anxiety.

Meanwhile, the title alludes to the shifts and changes that have occurred in today's society, whereby it's possible to achieve success through pretending. The superficiality, and falsehood, that can often be presented via social media, can lead to questions about what's real and what's not. From AI to the fake personas that populate the dominant platforms, The Love Pretender speaks to a process that is symbolic of the time we're living in. Behaviour that has become acceptable in today's world, which may not have been as welcomed a few decades ago. But this is part of the cycle of life...

Jeff's intention with this music is to present it in high-fidelity, to be listened to over and over and over again. In post-recording he worked for hours to ensure the audio quality was as high as it could be. The goal is to create music that people can live with their entire lives, from his solo work to these masterful improvisations. Music that comes to life, music that has a voice we can replicate with our own vocals. Expressive, unstructured, and alive...

With The Love Pretender Jeff Mills continues his mission to experiment with music outside the bounds of what is typically expected. It's freeing, enlivening, vibrant and uniquely human. As ever, Jeff's visionary outlook and bold approach to musical performance and recording has produced a body of work that epitomises his often revolutionary capabilities. There's no pretending here, just pure unadulterated sonic transmissions from a wonderfully daring, inspiring and optimistic ensemble...




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For their second album 'The Foel Tower', Quade holed up in an old stone barn in the cradle of a Welsh mountain valley. It was an environment that would shape the band – a Bristol four piece made up of Barney Matthews, Leo Fini, Matt Griffiths and Tom Connolly – and the record they have made. It’s an album that is as dreamy as it is melancholic, and as quiet and tender as it is forceful and potent – gliding across genres like winds blowing over those wide-spanning Welsh hills.

Tracklisting:

A1 - Beckett
A2 - See Unit
A3 - Bylaw 7.1
B1 - Nannerth Ganol
B2 - Canada Geese
B3 - Black Kites

Listen: https://listen.k7.com/e8c2ea1d-39f6-4f92-83e9-66143e55cb56

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Previously unreleased; four track 12" with two different vocal takes, each w/ dub. Comes in Bond Export company sleeve.

Another cold case solved! One of DKR's early victories was finding a tape of the drum & bass cut of the legendary dubplate 'Rocks & Mountains.' Rumor had said the artist was the Mighty Travellers, but this didn't really add up chronologically or audibly. More astute listeners mostly agreed the artist was likely the Majesterians, a little recorded group who had made a couple other records for Taxi circa 1980. When we first issued the song on a 10" back in 2011, even Sly himself couldn't recall for sure who sang the tune. Like with other 'mystery' projects which we eventually came to realize, we never gave up digging on this one. There were two mysteries at work here - one, confirming the identity of the group, and two - finding the other cut of the tune, which features fuller instrumentation and a different vocal take. Both cuts were around on dubplate circa '80/'81, and the latter cut can be heard ever so briefly in the infamous UK "Sound Business" documentary film from '81. In the course of a mere 13 years, both questions came to be solved - we obtained a pretty clean plate cut of the fuller mix, and we confirmed the identity of the group. The Majesterians were a vocal trio consisting of Everton Dacres, Roderick Perkins and Paul Mitchell. While the latter two gentlemen don't seem to have done much otherwise, we are sure the roots heads and hopefully all DKR followers know Everton Dacres, who made some fine roots music in the 1970s prior to fronting the Majesterians. We spoke to Everton and he confirmed 'Rocks & Mountains' was their tune, cut in Channel 1 at a Taxi session featuring a host of other artists. Indeed, these were the heady days of 1980 with Channel 1 booked round the clock for locked-in sessions, with the Taxi Gang and the Roots Radics laying down future classic after future classic. All that said, we're happy to re-present this tune now with not only proper accreditation, but also both known mixes and the drum & bass mix in improved fidelity over its previous issue.

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STAR CREATURE's TIM ZAWADA taps BRIAN ELLIS for another supreme collab giving us an incredible version of an all time spaced out Chicago boogie grail. He recreates the original with extreme accuracy in both the gear used & the feeling too. Another absolute boogie bomb!

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